Transforming Museums in the Twenty-first Century

Graham Black's central claim is that museums must transform themselves to stay relevant to 21st-century audiences, and that this would be needed even without a funding crisis. The pressure comes from new technologies and wider social change, and the argument extends to arts bodies and other mass communicators.

The transformed museum he describes builds regular users, works through participation and collaboration, and combines on-site, online and mobile provision. It uses social media to build lasting relationships, is not confined by its walls or opening hours, and works outwards with communities and partners such as schools. At its heart is sustained engagement with collections.

The book includes an analysis of population trends and their likely effect on museums, boxes with models and planning suggestions, and case studies from large and small museums, with a bibliography. It follows Graham Black's earlier book, The Engaging Museum.