The “Why a Museum?” working paper has outlined the Dawson City Museum’s (DCM) roles over time as a tourist attraction, heritage resource, year-round employer, identity builder, community hub, and a community resource more broadly in relation to government policy and community action. The findings have reflected past research with some key differences, demonstrated the significanceContinue reading “Why a Museum?: Conclusion”
Tag Archives: Case study
Why a Museum?: Additional Factors and Interconnectivity (Part nine)
This post continues to consider the Dawson City Museum’s Role over time in relation to government policy and community action, continuing the discussion with a reflection on additional factors of significance and interconnectivity. Why a Museum: The Dawson City Museum’s Role (Part one) Factors beyond policy and community Within this paper and the Dawson CityContinue reading “Why a Museum?: Additional Factors and Interconnectivity (Part nine)”
Why a Museum?: Community Resource (Part seven)
This post continues to consider the Dawson City Museum’s Role over time in relation to government policy and community action, focusing on the Museum’s role broadly as a community resource. Why a Museum: The Dawson City Museum’s Role (Part one) Community Resource (Undefined) The idea that museums are or can be a community resource intersectsContinue reading “Why a Museum?: Community Resource (Part seven)”
Why a Museum?: Community Hub (Part six)
This post continues to consider the Dawson City Museum’s Role over time in relation to government policy and community action, focusing on the Museum’s role as a kind of community hub. Why a Museum: The Dawson City Museum’s Role (Part one) Community Hub Community hubs are public spaces that offer a range of services whereContinue reading “Why a Museum?: Community Hub (Part six)”
Why a Museum?: Heritage Resources and Implicit Value (Part 3)
This post continues to consider the Dawson City Museum’s Role over time in relation to government policy and community action, focusing on the perceived value of museums as heritage resources. Why a Museum: The Dawson City Museum’s Role (Part one) Heritage Resource (Implicit?) Amongst those who work and volunteer in museums, there is often anContinue reading “Why a Museum?: Heritage Resources and Implicit Value (Part 3)”
Why a Museum?: The Dawson City Museum’s Role (Part one)
The Dawson City Museum project asks – How has the Dawson City Museum (DCM) evolved in relation to government policy and community action? We are taking two approaches to answering the question. First, we are considering the data chronologically to discuss the evolution of the Museum over time. Second, we have developed key themes related to policy and community.Continue reading “Why a Museum?: The Dawson City Museum’s Role (Part one)”
A Community Hub: The Dawson City Museum in the 1990s
Providing the fourth chronological consideration of the data, this working paper asks – What are some key moments, influential policies, and community activities that defined the Dawson City Museum’s development in the 1990s?
After summarizing the answers and outlining our research approach, we give a short overview of the Museum’s development in the 1990s. We consider significant policies, focusing the importance of intersecting funding mechanisms and celebration funding. Then, a section on community activity describes the significance of private donations and the continued presence of museum workers within the community. Finally, the paper concludes with a summary and research implications.
Territorial Interest and Investment: The Dawson City Museum in the 1980s
Providing the third chronological consideration of the data, this working paper asks – What are some key moments, influential policies, and community activities that defined the Dawson City Museum’s development in the 1980s?
After summarizing the answers and outlining our research approach, I give a short overview of the Museum’s development in the 1980s. I consider significant policies, focusing on territorial investment in the Old Territorial Administration Building and for community museums more broadly with a brief discussion of the role of federal agencies. Then, a section on community activity describes the significance of board and volunteer involvement before considering the Museum as part of the community. Finally, the paper concludes with a summary and research implications.
Inexpensive and Impressive but Challenging and Restrictive: A Consideration of Non-profit Museum Management in a Historic, Government-Owned Space
Providing the first thematic consideration of the data, this working paper focuses on the relationship between the Dawson City Museum and the space it occupies – that is, the Old Territorial Administration Building or the OTAB. The OTAB is a National Historic Site and a government owned building. So, this thematic consideration relates to policy and demonstrates the role of unarticulated or implicit policies in shaping the Museum’s development.
Interview Analysis: Tourism Role
As someone who loves museums but recognizes they are colonial constructs, I often wonder: What, exactly, is the contemporary role of a museum within a community? Do they perpetuate and reinforce colonial narratives or do they serve other functions?
In the working paper Dawson City’s Community Attic, I discussed the critical role of tourism to the Dawson City Museum’s establishment and early development. Within this post, I consider the interview with the Dawson City Museum’s curator to examine the Museum’s contemporary role in tourism.