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Hello Hope you all had a relaxing Christmas despite the worrying world situation. It's really refreshing to read some critique on neo-liberalism on this platform. I hope it may become a more acceptable debate in our sector. I've talked and written about these issues a lot over the past 10 years, making links with museums, culture and communities. For one of many examples, you might enjoy reading The Sociocratic Museum https://medium.com/code-words-technology-and-theory-in-the-museum/towards-the-sociocratic-museum-223390e2a00b#.fwsjjyywg Over the next year, I wonder if we might be be more comfortable naming neoliberalism as the dominant global ideology affecting our work. See, for a good run down of this: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/apr/15/neoliberalism-ideology-problem-george-monbiot?CMP=fb_gu We might become more aware of how this is all based on a profound disregard for the living planet, a denial of its critical state, and an occupation of our media & politics to prevent urgent environmental action. For example, see this analysis https:[log in to unmask] We might become more aware of how the 'democratic deficit', said to be a root cause of the failure of the EU in serving people's needs, is less important than an 'ethical deficit'. This ethical deficit includes tolerating inequality, rubbishing ethics as intrusive 'political correctness', rubbishing rights and protections as 'red tape', and seeing self-protecting values as superior to 'bigger-than-self' or transcendent values. I know many of you may feel this (and Ian's) comment have ventured too much into political territory, and out of culture, but the two have always been closely intertwined, and when politics become extremist and dangerous it's really time to start addressing the power of the imagination and of learning from history. Best wishes Bridget McKenzie By the way, here's an event from the Happy Museum that popped into my inbox today that might give people able to get to Derby a chance to air these issues. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/how-can-the-cultural-sector-respond-to-the-referendum-tickets-29748594848 On 5 January 2017 at 12:59, Fraser, Ian <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > I do not think we should feel too guilty. Most of us in the sector have > been working hard against an unhelpful gradient. We are up against some > deep seated problems that have been exacerbated by the politics and > economics that have held sway in large parts of the world. This past year, > amongst various other books, I have read, ”Small Is Beautiful: a study of > economics as if people mattered”, by EF Schumacher; “The Shock Doctrine”, > by Naomi Klein; “How Did We Get Into This Mess?”, by George Monbiot. My > thoughts on these books and the wider societal problems they bring > attention to are here, for what they are worth, if anything: > > http://ian-fraser.co.uk/2016/12/31/neoliberalism/ > > > > > > *From:* List for discussion of issues in museum education in the UK. > [mailto:[log in to unmask]] *On Behalf Of *Nicky Boyd > *Sent:* 05 January 2017 12:34 > *To:* [log in to unmask] > *Subject:* We're failing in our aim of mass participation (Nick Merriman) > > > > Very interesting article from Nick Merriman > > http://www.museumsassociation.org/museums-journal/comment/ > 01012017-were-failing-in-our-aim-of-mass-participation?dm_ > i=2VBX,DDTO,27LR56,1CCSB,1 > > Nicky > > > > Nicky Boyd > > Museum Consultant (audience research & evaluation) > > 17 Lizban Street > > Blackheath > > London SE3 8SS > > 020 8853 0110 > > 07759 393 779 > > [log in to unmask] > > www.nickyboyd.co.uk > > > > + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + GEM list: Contact the list owner > for assistance at [log in to unmask] For information about > joining, leaving and suspending mail (eg during a holiday) see the list > website at https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=GEM + + + + + + > + + + + + + + + + + + + + + > ------------------------------ > > The information in this email (and any attachment) may be for the intended > recipient only. If you know you are not the intended recipient, please do > not use or disclose the information in any way and please delete this > email (and any attachment) from your system. > > The Council does not accept service of legal documents by e-mail. > ------------------------------ > > > > + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + GEM list: Contact the list owner > for assistance at [log in to unmask] For information about > joining, leaving and suspending mail (eg during a holiday) see the list > website at https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=GEM + + + + + + > + + + + + + + + + + + + + + > + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + GEM list: Contact the list owner for assistance at [log in to unmask] For information about joining, leaving and suspending mail (eg during a holiday) see the list website at https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=GEM + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +