What Are Museums For? - (What Is It For?) by Jon Sleigh (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

The days when museums were dusty, stuffy institutions displaying their wealth and wisdom to a reverential public are over. Museums today are a cultural battleground. Who should decide what is put on display and how it is presented? Who gets to set the narrative?

In this passionately argued book, Jon Sleigh maintains that museums must be for all people and inclusion must be at the heart of everything they do. But what does good inclusion look like in practice? Cleverly structured like a museum tour, Sleigh uses seven illustrative museum objects from seven very different museums to explore such wide-ranging issues as trust-building, representation, digital access, conflicting narratives, removal from display and restitution.

Review Quotes

"Gentle and eloquent, encouraging and accessible, this is a book for anyone who has asked 'What are museums for?'" Museums Journal

"A quick, informative resource for readers seeking an overview of the key concerns facing museums as they begin to evolve into the accountable, representative, inclusive institutions they are called on to be. This work is essential to museum studies and a valuable addition for art history or arts-related collections. Essential." Choice

About the Author

Jon Sleigh is a freelance arts and heritage Learning Curator, working nationally connecting audiences with artworks and collections for their advocacy. He was formerly Learning Officer for the Arts Council Collection based at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.