Project Information

• Project overview
• Background
• Research questions
• Research methods
• Outcomes

Project overview

This international research project is investigating the role of museums with an emphasis on how institutions can deal effectively with the challenge of developing exhibitions on controversial issues and sensitive topics. It is exploring and analysing museological debates about the contemporary role of museums and theoretical and conceptual issues concerning the nature of controversy in a broader perspective.

Part of the project is in situating controversy in an historical context by investigating how particular exhibitions in the past have been defined as controversial and how this has affected the role and functioning of museums. An examination of the role of the media is also a key part of the project.

The expectations of museum staff, stakeholders and audiences are being explored to gauge responses to controversy and to clarify potential roles for museums in the future. The study is being conducted both within Australia and internationally through a range of participating organisations.

Background

Controversial subjects may raise alternative ideas, while challenging an individual's or group's values, beliefs, ideologies or moral position. Controversies can be categorised as varied perspectives of a topic; differing belief systems and values due to life experiences and world views, as well as differing objectives and interests by a range of stakeholders. Difficult subjects offer a range of interpretive opportunities such as to:provide information

• reflect current debates
• challenge and validate opinions
• promote engagement through decision making and problem solving
• foster critical thinking skillsfacilitate learning about other perspectives/values
• transform attitudes and values
• foster relevance to local and global problems through linking events/ideas to real life
• promote tolerance.

Research questions

This project is studying very significant questions about the roles and functioning of museums in the 21st century such as:

• What roles can museums play in a climate of contestation?
• What are the ways that museums can function as civic spaces?
• How can museums become more relevant to communities, exhibit broader themes and narrate competing stories that material objects signify?
• What added value can museums offer as opposed to, or in collaboration with, other media in discussing and presenting sensitive subjects?
• How can museums meaningfully engage audiences with topics such as racism, genetic engineering, stem cell research, sectarianism, sustainability of the environment, poverty, domestic violence, and new interpretations of colonialism and war?

Research methods

A range of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies are being used including:

• phone surveys of adults in Sydney and Canberra
• exit surveys of visitors to institutions in Sydney, Canberra, Ottawa and Quebec
• focus groups of visitors, museum staff and other stakeholders
• depth interviews with museum staff, museum management, journalists and media commentators
• case studies
• literature reviews

Outcomes

The project will:

• Provide a framework that will enable museums in Australia and internationally to be more informed of their current and potential future roles.
• Improve the capacity of museums to anticipate and deal with controversial issues and debates.
• Develop a set of strategies for museums on ways they can effectively represent controversial issues and sensitive topics in exhibitions while engaging audience needs and expectations through an active learning environment.

An industry symposium was held on 28 November 2003 to discuss the project findings to date and develop industry guidelines.