People. Change. Museums. is a six-part podcast series that explores the complex relationship between museums and technology in this time of intersecting crises.
Presented by me - Dr Sophie Frost, researcher on the 'One by One' initiative in the School of Museum Studies at the University of Leicester (UK) - this podcast pulls together perspectives from the international museum world to take the temperature of the current moment. Part spoken essay, part interview and part call to arms, I ask: what is the role of the museum in defining our human values in 2020? And how does technology help or hinder this project?
People. Change. Museums. is available wherever you get your podcasts or at this link.
People. Change. Museums. podcast (2020)
Episode 1: PRECARITY
'Precarity' refers to the condition of being precarious - of being flexible, insecure, dependent, vulnerable and exposed. In this episode, we hear how ‘precarity’ is a complicated term when it comes to museums and technology. Sara Snyder, Smithsonian American Art Museum (US), Dr Oonagh Murphy, Goldsmiths' College (UK), Ed Rodley, freelance experience designer and museum professional (US) and Blaire Moskowitz, PhD candidate and museum professional (US/UK) join me to discuss how they are each contemplating what 'precarity' means for our individual and collective futures.
Episode 2: COURAGE
This year, many of us have needed to be more courageous than before in our use of digital applications and tools, both to stay connected personally and to continue to work professionally. .
In this episode, we hear how museum people across the globe have been practicing digital courage where they are. I interview Dr Steven Franklin, Digital Engagement Officer, Egham Museum (UK), Angie Judge, Chief Executive of Dexibit - a big data and analytics company working with museums and cultural institutions (NZ), and Seema Rao, Deputy Director and Chief Engagement Officer of Akron Art Museum in Ohio (US) about what they believe it takes to promote and inspire change. We also hear again from Sara Snyder, Chief of External Affairs and Digital Strategies, Smithsonian American Art Museum (US), about where the 'bright spots' are for digital technology in museums.
Episode 3: EMOTIONAL LABOUR
'Emotional Labour' is a concept that has gained more and more recognition since the start of the pandemic, and even before that it had become synonymous with a wide range of employment rights issues – from its close relationship to typically female experiences of juggling a career alongside caring responsibilities, through to experiences of exhaustion, burn-out, self-alienation and exploitation when having to continuously put so much of one’s inner self into one’s work.
I’m joined in this episode by Effie Kapsalis - Senior Digital Program Officer at the Smithsonian Institution (US), Jude Holland - Learning Manager at Barnsley Museums (UK), Andrea Ledesma - Digital Product Specialist for the Web & Digital Engagement Team at the Field Museum (US) and Dr Lauren Vargas - Research Associate on 'One by One' and Digital Placemaker-Community Strategist (EU). Hear Effie, Jude, Andrea and Lauren help me delve deeper into what 'emotional labour' might mean in 2020, and how it might be a force for good rather than one that is merely burdensome.