Collapsing time: contemporary collecting with communities at National Museums Scotland

Our vision at National Museums Scotland is to ‘Inspire people: addressing the challenges of our age'. As curator of modern and contemporary history (and I also hasten to add archaeology) at National Museums Scotland, I am tasked with collecting change as it happens, or soon after. Involving communities of concern in this work, from deciding what to collect, who with, and how, is critical.

In this paper I will also explore how participatory practice allows us to unlock conversations across time together with communities of concern.By using our collections from the past to inspire conversations about our present, ‘boundary objects’ engage and empower communities in shaping our shared futures.

Contemporary collecting case studies discussed will include current work in progress looking at stories of LGBTQ histories, migration and climate change.Boundary objects discussed will include activism and campaign materials, materialities of waste, and objects which speak of negotiating identity and belonging.