Activism and museums

New forms of collaboration increasingly go hand in hand with the aspiration of many museums to be a place of discussion on contemporary issues and to involve new groups of stakeholders. On an ever more frequent basis, major museums with hegemonic histories of establishment and existence are daring to address current, politically explosive issues and engage in discussion with activists. And these seem to find museums to be a useful platform for their concerns. This seldom occurs, however, entirely without friction, as this often entails very contrasting organisational structures, patterns of action, and forms of knowledge coming together. Yet what are the parameters of this relationship of productive tension? What are the motives that lead participants to enter into a cooperation of this nature, and what are the objectives? What role does the differently situated knowledge of the stakeholders play? By looking at current projects in three fields of virulent activism—postcolonialism, digitalisation, and climate policy—we will explore the success factors and impacts of alliances between activists and museums. Topics of discussion will include opportunities and synergies, risks, hidden and open conflicts, as well as potential collaborative solutions.