I recently spoke at the MGNSW event Bricks and Mortar: Foundations for the future addressing issues of sustainability for regional museums and galleries.
The focus of my talk was about regional museums and galleries acting as advocates for sustainability by promoting their sustainable actions as an organisation and also by addressing issues such as the projected effect climate change could have on their local area via exhibitions or programs.
In addition to this, museums and galleries can create a more essential meaning of sustainability for the communities they serve when you consider one definition for the verb ‘to sustain’ which is “to support the spirits, vitality, or resolution of; encourage”[i]. This idea of where science and culture intersect is being addressed by the research group Hot Science: Global Citizens, a collaborative project between the University of Western Sydney and various museums in Australia. You can find out more about what they do at www.hotscienceglobalcitizens.net.
Giving the concept of sustainability meaning and value in our lives is a role museums can embrace. Rather than it being just about bricks and mortar, which is undeniably important, museums can embrace the spirit and vitality of ‘sustainability’ and encourage communities to value and own the concept.
For other interesting approaches to the culture of sustainability happening around the place you can check out these websites: www.brokenhillartexchange.com, www.postcardsfromthefuture.co.uk. And for more practical advice on green museums, have a look at the research paper by Rachel Byers from the University of Oregon called Green Museums + Green Exhibits – communicating sustainability through content and design (type “green museums” in the search box at www.scholarsbank.uoregon.edu).
Sharne Fielder
The Creative Consultant
Exhibition Designer
Sustainability Consultant
sharnefielder@hotmail.com
[i] The Free Dictionary by Farlex, http://www.thefreedictionary.com/sustainment (viewed 7 September 2011)
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