Museum of Contemporary Art of Sao Paulo University - MAC USP
This project is an example of governance practice. It consisted of elaborating a museum sustainability program by proposing practical, sustainable actions to be developed in each of the museum sustainability dimensions (cultural, economic, social, and environmental) provided by the Common Conceptual Framework for Sustainability of Ibermuseus Program.
Initially, MAC USP carried out a Self-Assessment on Museum Sustainability, using a methodology developed by Ibermuseus Program, through a collaborative process involving all sectors of the museum in responding to 55 items related to the existence of sustainable practices in governance, preservation, conservation, communication, education and research. Furthermore, we internally proposed a self-diagnosis, identifying, for each of these 55 items, the weaknesses and strengths that allowed or hindered the action to be carried out, and what our gaps are. We also had Ibermuseus Program’s support in carrying out a professional exchange at the Art Contemporary Museum of Barcelona, which has a well-defined sustainability project called Planeta MACBA 2030, providing us with best practices.
Combining data from self-diagnosis and from practices inspired by MACBA, a new round of conversations was held at MAC USP, together with the museum's curatorial team. As a result, 06 actions for each of the museum sustainability’s pillars were proposed to overcome the gaps found in the first diagnosis. The commitment to carrying them out was established in the Academic Project, an institutional document that guides the actions of MAC USP, as a university museum, over the next years. In this way, the project permeates not only the sustainability and governance areas, but also all other core museum activities.
The innovative approach was in to take advantage of a ready-made self-diagnosis tool as a starting point to engage the museum community and the governance body in the museum's sustainability planning process that could be institutionalized in a long-term public policy.
Explain in one sentence why you think the project you nominate is outstanding and could serve as an example for the entire community of modern and contemporary art museums.
Through this collaborative project, started from a ready-made self-diagnosis tool, free and available to all museums, we become committed to consolidate sustainable practices that guarantee a museum more accessible, inclusive, diverse and prepared to face climate challenges, while promoting an effective management of public resources and ensuring long-term institutional stability to serve future generations, in line with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Explain why this practice or program is relevant and sustainable in creating meaningful and lasting connections with people, communities, and the museum context with a medium to long-term vision.
Cultural institutions face enormous challenges when it comes to sustainability. This project not only reflects the museum's commitment to integrate sustainability practices that address these issues, but also demonstrates a tangible positive impact both within its operations and within its community, in line with ICOM's new definition of museums, about the role of the museums to foster sustainability.
Some relevant sustainable solutions proposed by the project to create meaningful connections with people and communities include actions in the social/cultural dimensions of sustainability, especially the establishing a cultural programming policy with multiple arts languages as a vector of social inclusion, improving signage, language, technologies and mediation resources for visitors and a visitor profiles research.
By reducing environmental impact, ensuring financial viability, engaging communities and fulfilling social responsibilities, MAC reinforces its role as an agent of social and environmental change to serve future generation in a medium to long-term vision.
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