New Professions for New Experiences of Culture

Alexandre Matos alexandrematos@mac.com

4 April - Lisboa, Portugal

Alexandre Matos• B.A. in History;

• M.A and Ph.D in Museology;

• Sistemas do Futuro - Head of Research and training;

• Adjunct professor - Museum Studies department - Porto University;

• Worked at Aveiro Museum;

• Coordinator www.museusportugal.org;

• blogger since 2004 (www.mouseion.pt);

• father of two treasures and “benfiquista” in spare times…

Change is happening

the museum sector faces, like never before, a set of changes that occur at the speed of light and are of

extraordinary importance for its future

Collections People

Collections People

Technology

Publicthe public is more aware of museums, increasingly

demanding, participatory…

© http://uncatalogedmuseum.blogspot.pt/2013_12_01_archive.html

CollectionsCollections matter (as usual) and they are the main point

of differentiation from other cultural institutions

© http://westmuse.wordpress.com/2012/05/22/maximizing-collections-access/

TechnologyIt is everywhere

More importantly, we use it everywhere…

© http://wallpaperswide.com/matrix_world_map-wallpapers.html

Technology transforms…• Use of collections

• Conservation

• Image

• Research

• Transport

• Storage

• Display

• Education

• Visitors Services

• Audience engagement

• Audience surveys and studies

• Administration

• Exhibitions

• Store

because…museum audiences use technology, a change must occur within the

museum and their professionals

Met Connections - http://www.metmuseum.org/connections/

Portugal Museums

Low level of technology use and proficiency.

Museum professionals are well trained with tools, but the

bigger picture (concepts) is often forgotten.

Museums are not prepared for this type of change!

Virtual versus physicalThis is still an issue for many museums and professionals: “I can’t publish everything online, because it will decrease onsite visitors!”

Change is also happening

here…but at a slow pace that is not

compatible with the warp speed of cultural and

technological changes that are happening right now!

So how museum professionals can prepare themselves to this change?This means new job opportunities? This means new professional

profiles in museums? What (new) skills they must include?

Tools versus Concepts• Ask for plan and strategy thinking instead of use of Microsoft Project;

• Ask for data standards knowledge instead of database management proficiency;

• Ask for collections policies instead of specific training in museum collection information systems;

• Ask for experience in managing projects instead of good knowledge in Word and Excel;

• Ask for public engagement strategies instead of traditional education skills;

• Ask for social media strategy instead of proficiency in social media tools and applications;

• Ask for a vision on mobile platforms instead of good knowledge in app code;

• Don’t forget that collections and visitors are a central concern for museums and their professionals should be able to cope with both (in different ways of course!)

Collections• Museum professionals should be able to:

• plan exhibitions for and with their audience;

• tell stories about objects;

• create information about objects that can be published everywhere and reused in different channels;

• give context instead of technical information;

• use new technology and methodologies in collections care;

• seek for more reliable and less expensive ways to care and use objects.

People• Museum professionals should be able to:

• create and participate in public engagement strategies;

• learn with their online audiences;

• make them a vital part of the organisation digital strategy;

• promote their participation in the museum process (use, research, care, etc.);

– The Met’s Plans for Virtual Expansion, by Randy Kennedy: New York Times (2011-02-11)!http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/12/arts/design/12campbell.html?

“But in two wide-ranging interviews over the last month Mr. Campbell said that he did not see it that way and that he

viewed the museum’s next frontier to be less physical than philosophical and virtual: a change in the Met’s tone and public face, making it a more open and understandable museum, largely by thoroughly rethinking the way it uses

technology.”

© Cleveland Museum of Art - wall-size screen with all objects on display

© Cleveland Museum of Art - ArtLens App

Further reading

• Museum Knowledge Workers for the 21st Century - http://www.pro.rcip-chin.gc.ca/carrefour-du-savoir-knowledge-exchange/travailleurs_savoir-knowledge_workers/table_matieres-table_content-eng.jsp

• Museums and the Web - http://www.museumsandtheweb.com

Thanks!Alexandre Matos

alexandrematos@mac.com