21st Century “Museum Guards”

Where museum guards used to protect valuable objects and ensure safety and order, the modern conception of the museum sees visitor services associates as the “business card of their institution”: whether permanently employed or outsourced – they are the initial points of contact and, in many cases, the only representatives of the museum with whom visitors come in direct contact. Depending on the type of museum and its guidelines, as well as their personality and skill set, they are responsible for a variety of tasks and roles during a museum visit, from “contact person” to “guard” to “communicator” to “host.” The workshop examines the heterogenous profession of providing security, assistance, and communication in the museum. What job descriptions and preconceived roles define today’s everyday museum practice? What new tasks does the change from traditional institutions of education to sought-after tourist sights entail? What competences does a contemporary museum need if it wants to be open and audience friendly? What potential do the diverse biographies and professional backgrounds of people in visitor services hold for a museum that likes to present itself to its visitors through conversation and interaction? What strategies are there to deal with and fight against precarious working conditions? And finally, how can direct contact with the audience be used as a source of information for the museum?