Center for Museum Studies

Museums for the New Millennium:
Program Theme

The past three decades have witnessed dramatic growth in expertise about the principles and practices of museum work. The efforts of trustees, staff and volunteers have resulted in widespread agreement on the role and function of museums in society. But, today, these established modes of operation are challenged by strong social, political, economic and technical forces worldwide. If they are to survive and flourish, museums must adapt to a new environment. Continuing in the same direction is not an option in the 21st century.

Museums for the New Millennium is intended to be a catalyst for dialogue on the transition to new paradigms. It will focus on the purpose and structure of museums and examine advances in museum-related electronic media. The symposium's aim is to broaden the concept of museums in sustaining and generating culture as a whole.

Purpose

Museums are a method developed in western Europe for preserving and transmitting images of social heritage and knowledge. They are proliferating in record numbers throughout the world. So too are theme parks and replicated history sites. Yet many museums are struggling in the face of steadily decreasing funding support and increasing audience demands to maintain their position and relevance in their communities.

Structure

Museum work has evolved along disciplinary and functional lines which emphasize horizontal bureaucracy. Economists say that in an information economy - such as now - the only secure institutions are those that add real value. As places responsible for helping society understand ideas, museums need to manage their internal change in order to assist the public deal with their concerns.

Tools

The information revolution has shifted power to the individual. New information and communications technologies have made globalization possible and rendered rigid organizations obsolete. Individuals with computers and a phone now have intellectual access to large networks of information, effectively dissolving barriers of geography, nationality, time, and organizational structure.

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