Embracing Inclusiveness and Representation:
The Power of Co-Curation in Modern Museums; the case of the National Army Museum and the McCord Museum
In today’s rapidly evolving society, museums serve as more than just repositories of historical artifacts. Embracing the goal of becoming more innovative and reflective of society, museums worldwide are embracing co-curation to achieve inclusiveness and represent the voices of minority groups.
Through the lens of two exemplary museums, the National Army Museum in London and Montreal’s McCord Museum, this blogpost highlights the pivotal role of co-curation as a win-win strategy for museums’ modernization efforts and fosters the participation of minorities and the freedom of speech.
Both the National Army Museum and the McCord Museum exemplify the principles outlined in UNESCO’s Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage by actively engaging communities in the curation process. For instance, the National Army Museum’s project to research, catalogue, and digitize its rich Indian army collection involves extensive consultation with British Asian communities, allowing the
museums to better understand these collections and provide precise information about the artifacts. Similarly, the McCord Museum collaborates closely with Indigenous individuals and communities to respect their sacred, spiritual artifacts for example, which enhances good relations between the community and museums. These museums employ participatory approaches, such as community reinterpretation workshops and digital initiatives to engage diverse perspectives, photography, recording etc. For example, volunteers from British Asian communities helped the museum identify Indian individuals to interview them. Similarly, at the McCord Museum, during the Indigenous exhibition, a video displaying a contemporary artisan indigenous was used as an alternative to explain a ceremonial Innu drum, considered too sacred by the community to be catalogued in the museum.
hrough co-curation, museums become spaces where communities can express themselves authentically, restoring truth and representation. By incorporating community insights, museums challenge the traditional curator interpretations and offer a more nuanced understanding of cultural heritage. This collaborative approach empowers communities and fosters a sense of belonging and representation for visitors. That makes communities feel compelled to engage with museums, ensuring their continued relevance and accessibility. Co-curation ensures the respectful preservation of cultural inheritance by updating interpretations and incorporating local or community knowledge into museum databases. Museums, like the McCord Museum, prioritize Indigenous protocols and authorization when exhibiting sacred or ceremonial objects, demonstrating a commitment to cultural sensitivity and preservation.
In retrospect, the practice of co-curation emerges as a powerful tool for modern museums to achieve inclusiveness, authenticity, and relevance. By embracing diverse perspectives and engaging communities in the curation process, museums uphold their duty to represent the multifaceted narratives of society. As we strive towards a more inclusive and equitable future, co-curation stands as a cornerstone of museum modernization, fostering dialogue, understanding, and respect across diverse communities.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
- Montreal’s McCord Museum opens up to Indigenous Perspectives – Canada’s History (2023). https://www.canadashistory.ca/explore/first–nations–inuit–metis/montreal–s–mccord–museum–opens–up–to–indigenous–pe.
- Museums Association (2020) Co-curating with communities – Museums Association. https://www.museumsassociation.org/museums–journal/opinion/2015/09/09092015-co–curating–with–communities/.
- Text of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage https://ich.unesco.org/en/convention