Hello everyone--
Based in part on the conversations on the small museum list-serv a few weeks ago, I'm working on putting together a session
proposal on small museums and issues about collecting the recent past for the AAM annual meeting.
I'd like to move the
session beyond just an overview of what individual institutions collect
to a larger discussion about how we represent American culture today in
our collections.
Some of the questions that interest me--
- How do small
museums ensure that the totality of a community is represented?
- Is
it even possible for small museums to keep up with collecting items of
mass production and popular culture? If not, then how do we decide what
to collect?
- How do small museums think about collecting
web-based materials that
are now a part of everyday life such as Facebook or Twitter?
- It
seems that much of the collecting at small museums focuses around
community events and/or items of domestic use (kitchen utensils, etc).
How can we collect items that show not only nostalgia, but issues that
arouse conflict and debate?
- How can the process of collecting
become more participatory?
If you're interesting in joining me
as a session presenter addressing any of these questions--or can't do that, but have thoughts on any of
the above, please email me.
Thank you!
Linda
--
Linda Norris
Where to find me:
Blog: uncatalogedmuseum.blogspot.com
Twitter: lindabnorris
Website: riverhillpartners.com
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Voice: 607-829-3501
Riverhill
PO Box 232
Treadwell, NY 13846
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