Museums are an important part of society, reflecting the past to help us gain understanding.
The Natural History Museum in London has reflected on their purpose and is looking to do more than just be a collection of displays. They want to help create a need for change and spur action in the climate crisis.
As The Guardian reports, the museum's direction Doug Gurr said “the museum had seen itself as a “passive observer … our job was to collect, to conserve, to research, to display”. “[Then] we stepped back a bit and said: ‘Well, hang on, if your subject matter is planet Earth and it’s under that much threat, you’ve got to do something about it.”
The museum is working to inspire their attendees to become advocates for the earth. A new permanent collection called Fixing Our Broken Planet aims to create a need for action.
As part of reimagining their purpose, the museum has also redefined who they will partner with for sponsorships and will not work with companies that do not have a good climate record.
Imagine the possibilities if other organizations, businesses and individuals reimagined their purpose and moved from a passive to active participant?