Past their prime?

Whether they are devoted to specific topics and events, famous individuals or social groups – museums have always been products of their times. They are established against the backdrop of political, economic and social developments, as well as social movements. They adapt their collections and offerings to meet a narrowly defined set of conditions. We want to raise the question of what occurs when realities undergo radical change. What happens to established collections and museums when new social issues displace old ones? What results when the focus on the interests of a specific (social) group extremely limits the institution’s opportunities for development? What are the consequences when the demands for individual “specialized museums” or entire categories of museums are met or cease to exist? What when new, more general museums seem to adequately cover the same content as older established institutions? What options remain when new marketing concepts can no longer save institutions from becoming historic phenomena? We will examine the processes of transformation of selected museums that have either adapted their goals and strategies or are in the act of doing so. What concepts are there for realigning the content of collections and museums or updating the questions and issues they address? When, if at all, can it be an option to join another collection or another museum? What do these developments mean for the collections; the expertise and the individuals working in the museums; the institutional identity; and finally the public that goes along with the change of a museum, or perhaps has to be found anew?