On October 27, 2023, I co-organized and participated, alongside Jessica Minier, in the workshop Connection and Co-Creation, presented as part of the conference Muséo-connexion: Concepts and Practices, organized by Nada Guzin Lukic at the Université du Québec en Outaouais.
Conference reference:
Jessica Minier and Jessica Ragazzini (27 October 2023), “Connection and Co-Creation”, paper presented at the conference Muséo-connexion: Concepts and Practices, organized by Nada Guzin Lukic, Université du Québec en Outaouais.
Museums and Co-Creation: From Past Practices to Future Possibilities
This presentation examined the growing importance of co-creation within museums and explored the evolution of participatory practices across cultural institutions. Drawing upon perspectives from both museology and art history, it investigated the gradual shift from models based on contribution and collaboration toward more ambitious forms of co-creation, in which communities become genuine partners and co-authors in the development of museum projects.
Through a series of case studies, the presentation highlighted the diverse manifestations of co-creation across multiple museum functions, including exhibitions, research, education, governance, and collections stewardship. Particular attention was given to the opportunities and challenges associated with the sharing of authority, while demonstrating how co-creative approaches contribute to the development of more inclusive, collaborative, and community-responsive museum practices.
A Collaborative Workshop on Co-Creation
The workshop was designed to foster a collective reflection on the concept and terminology of co-creation while encouraging participants to consider its potential applications beyond the exhibition format, which remains the domain most commonly associated with participatory museum practices. Bringing together insights from museology and art history, we adopted a transdisciplinary approach grounded in our respective areas of expertise.
More broadly, the workshop sought to stimulate critical discussion concerning the transformative potential of co-creation within contemporary museums. By examining how shared authority can be integrated into a range of institutional functions, participants were invited to reflect on new models of engagement capable of strengthening connections between museums, their collections, and the communities they serve.