Museum as Soup Kitchen

[Elaine Heumann Gurian]

I am writing a speech about the uses of museums during this serious economic downturn. It is clear to me that museums could be much more helpful and timely by changing hours, job retraining, health care information and all manner of social service. What I wonder is if you think they should do that or retain their primary function of preservation, education, etc. or do both and if so what is the mix? Thanks. e--

[Mia]

There's an interesting article on 'social media versus the recession' that makes some relevant points.

[Ellen McCormack]

Hi all,

Yesterday saw the first Museum Morning Teas visit from the parents group at the Oasis Youth Support Network (see post by Sophie Lieberman February 7 09). It was really interesting to see a different audience realise that the Australian Museum is accessible to them and not a 'scary' place to go with their children.
The feedback so far from Oasis was that it was a very worthwhile experience for the parents group (some of the parents were as young as about 16), which they enjoyed.
It was a fairly basic program, with a meet and greet, a wander through the Dinosaurs Gallery and then time in Kidspace for the kids to play. We then all had lunch together, this being probably the most important part of the visit!
Megan refers below to museums being 'non-socially stigmatized stages for bringing people together' - I think this program goes some way to achieving this at our institution and in our local area. Our hope for these parents is that they will begin to see that museums are there for them and their children as much as for anybody else.

Questions welcome!
EM

[Lynda Kelly]

Here's something from today's Sydney Morning Herald about Elaine's visit here this week.

[Angelina Russo]

Hi Elaine
Hope you're enjoying Sydney! Here is an article from NY Times which adds some interesting thoughts to the pot! http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/19/arts/artsspecial/19strategies.htm...

[Lisa Falk]

Elaine, I'd love to read your speech and share it with colleagues here. You know, museums as collaborators with others--libraries, social service organizations, public health units, schools, cultural centers etc is the way to go. Why can't museums serve as a type of community center where ideas are presented in a nonthreatening way through stories, objects, and connections with workshops and discussions abounding? In these times of economic stress, families are looking for activities that not only involve family members and friends of a variety of ages/interests at the same time, but as a place to come together as a community.

[Lisa Falk]

Oh, and to give an example of my thinking--I am in the planning stage of a large community collaborative of projects related to diabetes and healthy living--using the Through the Eyes of the Eagle exhibit as a catalyst for a collaborative community awareness program. I have been meeting with public health officers, medical researchers, tribal educators, artists, other museum colleagues, librarians, literacy educators among others (the list grows weekly) to plan this for 2011. All the programs don't have to happen at the museum; but the museum ought to be a player in promoting community collaborations, self examination, and action. The hardest part was convincing the museum that this exhibit is more than children's book art and has to do with our mission, and that through exhibitions like this and collaborative programming (and broad open thinking), the museum becomes more relevant to the community. At least I think so, hope so.

[Amelia Wong]

Not sure if your speech has been delivered yet, but National Public Radio provided a nice, concrete example of how museums can ease some daily suffering: "In Tulsa, Okla., the Philbrook Museum of Art is doing something different with outdoor space that it can't afford to maintain as a formal garden this year. Workers have planted vegetables that will be harvested and donated to the local community food bank. Melinda McMillan is the museum's garden director, and she talks with Renee Montagne about the program." http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106033953

[Elizabeth Merritt]

Just posted to the CFM Blog about the Philbrook Museum of Art's foray into community gardening, and how this echos storied told in the Institute for the Future's scenario building in the Superstruct game last fall. Thanks for the lead, Amelia!

See http://tinyurl.com/cdgqcb