FIMS Publications
Document Type
Report
Publication Date
2021
URL with Digital Object Identifier
https://doi.org/10.5206/VDJM2980
Abstract
The Global Engagement of Museums in Canada examines Canadian museum diplomacy, assessing the international activities of Canadian museums to consider the ways these institutions act as cultural diplomats on the global stage. The report presents the results of a multi-partner collaborative research project addressing the work of ten institutions, including the Art Gallery of Alberta; Aga Khan Museum; Canadian Museum of History; Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21; Montreal Museum of Fine Arts; Museum of Anthropology at UBC; National Gallery of Canada; Ottawa Art Gallery; Pointe-à-Callière, Montréal Archaeology and History Complex; and the Royal Ontario Museum. Focusing on the period of 2009 to 2019, this report highlights new activities and methods within museum practice, while also grounding these within the context of developments in the last decade. Drawing on archival research, document analysis, and interviews with museum professionals, this research establishes baseline data on the global reach of Canadian museums and identifies best practices to share with the museum sector and cultural diplomacy community.
Comprised of three sections, the report begins by presenting the framework for the project, explaining the logic behind the selection of institutions and the pedagogical considerations that informed our collective methodology. Second, the report provides a review of the literature in the field of cultural diplomacy, situating the research project. And third, the core of the project, are ten studies of specific institutions, drawn from the fieldwork conducted by the team. These institutional reports demonstrate the ways in which museums engage with a range of global activities and actors. They further address developing trends in the sector, while also suggesting future avenues for research.
The Global Engagement of Museums in Canada is a research project led by Primary Investigators Jeffrey Brison and Sarah E.K. Smith. Funded by a Mitacs Accelerate Grant, the initiative is a collaboration between the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and Queen’s University.
Creative Commons License
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