"Museums & Society 2034" Studies Trends That Will Impact Museums and Their Role in American Life
Washington, DC, 12/31/2008 -

In the year 2034, American museums will face formidable challenges, shaped by the forces that are likely to buffet society itself in the next 25 years — major demographic shifts, increasing globalization, economic upheaval, advances in communications and technology, and the cultural transformations these breakthroughs portend. These changes are the focus of a fascinating new report from the Center for the Future of Museums (CFM), Museums & Society 2034: Trends and Potential Futures. CFM is an initiative of the American Association of Museums. The report was prepared for CFM by Reach Advisors of Belmont, Mass.

          Museums & Society 2034 projects current social trends – such as the rising percentage of minorities in the American population and the creative explosion fostered by Web 2.0 – into the world of 2034. After describing seismic changes in how Americans are likely to live, work, play, and relate to one another in the future, the report examines what the changes hold for society as a whole. Finally, the report suggests how museums can address these challenges and continue to meet their mission of public service – a prime objective of the Center for the Future of Museums.

          “This study is what we envision CFM to be: thoughtful, accessible, provocative, original and practical,” said Ford W. Bell, AAM president. “It should be immediately useful to anyone in the museum field, but also appeal to anyone seeking a broad yet insightful look at future changes in society — and the role of museums in that altering landscape.”

          Museums & Society 2034 looks at four major trends:

·       Demographic Shifts

Museums in the United States will need to adapt in creative ways to reach a population that is aging, more ethnically diverse, and where women will earn more than their male counterparts.

·       A Smaller, Flatter World

The unceasing globalization of the world’s economy should have a profound impact on museums, as nations struggle to find new sources of energy, recession grips the Western economies, developing countries play a larger role on the world stage, and income disparities in the United States persist (or even grow larger). Will the nation’s cultural centers find new supporters abroad — or even new addresses? Will museums maintain financial stability in the new economy?

·       The Ongoing Revolution in Communications Technology

A world where “information” is digital, cheap, and widely distributed  affects how people get their news and knowledge and whether they are willing to pay for it. It also encourages a more fragmented society, with shared experiences few and far between. Will museums continue to be trusted sources of information in this world? Will they provide opportunities for common experiences?

·       The Maturation of myCulture

Today’s technology, especially Web 2.0, already lets anyone be an opinion leader, a journalist, or an artist. This has spawned a creative renaissance and redefined “narrative” (as every story potentially revolves around “me”). Will museums continue to be sanctuaries of respite and retreat in a world where art can be made on a cell phone?

          “This work not only looks at how society will shape museums, but also how museums can shape society,” said Elizabeth Merritt, founding director of CFM. “A prominent futurist has said that forecasting isn’t a means of predicting the future, but rather an effort to discover what you need to do now to help shape the future. We think Museums & Society 2034 will help museums make a better future for themselves and society.”

          Version 1.0 of the report can be downloaded from the CFM website at http://www.futureofmuseums.org/reading/publications/#MS2034. A dynamic version of the report, with extended references and opportunities for reader feedback, will launch on the web in 2009. Museums & Society 2034 will also be the basis for discussions by professional associations within the museum field. In addition, James Chung, principal of Reach Advisors and the main author of the report, will present the findings at the 2009 AAM Annual Meeting and MuseumExpo in Philadelphia, April 30-May 4.

About AAM

The American Association of Museums has been bringing museums together since 1906, helping to develop standards and best practices, gathering and sharing knowledge, and providing advocacy on issues of concern to the entire museum community. With more than 15,000 individual, 3,000 institutional and 300 corporate members, AAM is dedicated to ensuring that museums remain a vital part of the American landscape, connecting people with the greatest achievements of the human experience, past, present and future. For more information, visit www.aam-us.org.

Press Contact:
Dewey Blanton
202-218-7704
dblanton@aam-us.org

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