Posts Tagged ‘Elaine Gurian’

Michael Jackson exhibit turned into a shrine at the Powerhouse Museum

Many people are talking about dynamic and progressive ways of bringing objects to life on the Web. But there is often a disparity between what is happening online and on the floor of the galleries, libraries, archives and museums (GLAM). When visitors come to a cultural institution they often say- ‘I expected a dynamic and energised museum, more like its website’.



The Powerhouse Museum has recognised this issue and has taken steps to be responsive to its community. Within five hours of the announcement of Michael Jackson’s death, the official crew jacket from the ‘Bad’ tour in 1987 was put out on display in the main foyer as a tribute to the “King of Pop”. The monogrammed jacket was donated by the Museum’s staff member Adam Takesce – it was given to him during the ‘Bad’ tour while he worked for CBS records. This was part of the Museum’s display set up in the star’s honour which included a Michael Jackson doll, swap cards, the Thriller album cover and a condolence book for visitors to write messages in. The marketing department sent out a press release attracting instant media attention, from extensive national coverage on the ABC, TV channels 7, 9, and 10 and Peter Cox gave five radio interviews that linked to the forthcoming 80s exhibition. The display has been turned into a shrine by fans who, in just a week, have nearly filled the book with messages and have left flowers and a card. Online supported the Museum exhibit with Erika Dicker’s Object of the Week blog publishing a piece about Jackson.



The Powerhouse Museum’s actions were inspired by ‘agent for change’ Elaine Gurian – author of the book The Blue Ocean Museum. Elaine describes ‘museums as soup kitchens’ that need to serve the needs of their community. She suggested the GLAM sector needs to find a balance between thinking like a media agency (reacting to events in society) and behaving like a social commentator (interpreting these events from a distance). This way people will look up to GLAMs in times of change. They will remain experts. Not through top-down instruction but through facilitation, interpretation and community building. Nina Simon has discussed this idea in further detail on her Museum 2.0 blog.

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