new professions for new experiences of culture
DESCRIPTION
Presentation made for the workshop New Professions for New Experiences of Culture organised by Mapa das Ideias for the eCult Skills 2nd meeting - Lisbon, Portugal, 3-4 April 2014TRANSCRIPT
New Professions for New Experiences of Culture
Alexandre Matos [email protected]
4 April - Lisboa, Portugal
Alexandre Matos• B.A. in History;
• M.A and Ph.D in Museology;
• Sistemas do Futuro - Head of Research and training;
• Adjunct professor - Museum Studies department - Porto University;
• Worked at Aveiro Museum;
• Coordinator www.museusportugal.org;
• blogger since 2004 (www.mouseion.pt);
• father of two treasures and “benfiquista” in spare times…
Change is happening
the museum sector faces, like never before, a set of changes that occur at the speed of light and are of
extraordinary importance for its future
Collections People
Collections People
Technology
Publicthe public is more aware of museums, increasingly
demanding, participatory…
© http://uncatalogedmuseum.blogspot.pt/2013_12_01_archive.html
CollectionsCollections matter (as usual) and they are the main point
of differentiation from other cultural institutions
© http://westmuse.wordpress.com/2012/05/22/maximizing-collections-access/
TechnologyIt is everywhere
More importantly, we use it everywhere…
© http://wallpaperswide.com/matrix_world_map-wallpapers.html
Technology transforms…• Use of collections
• Conservation
• Image
• Research
• Transport
• Storage
• Display
• Education
• Visitors Services
• Audience engagement
• Audience surveys and studies
• Administration
• Exhibitions
• Store
because…museum audiences use technology, a change must occur within the
museum and their professionals
Met Connections - http://www.metmuseum.org/connections/
Portugal Museums
Low level of technology use and proficiency.
Museum professionals are well trained with tools, but the
bigger picture (concepts) is often forgotten.
Museums are not prepared for this type of change!
Virtual versus physicalThis is still an issue for many museums and professionals: “I can’t publish everything online, because it will decrease onsite visitors!”
Change is also happening
here…but at a slow pace that is not
compatible with the warp speed of cultural and
technological changes that are happening right now!
So how museum professionals can prepare themselves to this change?This means new job opportunities? This means new professional
profiles in museums? What (new) skills they must include?
Tools versus Concepts• Ask for plan and strategy thinking instead of use of Microsoft Project;
• Ask for data standards knowledge instead of database management proficiency;
• Ask for collections policies instead of specific training in museum collection information systems;
• Ask for experience in managing projects instead of good knowledge in Word and Excel;
• Ask for public engagement strategies instead of traditional education skills;
• Ask for social media strategy instead of proficiency in social media tools and applications;
• Ask for a vision on mobile platforms instead of good knowledge in app code;
• Don’t forget that collections and visitors are a central concern for museums and their professionals should be able to cope with both (in different ways of course!)
Collections• Museum professionals should be able to:
• plan exhibitions for and with their audience;
• tell stories about objects;
• create information about objects that can be published everywhere and reused in different channels;
• give context instead of technical information;
• use new technology and methodologies in collections care;
• seek for more reliable and less expensive ways to care and use objects.
People• Museum professionals should be able to:
• create and participate in public engagement strategies;
• learn with their online audiences;
• make them a vital part of the organisation digital strategy;
• promote their participation in the museum process (use, research, care, etc.);
– The Met’s Plans for Virtual Expansion, by Randy Kennedy: New York Times (2011-02-11)!http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/12/arts/design/12campbell.html?
“But in two wide-ranging interviews over the last month Mr. Campbell said that he did not see it that way and that he
viewed the museum’s next frontier to be less physical than philosophical and virtual: a change in the Met’s tone and public face, making it a more open and understandable museum, largely by thoroughly rethinking the way it uses
technology.”
© Cleveland Museum of Art - wall-size screen with all objects on display
© Cleveland Museum of Art - ArtLens App
Further reading
• Museum Knowledge Workers for the 21st Century - http://www.pro.rcip-chin.gc.ca/carrefour-du-savoir-knowledge-exchange/travailleurs_savoir-knowledge_workers/table_matieres-table_content-eng.jsp
• Museums and the Web - http://www.museumsandtheweb.com