Discussion Group - Precarious Workers & Vulnerable Institutions

Following the recent participative discussion hosted by the National Museum of Ireland's Sensitive Histories Forum (SHF) at the IMA's 2023 Annual Conference, this session aims to continue this exploration of the impact of precarious employment and resources on museums, their workforce, and their communities; ultimately, how these issues impact the audiences we strive to advocate for and represent through our collections and museum practice.

Museums are increasingly operating on tighter budgets, often relying on time-sensitive project grants that depend on short-term contracts for delivery of programmes that require high levels of trust-building and commitment, which take time to cultivate. While recognising the benefits of introducing fresh perspectives and specialised skills through a temporary workforce, how we can maximise the positives while minimising the negative effects this can bring and ensure the long-term sustainability of critical programmes, particularly those addressing sensitive histories and advocating for communities?

As we strive to embed participatory practice and collaborative approaches across core areas of museum practice, this open discussion aims to explore what measures need to be established to continue nurturing these partnerships when specific funding streams run dry and extend our duty of care to all those involved in designing and delivering audience focused programmes. 

Registration

This discussion is open to all members of the museum community, staff, volunteers, and freelancers; we look forward to your valuable insights. 

Complete the below form to book your place and receive the log-in link.