I think many of us believe that Museums Suck! Though most of us wouldn't be as harsh, this student critic of the LA Youth newspaper is saying something many of us are in fact thinking. Why do museums, our cultural heart, have to be soooo boring?! And though some would brush this off as the opinions of a philistine, this perspective is crucial as museums and other cultural institutions search for young audiences and a means to be "relevant" in today's wasteland of never ending content.
I think there is a way . . . and as our student journalist points out, museums can do a better job, in fact they must. With median ages for most cultural institutions hitting middle age (or as he describes museums . .. "old people, boring art, lots of benches because old people need to sit a lot"), it is more important than ever to refocus our attentions, redefine the museum mold, and appeal to the future of these institutions.
Some may think that competing with what's out there is about one-up man's ship, rather it's understanding what your content strengths are, and playing into those. Our friend supports this theory when he retells the only semi-positive experience of his whole outing, the Skirball Cultural Center. Here, interactive exhibits and a compelling story had his interests piqued . . . at least for a little bit.
This is an insight, taken straight from the source, that we all can learn from. I would argue it was the packaging of this content that first grabbed his attention, allowing the opportunity for the content to reach it's audience. For many of us, this may be the silver lining we are looking for, a means, method or approach that captures the attentions letting the content capture the imagination.