As museums navigate uncertain times, we might ask whether museums can morph into genuinely democratic, inclusive and polyphonic spaces for critical conversations about pasts and futures. We could also question whether museums can ever be fully integrated within communities, acting as co-catalysts for radical changes in ways of seeing and living. Indeed, will a human-centred museum, in harmonious existence with the natural environment, ever see the light of day? 

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The conference held at the University of Malta, Valletta Campus from the 18 to 20 October presented the latest thinking, actions and initiatives that modestly or radically depart from the traditional museum idea, to rethink the museum of the future. The latest developments were showcased in the museum landscape. During the conference the lessons learnt over the past year and the ways and means how these have been overcome were presented. Creation of spaces for critical reflections that can help shape museum futures are in the pipeline.

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Three strands of museum futures were explored: 

Technology

The first concerns technology and online, as museums seek to transit into a new mode of relevance. We are curious to learn how this might be taking shape and how the possible equilibrium between physical and online can be achieved. 

Democratisation

The second concerns the democratisation of access, and how the museum can become a public space, be it physical, virtual or both, welcoming a polyphony of voices. 

Climate change

The third is about climate change and how museums are, can or may rise to the challenge. We consider the three as being inextricably intertwined, with each informing the other. 

Contributions from scholars, museum curators and directors, think-tanks, institutions and others working in the museum sector who act as or support game changers in the sector. We are also keen on best practices and projects that have taken shape in response to the COVID-19 crisis, particularly if these were informed by or inline with the thinkers and presentations featured in our pre-conference webinar events.

Prof Carmel Borg and Dr Sandro Debono, at the Department of Arts, Open Communities and Adult Education at the University of Malta said “This conference was a huge boost to the museum-education-studies programme within the Department of Arts, Open Communities and Adult Education. The lineup of speakers, a mixture of world-class thinkers, visionaries and doers from all corners of the world, created opportunities and spaces, plenary and in parallel sessions, for the production of rich and cutting-edge knowledge about the futures of museums. The conference was built on the success and visibility of our global webinar series on the same topic, a series that attracted more than two thousand participants. The biennial event will have a large spinoff in the near future, as the department continues to assert itself as a credible player in the international arena."

More information about the conference is available here.