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25 Things Museums Should Do NOW to Stay Relevant
I am a public historian with seven years’ experience working in museums and historic sites. Throughout my time in the field, I have held some of our country’s oldest artifacts, led tours through haunted plantations, wrote articles galore, and facilitated some amazing education programs.
But above all, I learned that that society changes fast — and it doesn’t wait for businesses to catch up. Those who don’t adapt usually get left in the dust — and that includes museums.
In 2024, we are seeing dramatic changes in society, as people value diversity, equity, and inclusion. And, there have been many advancements in technology, as Augmented Reality, AI, and VR are quickly outdating current museum tech. If museums don’t make necessary changes for the future, they will become irreverent in this modern world.
In no particular order, here are 25 things I think museums need to do NOW in order to stay relevant in society.
- Do not exclude the youth — they are the future of museums.
- How do people feel in your exhibit? Push past the pots and pans exhibit. Use audio, visual technology, AI, and even scent tech to create and immersive experience.
- Stop doing diversity for “diversity’s sake.”
- A museum is nothing without a firm vision, create one and live by it.
- For the love of god, translate your exhibits.
- Don’t make the mistake of “death by label.” Make your labels short, informative, and visually interesting!
- Integrate participatory elements in your exhibits. It invites people to be a part of the exhibit and really engage in what you are offering.
8. Include the community in your exhibits. Every museum should have a rotating temporary exhibit, and this is a great place to feature community art, passion projects, music, businesses, and more.
9. Be kind to education staff. They are the work horses of every museum.
