Comments on: Could museums and galleries help rescue our democracy? http://www.cultureunlimited.org/blog/democracy/could-museums-and-galleries-help-rescue-our-democracy/ If museums are the answer, what was the question? Tue, 02 Nov 2010 15:29:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Mr Malcontent http://www.cultureunlimited.org/blog/democracy/could-museums-and-galleries-help-rescue-our-democracy/comment-page-1/#comment-13 Mr Malcontent Tue, 02 Nov 2010 15:29:14 +0000 http://www.cultureunlimited.org/blog/?p=3#comment-13 It's hardly surprising, then, that museums' veracity (the proportion of people who trust them) is so high. Most surveys in the UK and the US rate it at somewhere between 85% and 90%. That's right at the top of the charts with Doctors and co. and miles away from politicians, languishing at somewhere near 20%. The expenses scandal and other political self-destructions put politians at the bottom; below estate agents and journalists. Trust is something that's not easy to come by in public life, but museums have it by the ton. That's a massive opportunity that seems to be undiscovered right now. It’s hardly surprising, then, that museums’ veracity (the proportion of people who trust them) is so high. Most surveys in the UK and the US rate it at somewhere between 85% and 90%.
That’s right at the top of the charts with Doctors and co. and miles away from politicians, languishing at somewhere near 20%. The expenses scandal and other political self-destructions put politians at the bottom; below estate agents and journalists.
Trust is something that’s not easy to come by in public life, but museums have it by the ton. That’s a massive opportunity that seems to be undiscovered right now.

]]> By: Culture Monkey http://www.cultureunlimited.org/blog/democracy/could-museums-and-galleries-help-rescue-our-democracy/comment-page-1/#comment-11 Culture Monkey Mon, 01 Nov 2010 11:41:28 +0000 http://www.cultureunlimited.org/blog/?p=3#comment-11 Agreed, The problem with the way museums approach the issue at the moment is they get all introspective and start down the track of trying to make themselves internally democratic. That's fine of course, but completely distracting from the potential they do have to improve democracy across society more generally, which is what I think you're talking about. In a financially chewed-up sector, it's hardly a great use of museums' energy to be inwardly-looking at their own democratic purity. It IS something they should do, but not INSTEAD of democacy in the wider community/society. Agreed,

The problem with the way museums approach the issue at the moment is they get all introspective and start down the track of trying to make themselves internally democratic. That’s fine of course, but completely distracting from the potential they do have to improve democracy across society more generally, which is what I think you’re talking about.

In a financially chewed-up sector, it’s hardly a great use of museums’ energy to be inwardly-looking at their own democratic purity. It IS something they should do, but not INSTEAD of democacy in the wider community/society.

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