As we step into 2025, it’s clear that adaptation is the name of the game. With evolving political, social, and technological landscapes, UK museums need to embrace radical new approaches that prioritise collaboration, care, and sustainability. Here are the top three priorities shaping the future of museums in the UK this year:
1. Radical Collaboration: Co-Creation and Community
Museums are expected to be more than repositories of objects; they have the potential to transform into spaces for meaningful community engagement. Since the political shift with a Labour government, there is a chance for more opportunities for bold grassroots initiatives, that empower local voices and foster co-creation. This isn’t just about events and exhibits; it's also about changing governance so you can invite communities to help shape museums' operations.
Radical collaboration means moving beyond tokenistic partnerships to true shared authority. This could involve co-curating exhibitions with community groups, establishing advisory panels that represent diverse stakeholders, and hosting events that encourage open dialogue and feedback. Museums are also exploring ways to make their spaces accessible for community use, such as hosting local group meetings or creative workshops. By centring the needs and aspirations of their audiences, museums are becoming hubs for social cohesion and creativity.
Museums need to prioritise care as a core value. Let's be Inspired by Audre Lorde’s call for collective self-care; institutions could explore how to support the well-being of their staff and visitors while considering how collections can embody care. Whether through flexible working policies, restorative exhibitions, or community healing programmes, museums have the opportunity to recognise that care and collaboration go hand in hand.
Case Study: Voices of power: amplifying the black experience in trauma with the Wilberforce House museum advisory board
The Voices of Power: Amplifying Black Narratives and Building Inclusive Museums project showcased how radical collaboration can foster trust and equity within museums. By actively involving Black communities in decision-making, the Board worked to celebrate Black excellence and acknowledge historically marginalised voices, such as abolitionist Thomas Peters. The discussion emphasised the need to build trust through genuine relationships, rather than relying on institutional authority. This approach exemplifies how museums can create safe, inclusive spaces by prioritising co-creation and community leadership, aligning with the Ubuntu philosophy of interconnectedness.
2. Decolonisation, Anti-Racism, and responsible AI
Decolonisation and anti-racism are not fleeting trends; they are mindsets that are essential to reshaping the sector. Museums need to take responsibility for their colonial histories by repatriating objects, reinterpreting collections, and embedding anti-racist practices throughout their operations. This work is about accountability and building a future where museums are equitable spaces for all.
Digital tools play a critical role in advancing these efforts. Accessible technologies, such as alt text for images, audio descriptions, and virtual tours, ensure inclusivity for audiences with diverse needs. These tools allow museums to share a broader range of narratives and create spaces that reflect the diversity of the communities they serve.
Responsible AI is another critical area of innovation, enabling museums to automate administrative tasks, personalise visitor experiences, and generate engaging content. However, the implementation of AI must adhere to ethical standards. I would recommend be FAIR to CARE principles, which are practices of Indigenous Data Governance. These ensure that AI and data management align with values of transparency, fairness, and inclusivity. By integrating these ethical frameworks the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) can allow CARE(Collective Benefit, Authority to Control, Responsibility, and Ethics) to be at the heart of these ethical considerations. Prioritising respect, reciprocity, and relationships in every interaction; these principles challenge museums to integrate technology responsibly, ensuring it supports inclusion and equity without perpetuating harm or bias. Responsible AI offers opportunities to streamline processes and enhance engagement, but museums must approach it thoughtfully to maintain their ethical commitments.
Case Study: Transforming Collections: Reimagining art, nation and heritage with the University of Arts London and Tate
The Transforming Collections project used the bespoke Collections Transformer tool to uncover biases in museum databases. Designed to provoke critical reflection rather than automate processes, the tool helped question how collections are framed and whose stories are prioritised. This ethical, human-centred approach highlights the role of technology in supporting decolonisation and anti-racism, emphasising thoughtful development and collaboration to challenge systemic inequities.
3. Sustainability and Innovation: DIY Solutions and Accessible Collections
Sustainability is an urgent priority for museums, shaped by the dual pressures of global warming and years of UK austerity measures that have severely impacted museum budgets. With fewer resources to draw on, institutions need to adopt innovative approaches that balance environmental responsibility with financial constraints, embracing low-tech solutions to stay resilient and relevant.
DIY solutions and low-tech innovations have emerged as vital tools in the sustainability toolkit. By repurposing materials for exhibitions and involving communities in co-creation, museums are finding creative ways to reduce costs and environmental impact. These approaches also provide a much-needed alternative to resource-intensive technologies, offering a refreshing counterbalance to the digital fatigue experienced by both staff and audiences.
Remote volunteering is also an amazing solution to address sustainability challenges. By enabling individuals to contribute to cataloguing and collections management from their own homes, museums can harness a diverse range of skills and perspectives while reducing on-site resource demands and travel. This approach not only accelerates digitisation and breaks down barriers to participation, ensuring that people from all backgrounds can actively engage in preserving cultural heritage. Remote volunteering embodies the spirit of inclusivity and sustainability, proving that museums can thrive through collective effort and creativity. By prioritising ethical technology, low-tech solutions, and community empowerment, museums can create a more sustainable and inclusive future.
Case Study: Making Collections Accessible with Documentation Detectives at Birmingham Museums
The Documentation Detectives project by Birmingham Museums Trust showcases how sustainability and innovation can enhance accessibility. Using the crowdsourcing platform Zooniverse, volunteers transcribed over 21,000 object records in two weeks, significantly accelerating digitisation efforts. This participatory, low-tech approach reduced resource demands while engaging the community in meaningful work. By coordinating volunteer contributions and integrating open-access tools, the Trust exemplified how strategic tech solutions can align with sustainability goals and transform traditional museum practices.
Conclusion and final thoughts
It is time to embrace the opportunity collaboration, care, and sustainability have for the museum sector. Prioritising radical co-creation, embedding anti-racist mindsets, and balancing innovation with responsibility, museums can position themselves as spaces of equity, healing, and inspiration.
What priorities do you think your local museums should have? Join the conversation in the comments or share your thoughts on social media. Let’s shape the future of museums together.
References:
Museums Association, 2024. Museums Association Conference 2024: The Joy of Museums. 12-14 November, Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds.
Towards a National Collection, 2024. Towards a National Collection Conference 2024. 20-21 November, Online.
Collections Trust, 2024. Collections Trust Annual Conference 2024: Putting Collections Data to Work. 3 October, Online.
https://www.arts.ac.uk/ual-decolonising-arts-institute/projects/transforming-collections
https://www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/about/what-we-do/dynamic-collections/documentation-detectives
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