A Democratic Theory of Museum Education
On 22 September 2011, Prof. George E. Hein held a lecture at Museum für Völkerkunde (Austria). The following is a summary of his talk. George E. Hein is Professor Emeritus of the Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences at Lesley University, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
George E. Hein
Prof. Hein’s lecture is summarised as follows: “Education for everyone and the right for everyone to have a say in matters are the foundation of a democratic development.” How museums go about their educational mission is directly related to strivings for democratic progress. These strivings are most clearly visible in the way a museum integrates visitors and the population into its educational mission. Where in the past museums were places primarily for the transfer of knowledge, the situation has changed today both in terms of the museum’s mission and its intentions:
The goal is a fusion of pedagogic and political progress: “If you want to have a progressive society, you must have progressive education!” Hein feels very strongly that if you spend, say, €10 000 on a work of art, you must be prepared to spend the same sum for education. Prof. Hein’s suggestions as to what museums can do to meet their educational responsibility include the following:
- Social Justice: the museum must provide a platform and a venue for discussion.
- Content: selecting social justice exhibitions: visitors must be given an opportunity for reflection in and through exhibitions.
- Exhibition Methodology: visitors must be offered possibilities for interaction.
- Mission related programmes: “Be an agent for change” > Key works and lifelong learning
- Staff experiences; international structure
- Administrative Structure: Museum staff training for all staff, not only for professional staff
