Not just a cabinet of curiosities – museums as active centres of knowledge exchange and research
Resource type
Presentation
Creator (person)
Gundlach, Meg
Baccianti, Sarah
Cop, Andrea
Kaur, Harr-Joht
Abstract
Museums don’t just support research – they lead it. This session challenges the notion of museums as organisations that only provide access to collections for external researchers and reimagines them as dynamic centres of research and knowledge exchange.
We question why museums are still often seen as “just” repositories and explore how they can become radical, research-driven institutions that shape the future of academia and public engagement.
We look at examples of museums as research centres, pushing beyond exhibitions to become catalysts for interdisciplinary collaboration, co-created research and disruptive thinking. Key issues include fostering a culture of experimentation and overcoming resource and expertise limitations. Presenters share approaches to community-driven research and discuss academic partnerships and funding models.
We hope to spark critical discussions on how museums can disrupt traditional hierarchies in academia, foster collaboration, and leverage their collections to produce new, actionable knowledge.
The session is for museum professionals, researchers, policymakers and anyone committed to rethinking museums’ roles in shaping knowledge exchange practices.
Event title
Museums Association Conference 2025: Perthyn – Belonging
Publisher
Museums Association
Related URL
Rights statement
In Copyright