Serving the Inanimate Constituency: Re-Centering Collections in the Work of Museums

Abstract

Museums play a critical role in protecting society's collective heritage by protecting, caring for, and sharing collections items for the public trust. A combination of developments has led museums to shift resources from collections towards work on audience engagement, innovation, and demonstrating impact. But strategies exist for museums to keep collections at the center of their work, thus helping to protect museums' essential and niche function to society. The Cycling Museum of Minnesota offers an illustration of what re-centering collections looks like in practice.