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Ethics of digital heritage and culture
This reflection of what we mean by ethics and ethical practice when creating, using and sharing so-called digital heritage and cultural data emerged from my work with colleagues on the Towards a National Collection (TaNC) research programme funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Board (AHRC). Specifically, it is a set of thoughts and responses…
Museums and the sensation of history
On 26 July 2023, thanks to a connection made by Heather Lomas, MCC Museum Collections Officer, I was invited to join a panel to debate museums, heritage and ‘culture wars’ at Lord’s Cricket Ground, St John’s Wood, London. Cricket? Culture wars and museums? This post will make sense if you read to the end. Skip…
Learning the Biased Languages of Benevolence, Equity and the Machine
Art museums and the organisations that support them frequently use language which promotes their benevolence and their commitment to equity. I will discuss why I have recently begun to experiment with machine learning to better understand how organisational texts like annual reports and policies adopt these biased languages, and how this might inform long-standing and…
Continue Reading Learning the Biased Languages of Benevolence, Equity and the Machine
The time of Stalins and Hitlers is not over: Invasion, occupation and the ethics of international solidarity
How do museums across the world deal with the heritage of imperialism, autocracy, totalitarianism and tyranny? In the words of Arundhati Roy “the project of domination [is] ongoing.” In the midst and in the immediate aftermath of invasion, occupation, and genocide, the focus of museums and heritage will be on rescuing, replacing and healing. But…
Book
My new book aimed at museum beginners, and those wishing to take on some new learning and refresh their knowledge, introduces readers to the fundamentals of museums, their purpose in society, their role in different communities, what collections are, effective communication and community engagement, ethics, and the different types of work that can be encountered in a museum setting. Download free copy of Citizen Curators: A Guide to Museums and Collections for Beginners (2025).
Philosophy
Curating narrows the gap between creating knowledge and communication. Our philosophy is inspired by the concept of creating collections of things. The act of collecting is about constructing knowledge (information and emotional) through explanation and stories.
Possessing that knowledge bestows a person power. It is the curator’s purpose to share that knowledge (and its power) as widely and equitably as possible through brilliant communication and interpretation.
Read more about my philosophy on curating.
