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…
