Now online: NEMO Webinar on modern museum practice and climate change

In the webinar, Michael Peter Edson questioned why the museum sector is so passive and slow to respond to one of the biggest challenges of our times:  climate change. Afterall, he pointed out, the climate crisis can be approached from several angles that all should apply to museums to some degree: science, art, culture, community, wellbeing, truth, knowledge transfer etc.

He carried on to address the concept of Standard Museum Practice, which he finds to be based on an outdated notion of the world we live in and the job we have to do. He continued to explain Kathy Sierra’s theory of the Big Frikin’ Wall that keeps us from achieving true impact through museum work. By only focusing on incremental activities and tasks we might get close to the wall, but without pushing for true action we cannot get through. Action is needed to, for instance, actually contribute to a better society and fighting climate change. However, factors such as incrementalism, trust (and risk), culture, politics and incomplete change models are holding us back. Although it is important to reflect on what is holding us back, Edson does advice people to focus on the goal(s) that waits on the other side of the wall.

Edson also introduced a matrix that can be used when evaluating and having conversations about actions and true impact. The matrix maps actions from thin to thick engagement and from symbolic to impactful outcomes.  With effort and intent, it is possible to turn a symbolic action to increasingly impactful by adding the appropriate elements. Check out the webinar recording to learn more.  

Michael Peter Edson

Michael Peter Edson is a strategist and consultant working at the intersection of technology, culture, and global social change.

Michael was the Director of Web and New Media Strategy for the Smithsonian Institution and co-founder of the Museum of the United Nations – UN Live, a start-up NGO designed to catalyse civic effort toward the Sustainable Development Goals.

Michael is a Salzburg Global Fellow, a Fellow at the Getty Leadership Institute, a Distinguished Presidential Fellow Emeritus at CLIR, the Council on Library and Information Services, and Michael was named a “Tech Titan” person to watch by Washingtonian Magazine.

Learn more about Michael on his blog and website.