The Evolving Role of Museums in Contemporary Society

A pair of sneakers, donated to a Berlin museum in 2019, anchors an exhibition on migration history. Scuffed and utilitarian, they belonged to a Syrian refugee who walked over 300 kilometers to reach safety. These humble objects challenge assumptions about museum displays and audiences.

The sneakers are part of the permanent collection at the Werkbundarchiv – Museum der Dinge. This institution, historically focused on German design, has expanded its curatorial scope to explore objects reshaped by lived experience. “We need to confront the hierarchies that museums once upheld,” says Karin Bienek, the museum’s program coordinator. “A spoon can tell as much about social history as a porcelain tea set—perhaps more.”

This shift is evident beyond Berlin. Museums in Europe and North America are reassessing their roles. The International Council of Museums (ICOM) updated its definition in August 2022, stating that museums are “inclusive and polyphonic spaces for critical dialogue about the pasts and futures.” This language marks a departure from earlier definitions that prioritized collections over public engagement.

This redefinition legitimizes experiments with collaborative models, particularly in exhibitions addressing urgent contemporary issues. The British Museum’s 2021 exhibition Reflections on the Climate Crisis invited artists from the Pacific Islands to interpret colonial-era artifacts through the lens of climate change. These efforts indicate a willingness to make museums responsive rather than retrospective.

Community outreach is another area of recalibration. The Museo delle Periferie in Rome, opened in 2020, seeks to engage with marginalized neighborhoods. Located in the Tor Bella Monaca district, the museum operates without a conventional collection, curating temporary exhibitions, workshops, and public discussions. Its director, Giorgio de Finis, describes it as “a space for exchange, not preservation.” The museum emphasizes lived experience over institutional authority.

These paradigms carry risks. Critics argue that museums venturing into advocacy blur the line between education and activism. Others highlight the chronic underfunding of regional institutions, which struggle to meet traditional mandates. The 2023 closure of Canada’s Museum of Agriculture and Food underscores how financial pressures affect less urbanized museums.

Despite these tensions, the demand for inclusivity reshapes museum practice. In 2024, the Smithsonian Institution will open the Molina Family Latino Gallery, its first space dedicated to Latino culture. This gallery reflects decades of advocacy for representation within Washington’s museum landscape. Its inaugural exhibition, ¡Presente!, blends digital storytelling with artifacts ranging from pre-Columbian ceramics to 21st-century protest banners.

The digital transformation of museums complicates their evolving roles. Online exhibitions and virtual tours have widened access but raise questions about authentic experiences. A 2022 study by the American Alliance of Museums found that 37% of visitors to online exhibitions do not consider them a replacement for physical visits. The tactile dimension—the scale, weight, and texture of objects—remains central to museum-going. Yet, as Bienek notes, “digital access creates entry points for audiences who might never cross our threshold otherwise.”

This dual movement towards accessibility and locality is exemplified by the Museum of Broken Relationships in Zagreb. Founded in 2006, it collects personal objects donated by the public, each with a story. From wedding dresses to discarded love letters, the collection conveys intimate histories rather than grand narratives. The museum’s model has been replicated globally, with traveling exhibitions enabling participation from diverse communities.

As museums embrace broader social roles, they face calls for accountability regarding their histories. Repatriation of colonial-era artifacts remains contentious. In 2022, Germany returned 20 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria, part of a larger agreement with several European institutions. Meanwhile, the British Museum has yet to repatriate the Parthenon Marbles, despite growing pressure. Such disputes highlight the dissonance between professed values of inclusivity and historical legacies.

What museums prioritize in their collections and outreach reflects broader societal values. As the Werkbundarchiv’s worn sneakers suggest, even the smallest objects can carry significant weight. Museums must ensure that the burdens of history, culture, and emotion are shared collectively.