Unexpectedly, the world moved into a new phase that comprised of a global health pandemic and socio-political awakenings. As a museum leader at the Art Gallery of Ontario, I contemplated the critical role education and programs could play in these times. The COVID-19 pandemic manifested countless shifts, adaptations, unknowns, and […]

It’s no longer enough for museums to simply serve as monuments to preservation — they must now focus on conservation, as well. As climate change impetuously rears its ugly head, major institutions have a new responsibility of consciousness when it comes to their impact on the environment.

Trying to pinpoint the ways in which art can promote wellbeing is complicated and can differ depending on circumstance, age and background. In a recent presentation for MuseumNext, Head of Learning and Engagement at the National Galleries of Scotland, Siobhan McConnachie, reflected on the different ways that museums and galleries […]

Museums are places of constant inspiration. They can be a riot for all senses and an experience that can stay with visitors forever. However, if one can’t enter the buildings, speak the language or hear the exhibitions, then they quite quickly become a place of exclusivity and inaccessibility to some.

Increasingly, museums are recognising the importance of supporting staff and volunteers with a programme of support to assist in the delivery of emotional or traumatic exhibitions.    At The Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington D.C, supporting the wellbeing of staff took on greater significance during a 20th anniversary initiative […]

At the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam, the team chose instead to begin by using their main subject as the starting point for a new mental health programme. The goal was to make a positive contribution to the wellbeing of younger adults.

In a busy and stressful world, practising mindfulness can be a gateway to navigating the more challenging aspects of our lifestyles. Museums and galleries can play a central role in offering mindfulness sessions that make use of objects and artwork at their disposal. 

Social isolation isn’t a new phenomenon. But it was certainly experienced more widely over the course of the Covid pandemic than at any other time in recent memory. The effect of repeated lockdowns meant social isolation became a new problem for many; yet it also shone a light on an […]

In today’s uncertain times, museums can act as an anchor in the storm. To those who aren’t as passionate about the power of museums as readers of this blog, it can often seem that such institutions are merely places where forgotten objects go to enjoy their final years.

TikTok is one of the fastest growing social media platforms and in 2021 had more online traffic than Google.  As its growth and engagement numbers continue to skyrocket, it’s time for museums to take TikTok seriously as part of a digital strategy.