Co-Curation and Collaboration: A Case Study on the Effects of Co-Curation on Staff

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to describe the perceptions, strategies, and behaviors of staff who engage with co-curation. The research focused on how staff described their experiences with co-curation, their strategies related to co-curation, any changes in their thinking that they had noticed and whether or not they exhibited behavioral indicators of teamwork during their discussion. Literature on co-curation, collaboration, and participation was used to inform this research. Data was collected through three focus groups at three museum sites and through observation of these focus groups. The results of this study suggested that staff perceived challenges and benefits related to co-curation. This study also suggested that staff did have methods and strategies for engaging in co-curation, such as setting expectations, practicing patience, and varying their approach. In addition, this study suggested that staff perceived the effects that co-curatorial practices had on their perspectives and work, such as improved communication skills, questioning assumptions, and job enjoyment. Finally, this study suggested that staff displayed behaviors that indicated collaboration and teamwork, such as consensus seeking, during their discussions on co-curation. The limitations of this study included the small sample size, the geographic location of the sample museums, and that this study only focused on contemporary art museums.