duality of mission

Barbara Franco addresses the inevitable change of museums. From policy to education, she highlights the current trend in public service and the shift from expertise to communication and exploration. However, it is noted that amongst this social relevance and responsiveness to community needs and visitor participation, there still remains a worthwhile definition: Museums both preserve and transmit culture, thus also setting and maintaining cultural standards. Museum policy and mission statements often, "reflect similar tensions that are expressed in variety of juxtapositions" (Franco, p. 9). She further describes it as, "inside versus outside; warehouse of valuable objects versus educational institution; professionalism versus community involvement; formal versus informal; expert role versus public service."

With the significant yet authoritative history of museums and their role in society, I am fully aware of this duality and it's challenges. However, why does one 'side' have to be so distinct from the other? Formal versus informal - the polarity she describes seems constructed and imposing. For instance, how and why would community involvement be in opposition to professionalism? It seems rather condescending. This approach defines museums as the colonizer, with the notion that differences continue to exists and communities can conform to such policies. The non-museum-going-public is treated and marginalized as "the other." "Outside, inside" she says! I'm thinking, oh, come on!

Museum policy needs to under go more than just programmatic additions, inclusive verbatim in their mission statement, and diversifying visitorship. They need complete redefinition and reformation. There shouldn't be competing goals and their shouldn't be any duality in a museum or program's mission (such juxtaposition would contradict and limit the museums goals!)Change the system or everything else is just useless sprinkles of water. Among "a warehouse of valuable objects" there is community-based exhibit here, an outreach project there, a bilingual signage here. Yes those are a great start but those are little tidbits of water - Nothing will grow. Especially in this sonoran desert heat!