Q+A: Do Museums Matter?

Q:
Museum exhibitions are outdated! People can learn anything online for free! Why should we invest in exhibitions?

A:
Online’s great. But it can’t replicate the unique presence of a real artifact or artwork. An exhibition is a spatial experience you can’t get online. Ever.

Q:
Well, all this fancy design and technology is just a waste of money! Shouldn’t museums focus on facts and artifacts, not flashy exhibitions?

A:
Design and technology are tools, not distractions. Design clarifies complex ideas for diverse audiences. Interactivity makes museums more engaging, inclusive and accessible.

Q:
But we are catering too much to entertainment! Why are museums competing with theme parks?

A:
Engagement isn’t the same as entertainment. Museums can be immersive without sacrificing scholarship. A compelling narrative experience is approachable, memorable, and intellectually rigorous.

Q:
And why spend so much on exhibitions when museums are struggling financially? Shouldn’t the focus be on preserving collections?

A:
Preservation is key, but without public engagement, collections risk becoming invisible. Well-designed exhibitions are how museums stay relevant, build audiences, and secure funding.

Here’s the thing:
Museums are unique in ways other experiences can’t match. Ever.

And well-designed, engaging exhibitions make that uniqueness shine.

Warmly,
Jonathan

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MtM Word of the Day:
Tombstone / tombstone label. A minimal text label for an artifact showing only the most essential information, much like the brevity of an actual tombstone. For art, that might include artist, title, date and medium, but no interpretation. (Entry suggested by reader E.R.)