PROPOSAL TYPE
Traditional Panel
SEEKING
- Seeking Additional Presenters
- Seeking General Feedback and Interest
- Seeking Specific Expertise
RELATED TOPICS
- Museums/Exhibits
- Reflections on the Field
- Social Justice
ABSTRACT
In the past, Saskatchewan’s Western Development Museum (WDM) focused on creating new exhibits rather than updating old ones. Over the decades, this has lead to out-of-date information in exhibits and ongoing display of terminology now recognized as inaccurate. In 2019, in an attempt to rectify this issue, the WDM began systematically evaluating the language and content of all gallery signage to identify what needs updating or removal.
In this presentation, I will introduce the project and provide specific examples of challenges and successes we’ve faced, along with reflections on what has changed in the five years since starting the project, what we have learned, and advice for other museums looking to tackle similar projects.
DESCRIPTION
I’m looking for additional participants to form a traditional panel to present case studies relating to confronting and updating outdated heritage interpretation. Relevant examples may include things such as: how different organizations are correcting/updating information or terminology in permanent museum exhibits; ways in which organizations are updating museum content like tours, signage, buildings, collections, etc. that is now out-of-date; or how/if heritage sites today are thinking of ways to make potential future updates or changes to exhibits more straightforward. Are there things that we can do now to make the work of future museum staff easier when it comes to changing and updating content?
The goal of this panel would be to share the ways in which museums and heritage sites are confronting and addressing exhibit content that is oftentimes decades out-of-date. I would hope to offer examples of who is deciding what needs work, how are they making those decisions, who are they partnering with when making these changes, and what types of challenges they are facing in these undertakings?
A panel of this nature would raise awareness of what some museums are doing to examine the biases present in their own galleries and confront their own internal histories of exclusion. It would give people who have completed or are in the process of undertaking projects like these a chance to share what we have learned with other practitioners. This would encourage discussion of the challenges that come along with trying to address issues of inclusion/exclusion, whose stories are/are not being told, and whose voices are being heard or ignored in heritage institutions.
I would be interested in hearing from people doing (or thinking of doing) similar work or facing similar challenges who might be interested in joining this panel. I would also be interested in receiving feedback or suggestions NCPH members may have on the content and direction of a panel of this nature. I would especially be interested in hearing from anyone who is faced with similar issues that they have not started working on yet! What do you feel would be useful to know if you were to undertake a project of a similar nature?
If you have a direct offer of assistance, sensitive criticism, or wish to pass along someone’s contact information confidentially, please get in contact directly: Kaiti Hannah, [email protected]
ALL FEEDBACK AND OFFERS OF ASSISTANCE SHOULD BE SUBMITTED BY JULY 10, 2024. If you have general ideas or feedback to share, please feel free to use the comments feature below.
In my view, it is obvious that docent training is key to address existing outdated exhibits. Docents need to be trained in critical thinking, given the main criticisms of the current displays, & permitted to use critical museology in their presentations as well as the time to permit engaging visitors in such discussions.