Climate. Activism. Museum

The extreme consequences of the climate crisis and the ongoing protests by young activists such as Fridays for Future have alarmed the general public in the last two years as never before. It is becoming increasingly clear that the climate crisis is not merely a natural disaster but depends on our actions—at least for now. Yet we also know that our actions are not based solely on reason but are culturally influenced and affected by emotions and values. More and more museums are addressing this topic in an attempt to explore the climate crisis not from the perspective of science, but in its cultural and socio-political dimensions. In this workshop, we wish to discuss this new approach and specifically examine how social and cultural history museums, in particular, can tackle climate-related cultural issues in their collections, work more sustainably themselves, and motivate others to take action. What contribution can museums make to promote self-reflection on consumer behaviour and lifestyles? How can they deal with cultural issues such as climate justice in post/decolonial contexts, increasingly climate-induced global migration, or indigenous knowledge on sustainable ways of life? And what forms of exhibition and education are needed when it is a matter of motivating visitors to take action? In this workshop, we will visit various museums in Vienna and discuss how museums can be active on the climate issue, what goals they should set, and who they wish to reach.