Erik Bauer

Are Museums and Objects still Necessary?

With exponential digital content creation, along with more collections accessible on the Internet and the development of community archives, the question is, how important is it to see something “in person”? This question was asked as early as 1968.

Online exhibits, the lower cost of digitizing materials, and outreach programs such as the Digital Commonwealth are making materials and collections more accessible to the public, giving them less of a reason to visit the host institution.

This discussion will focus on how museums can change to meet modern needs, and also the idea that physical objects still have importance and relevance in the digital age.