MUSEUM IRELAND 2020
Museums in a time of change/crisis (delete where appropriate) William Blair
I’m convinced that the pandemic we’re currently
NI, and my own role in it. That said, it has also
living through is both a manifestation of and a
been an iterative process. The benefits of being
mere interruption in the relentless march towards
active within a professional body like the Irish
an interconnected world, one in which peoples and
Museums Association include the opportunities it
cultures can’t help but collide. In that world – of
offers not only to use one’s own influence but also,
global supply chains, instantaneous capital transfers,
just as importantly, to benefit from the influence
social media, transnational terrorist networks,
of others. We are all on a learning journey and we
climate change, mass migration, and ever-increasing
all need critical friends to develop our own theory
complexity – we will learn to live together, cooperate
and practice.
with one another, and recognise the dignity of others, or we will perish.
I took on my current role as Director of Collections
Barack Obama, A Promised Land, 2020
as part of a new leadership team. We had, like most in the sector, experienced years of cuts as
Museums are facing unprecedented challenges
a result of ‘austerity’ measures impacting public
in a rapidly changing world. The Irish Museums
finances. But yet, despite these challenges, I
Association has endeavoured not only to keep pace
looked forward to the future with confidence and
with these changes, but also to show leadership
optimism. If I was to summarise my dominant
in debating their implications and navigating a
considerations over the past three years, they
sustainable, relevant future. Now rapid social,
would be ‘role and purpose’, ‘values’, ‘ethics,
economic and political change are accompanied
and unlocking the potential of our collections. In
by the impact of a global pandemic. As the sector
good times and in bad times, values and ethics
begins to emerge from what has been the most
provide the essential touch point around which
significant crisis we’ve ever faced, will our post-
judgement can be exercised and decisions taken.
COVID-19 world be one of bleak austerity, or an
For most of my career, values and ethics provided
opportunity for museums to find a new fulfilment
a passive background for my work; now they are
of their role and purpose in society?
my essential pole star.
When I took on the role of Chair of the Irish
It seems incredible to think that in his 1992
Museums Association in 2017, it coincided with
book, The End of History and the Last Man, Francis
my appointment as Director of Collections at
Fukuyama argued that the worldwide spread of
National Museums NI. Inevitably, my reflections
liberal democracies and free-market capitalism of
on the last three years are largely grounded in the
the West and its lifestyle may signal the end-point
transformation agenda within National Museums
of humanity’s sociocultural evolution, and become
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