Curating the Future By Dr . Julie Decker
In the fall of 2017 , the Anchorage Museum opened a new wing and a major new exhibition about Alaska . Major capital projects with complex public / private partnerships made the expansion possible . With these spaces , the Museum has dedicated galleries for its mission to tell the story of the North through art , design , history , science , and culture .
For years , museums were focused on protecting objects , forced to defend funding and become risk-adverse in order to survive and find longevity . But changing community needs along with new modes of engagement create imperatives for museums to serve the community in ways that extend beyond traditional institutional formats and settings . Museums must now be multifaceted institutions , less about what ’ s on display than on being a broader community catalyst .
Museum Photos by Kevin G . Smith Photography © 2018
The Anchorage Museum has responded to this imperative by connecting with the public in new and deeper ways , strengthening the social and institutional networks that support community well-being and partnering with other individuals and organizations to spark positive change . With its aspirational building and architecture , professional staff , and commitment to knowledge and innovation , the Anchorage Museum is adding capacity to its public realms , addressing broader community needs , spurring community development , and facilitating conversations around social change .
Museums have long reflected the importance of creativity by giving artists , thinkers , and change makers visibility through programs and exhibitions . Today , museums must learn to apply to their own institutions what they have celebrated in others : creativity , innovation , critical thinking , and risk-taking . They must be innovative in their management structures by engaging in open-ended thinking , pushing the boundaries of technology , applying design thinking , embracing technology , and acting with empathy .
Those of us charged with preserving and celebrating people and movements that changed history must embrace this mindset to become changemakers ourselves . Leading one of the largest cultural institutions in the region is therefore much more than running a facility and ensuring the preservation of the objects it holds . It requires managing change , developing a nimble structure for a large institution , and redefining roles to be outward-facing , public-serving , and creative .
Museums are storytellers . Throughout the last five years , the Anchorage Museum has demonstrated that it can play a powerful role in building a place-based narrative for Anchor-
14 APR-JUN 2018