Birmingham, United Kingdom — The Birmingham Museums Trust has taken an innovative step towards engaging the local community with its cultural heritage by convening a citizens’ jury last year. This grassroots initiative aimed to gather insights and recommendations to enhance the city’s museums, reflecting a growing trend across the UK where institutions seek to deepen public involvement in the cultural sector.
Over several months, the Birmingham Museums Trust collaborated with Shared Future, a community interest company, to gather 28 diverse participants from the Birmingham metro area. These individuals, representing a broad spectrum of society, devoted 30 hours online and three full days in person to deliberate the future role of museums in their community.
The central question posed to the jury was to consider what the citizens of Birmingham need and desire from their museums currently and in the coming years, and what actions the Birmingham Museums Trust should undertake to fulfill those needs.
After extensive discussions, the citizens’ jury outlined a comprehensive set of 20 recommendations aimed at enhancing the visibility and accessibility of the city’s museums. They addressed issues ranging from revising local council planning rules that hinder promotional efforts, to boosting the museums’ social media presence, to ensuring all exhibitions are accessible to every city resident.
Top among the priorities was the creation of museum spaces that offer diverse experiences – educational, fun, and providing escapism. The jury emphasized that museums should not only preserve and present history but also engage and entertain their audiences.
At the conclusion of the process, the jury expressed a newfound appreciation and pride in their local museums, noting that their involvement had transformed their perception of these institutions. They advocated for greater community involvement and active promotion of the museums within their circles, reflecting a significant shift in their engagement with these cultural assets.
Sara Wajid and Zak Mensah, co-CEOs of the Birmingham Museums, recognized the timing of this civic engagement as crucial. They highlighted the growing financial pressures on local authorities and the risk these pose to cultural institutions across the UK. The co-CEOs were inspired by the jury’s conclusion that citizens not only value their local museums but also view them as pivotal in celebrating Birmingham’s rich history and diverse present.
Wajid and Mensah acknowledged the jury’s call for museums to be bold and take risks to stay relevant and engaging. They envisaged a future where Birmingham Museums can act as benchmarks for 21st-century cultural institutions in the UK.
As part of their strategic vision, the co-CEOs emphasized the necessity for collaboration with various civic, third sector, and commercial organizations to realize these ambitious goals. They aspire to make Birmingham a model city that others across Britain can look to.
This initiative by the Birmingham Museums Trust highlights a dynamic shift towards participatory governance in cultural institutions, where the voices of local citizens lead the way in shaping a more inclusive and engaging future for museums.
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