The museum community has yet to have a forthright conversation about the climate crisis, including the role and responsibilities of museums in addressing it. In addition to their deep view of time, museums are eminently qualified to address the climate crisis for reasons that will be discussed. I assess the combined threat of the climate crisis and the Covid Pandemic, examine the inertia that hinders the museum community as a force for good, and suggest ways that members of the museum community can activate their personal and organization agency. Museum practitioners, academics, and students now have an unprecedented opportunity to mobilize museums as key civic and intellectual resources to take action in this deepening crisis.
Robert R. Janes Founder and Co-Chair Coalition of Museums for Climate Justice
Useful Resources
- Climate Change – Implications for your museum practice OMA Webinar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7kO8…
- Coalition of Museums for Climate Justice: https://coalitionofmuseumsforclimatej…
- We Are Still In: https://www.wearestillin.com/signatories
- Climate Museum UK: https://climatemuseumuk.org/
- We Are Museums: https://www.wearemuseums.com/
- MuseumNext: https://www.museumnext.com/
- The Empathetic Museum: http://empatheticmuseum.weebly.com/
- Ki Culture: https://www.kiculture.com/
- Museo Mundial: http://www.museomundial.org/
- Climate Heritage Network: http://climateheritage.org/
- Sustainability in Conservation: https://www.sustainabilityinconservat…
- Happy Museum Project: https://happymuseumproject.org/
- Anchorage Museum Website: https://www.anchoragemuseum.org/
Video courtesy Ontario Museum Association (OMA) https://members.museumsontario.ca/ COVID-19 Resources: https://members.museumsontario.ca/res… Support the OMA: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/10864
