[Commlist] Call for papers: 'Care-ful Museums'

  ‘Care-ful Museums’


        29 June 2023, Nottingham Trent University
        Keynote speaker: Esme Ward, Director of Manchester Museum


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        *Call for Papers*

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Multiple versions of ‘care’ demonstrate how hard the word works: being 
careful, taking care, caring for, self-care, carelessness, careworn and 
care-free. The word ‘care’ has its etymological roots in Old English, 
the noun means; concern, anxiety, sorrow, grief or trouble and the verb 
to care signifies; to be anxious, to grieve or to feel concern.


The museum as a site of care may seem surprising in terms of people-care 
despite its traditional function to care for objects. How are museums 
reconciling these different types of care within a contemporary context 
of ongoing crisis? To what extent have museums in the United Kingdom and 
elsewhere become safety nets and spaces of sanctuary and support, 
filling a gap left by a shrinking welfare state? Museums are moving into 
this vacuum of care to provide the human right to participate in 
cultural life and enjoy the arts yet must do so whilst having funding 
and resources slashed. How can museums become more socially inclusive, 
caring institutions not simply in terms of public engagement but in 
their governance and day-to-day management?


*The Centre for the Study of Inequality, Culture and Difference* are 
pleased to announce a one-day conference on the theme of ‘Care-ful 
Museums’ on Thursday 29th June 2023. We invite abstracts for 15-20 
minute papers taking up any aspect of the concept of ‘care’ within the 
space of the museum, gallery or heritage site. We also welcome 
alternative formats such as group panels, short films or other creative 
interventions.

Potential topics might include but are not limited to:


- The museum as safe space or site of sanctuary

- Museums as spaces of hospitality

- Museum responses to COVID-19 and other crises

- Challenging perceptions of elitism

- Decolonial praxis as care work in the (postcolonial) museum

- The emotional labour of museum professionals and programming facilitators

- Developing sustainable care practices

- Small museums and community engagement

- The participatory vs. predatory museum


Please submit a 250 word abstract and 50 word biography to the 
organisers, Tamsin Greaves and Semanur Darbaz 
at*(tamsin.greaves2022 /at/ my.ntu.ac.uk)*by April 24th, 2023.


We will confirm successful submissions by May 12th, 2023.


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