Museums manage the past, but at the same time stand in the middle of the present. It is characterized by major societal changes: climate crisis, technological shifts, global conflicts and questions of identity and belonging. How can research and communication contribute to making museums relevant in the face of these challenges?
We welcome you to a conference that examines topicality as a scientific and communication driving force for museums. How can research and communication contribute to understanding and reflecting the present – and create space for critical reflection, engagement and dialogue with the public? We invite researchers, communicators and museum employees to shed light on how topicality can provide new perspectives on the missions of museums – and to reflect on the role of museums as knowledge institutions and social actors in our time. Do we have sustainability? Willingness?
In the "Case in your face" section on day 1 and day 2, you who have experience of working in such a context at our museums are invited to talk about this. All approaches to communication in the museum are welcome: you can present communication methodology, communication projects, communication in operation, exhibition productions, research on communication, meta-perspectives on your own practice, a project under preparation that you would like input on, practices you would like to test out. You can give a presentation alone or in collaboration with others. We will divide the presentations into appropriate sections based on the input received. However, the common denominator must be CURRENT.
Please submit an outline of approximately 200 words via the application button by Friday 19 January 2026. Professor Richard Sandell from the University of Leicester will be one of the conference's keynote speakers. It is therefore desirable that some of the presentations can be given in English. Please let us know if this is okay.
