On the panel “Collecting stories: museums as laboratories for new narratives and fight against disinformation”, Julia Pagel discussed the idea of “neutrality” in museums and the need to re-evaluate the meaning of museums remaining “neutral”, in present times with an ongoing war in Ukraine, rising extremism, and deepening social polarisation. Through a strategic cooperation agreement with OBMIN, NEMO aims to foster greater collaboration and exchange between Ukrainian museum professionals and their European colleagues in order to empower museum staff EU-wide.
Museums are among the most trusted public institutions in Europe. With that trust comes the responsibility to be clear-eyed, courageous, and committed the public good. Museums have to remain impartial, but that is not the same as being neutral.
The challenges we currently face globally - climate crisis, social polarisation, war on the continent, misinformation - require a new, expanded role for museums, providing more than just information. They demand to cultivate critical thinking, empathy, active participation, and a sense of shared responsibility. This is task and role that museums will increasingly have to step into.
