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Managing the ‘New Museology’: The Changing Role and Management of Australian State Museums Since the 1980s

By Claire Baddeley.

Published by The International Journal of the Inclusive Museum

This paper investigates the significant shifts that have occurred in the management of Australian state museums since the 1980s. These shifts reflect the confluence of theories and practices in new public management and the ‘new museology’. Museums in Australia in the current century are at a crossroads, subject to a number of internal and external pressures that are impacting upon their provision and type of services, changing purpose, new social and economic roles and management style and focus. How museums at management level are responding to organisational issues such as greater access and information provision, attracting diverse audiences, increased emphasis on education and learning, new interpretations of collections and research, evolving business models and a greater social and economic role within communities are investigated within this context. Similarly, how museums function as organisations within the public sector (operating as ‘hybrids’, combining the roles of non-profit and for-profit organisations) will be explored. This paper combines an analysis of the changing role of Australian state museums within the contemporary context and their changing management and organisational style.

International Journal of the Inclusive Museum, Volume 2, Issue 2, pp.89-98. Article: Print (Spiral Bound). Article: Electronic (PDF File; 1.140MB).

Claire Baddeley

PhD Student, Faculty of Business and Government, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT, Australia