Reinventing the Museum: Relevance, Inclusion, and Global Responsibilities is the third edition following the 2004 and 2012 versions of the Reinventing series. More than a decade since the prior volume was published, this edition features all new content written since 2017 relevant to this pivotal time for museums operating in a complex world.
This anthology features leading thinkers from across the globe who expertly discuss the realities facing museums, the urgency to take action, and museums as essential contributors to a more equitable and socially responsible world. The introduction highlights the issues of our times, and frames the structure of the book and intentional order of the contents. A dramatically revised Reinventing the Museum Tool serves as a springboard for discussions within museum staff and trustees, among students and faculty, and with emerging to seasoned museum professionals.
The curated approach of the book unfolds with a sequence of thinking that frames the subsequent sections and chapters. The range of topics in this volume cover global realities, shifts in institutional mindset, the urgency to achieve inclusion and equity in museums, and fresh perspectives of practical approaches to actualize the reinvented museum.
Gail Anderson president of Gail Anderson & Associates (GA&A) works with museum leaders facilitating institutional transformation, building institutional and leadership capacity, and expanding community and global relevance. Anderson has dedicated much of her 40+ year career to researching, amassing and sharing resources and new ideas to contribute to the evolving thinking about museums. Anderson's projects include strategic planning, organizational restructuring, institutional assessment and development, and board development. She has worked with more than 70+ clients and completed over 110+ projects. Her core commitments have been to advance social responsibilities, DEAI efforts in the field, decolonization efforts, and museums as key players in the larger global ecosystem.
Prior to launching her own consulting business, Anderson was Deputy Director of The Mexican Museum, Vice President of Museum Management Consultants, Chair of the Graduate Department of Museum Studies at John F. Kennedy University in Berkeley, California, Assistant Director at the Southwest Museum in Los Angeles, and Museum Educator at the Museum of Northern Arizona.
Her publications include the American Association of Museums book, Museum Mission Statements: Building A Distinct Identity (1997), Reinventing the Museum: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives on the Paradigm Shift (2004), and the second edition, Reinventing the Museum: The Evolving Conversation on the Paradigm Shift (2012), and, Mission Matters: Relevance and Museums for the 21st Century (2019), plus numerous articles. This 3rd edition Reinventing the Museum: Relevance, Inclusion and Global Responsibilities is Anderson's latest publication. Anderson continues her commitment to advancing the field through frequent speaking engagements, writing, and teaching.
