Museums as sites of civil society: Conversations with audience in the 21st century
Chiara O’Reilly, Anna Lawrenson, Lee-Anne Hall

Public Museums are sites of civil society that operate in a unique compact with the state on behalf of citizens to collect, hold, exhibit and narrate human endeavour and history. In serving ‘society’ however, they both reflect aspects of it and generate meaning around it. In an increasingly ‘uncivil’ social and political environment this research interrogates the role of museums and their relationship with audience. This research is part of a major collaborative project with Museums & Galleries of NSW
(M&GNSW). The discussion today is focused on the concept of Cultural Mediation and its potential to reshape relationships between audiences and museums. Aspects of our research has contributed to M&GNSW’s professional development package provided to galleries hosting the exhibition Just Not Australian which is touring nationally from late 2020.

This event will be held online via Zoom.