Museums as deliberative spaces: engaging audiences through debating in Eastern and Central European museums. Mapping and diagnosis (original) (raw)
2021, Museums as deliberative spaces: engaging audiences through debating in Eastern and Central European museums. Mapping and diagnosis
In 2019, ICOM’s (International Council of Museums) Commission proposed a new definition of a museum as democratizing, inclusive and polyphonic space(s) for critical dialogue about the pasts and the futures. According to the document, cultural institutions of the 21st century should be a platform open for everyone who would like to share their opinions, experiences, problems and potential solutions to them. It sounds rather idyllic. But what if we can imagine an educational tool that can support this mission? Debate is a technique yet undiscovered by museums located in Europe that perfectly corresponds with their evolving role in democratic societies. The rare examples of successful debate initiatives such as: Leiden Museum Challenge – Science Debate & Design Thinking for school students in museums, The Józef Piłsudski Museum Debating History Clubs or two projects for The National Museum in Warsaw run by Polish Debating Foundation have not resulted in similar projects being conducted in the V4 region. Education has been long argued to have reached a central position in the hierarchy of museums functions (Hooper-Greenhill, 2000). Debate programs run by NGOs are a widely appreciated educational tool enabling active democratic participation, applicable in formal and informal teaching at every level (Firmin, 2007). Debates are also proven to be highly beneficial and effective in museum education as they allow for deeper interaction with information and have a positive effect on skill-building, such as creative and critical thinking. The need of museums to find new ways to engage the audience, especially local youth, as well as the challenge to rediscover their role in functioning of democratic societies is an issue that has to be addressed through increased regional dialogue and sharing of experiences. As debates are applicable in museums of any kind, and they have a positive impact on a number of skills, they directly increase competences and knowledge of the youth participating in innovative museum education projects. The articles and case studies collected in publication are intended to be a beginning of discussion on introducing debates in museum space and popularizing this form of activity that can develop the audience of cultural and heritage institutions.
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