On October 19, 2020 I had the pleasure to host a #MuseumHour on twitter around the topic of failure as a museum worker. Read in this post the many insightful replies and discussions around the topic.
Read MoreAnother take on why museums are not neutral.
Read MoreThe art world is not an abstract place, it is shaped through human experiences and connections. Neutrality does not exist in our experiences and is a concept we can just find in textbooks, life is much more complex and fascinating.
Read MorePeople often ask what I mean if I say that the private is political. It means for me that we develop beliefs and thought patterns based on our private experiences, it means that we will engage more passionately with experiences that we share and it also means that we need more radical empathy in a time that can feel like we are so different. So here I am taking a bold step and walking the talk...
Read MoreThe online dictionary Merriam-Webster defines neutrality as "the quality or state of not supporting either side in an argument, fight, war, etc. : the quality or state of being neutral". The question is whether institutions who deal with primary sources, historical and contemporary narratives and a culture that decides which discourses get public attention should engage in neutrality? My opinion is that Museums are not neutral.
Read MoreThis year I am dedicating myself to the area of art as labor. It is an attempt to open a dialogue around how labor is defined in the arts and what it means to choose a profession in the creative sector. It is not a new research area and a lot of interesting work has already been done. Nevertheless, some problems seem recurring and others are connected to the current Zeitgeist. I know it can be exhausting to constantly fight the same problems, therefore, it is so comforting to see how others handle similar issues and that we all together as a community are able to change circumstances. This is the motivation to build a library of resources with this blog around different topics for professional and aspiring culture and art worker.
Read MoreMuseums have to define their role within society to remain significant in the future. In the past museums were temples where knowledge was preserved and education was the highest value. This might still be a big asset, but with this purpose comes the voice of institutional authority, that does not facilitate a dialogue with the people visiting the museum. Museums are facing a shift in visitors engagement, storytelling, institutional organization, and what in means to be a successful museum.
Read MoreApps, if they are well made, are a great way to provide valuable information and enrich the museum experience. Unfortunately, some institutions and museums use apps for the sake of appearing tech-savvy and use the app as a mobile website version. In this cases one should really save the money for the development. What does an app need to be valuable? Find some thoughts and examples.
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Anabel Roque Rodríguez is a curator, writer and art historian based in Switzerland and Germany, but open to travel to other areas. She is interested in the relation of art to the public and site specific conditions. She works within the realm of contemporary art with strong roots in its historic past. To understand an development, one has to situate it retrospective. Her focus includes political art, the artist as activist, art as labor, feminism, photography and the art market.
The writing on this blog is free but not cheap, it's build on hours of collecting, thinking and composing.
You can support this labor through a tip.
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© Anabel Roque Rodríguez 2021
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