University Head of School to hold public lecture on trust in museums

The Head of School of Museums Studies at University of Leicester will present a public lecture about trust and the museum sector on Wednesday (6 March).

Professor Tilly Blyth will speak at Keele University as part of the Global Challenge lecture series, organised by Institute for Liberal Arts and Sciences.

The lecture will explore what role museums can play in maintaining and restoring trust in the public realm. It comes as research shows that museums are some of the most trusted organisations and museum curators rated alongside nurses, librarians, doctors and teachers.

Professor Blyth will discuss the need for museums to continue to earn the right to that trust. She will also argue that the role of museum curators is changing, from professionals with specialist knowledge and expertise in specific areas of the collections, to collaborators who work alongside local and international partners to build knowledge, confidence and empathy in museum collections and displays.

School of Museum Studies at University of Leicester is the oldest and largest academic unit of its kind in the world. Before Professor Blyth joined Museum Studies as its Head of School, she spent over twenty years working at the Science Museum in London.

Professor Blyth is also a trustee of Bletchley Park Trust, an advisor on English Heritage’s Blue Plaques Panel, a member of British Academy of Film and Television Arts and a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Professor Blyth said: “Museums hold a unique place in our society, as places that develop and reflect shared values, but they can only continue to play that role if they can maintain the level of trust that the public affords them. I am delighted to be reflecting on museum practice to explore such a topical subject.”

The free lecture will take place at 6pm in the Salvin Room, Keele Hall (University of Keele). It will also be hosted online via Microsoft Teams. More information about the lecture can be found here.