Special Edition of the IAS Exchanges Journal
(Re)Imagining the Museum: Critical Dialogues & Creative Visions
Welcoming proposals from academics, students, and museum professionals.
Lead editors: Dr. Raad Khair Allah (Edinburgh University) and Dr. Robert O'Toole (Warwick).
Museums are at a crossroads. In an era of social transformation, digital revolution, and environmental crisis, what is their role and responsibility? How are they evolving from keepers of history into dynamic spaces for dialogue, justice, and inspiration? This special edition of the Institute of Advanced Studies’ Exchanges journal seeks to capture the exciting and critical work redefining museums at Warwick, across the region, and beyond.
Exchanges is a journal of interdisciplinary studies, hosted by the University of Warwick, and oriented towards innovative and impactful writing that connects and activates diverse academic disciplines in response to major challenges and exciting opportunities. We are aiming for publication in Autumn 2026. Join us on this journey.
The Museum Studies Network at Warwick has over 200 members, including staff and students from all disciplines, and museum professionals from the region and beyond. It is dedicated to the promotion of museums and museums studies, and the role of museums in creating a better world.
In the long run we may be thinking about producing a stand-alone journal of museum studies, as well as courses and projects. This is just the start!
Propose an article (or just an idea for an article)
Publishing in the Exchanges journal gives us more flexibility in terms of style and content. We are aiming for a balance between two types of article, the traditional peer-reviewed academic work, and critical/creative reflections that are more personal, experiential, and imaginative. As we develop the edition, we hope to develop interconnections and synergies between the two streams. With that in mind, we will at first be gathering proposals and running events to help develop these connections and ideas.
At this stage you might already have a more complete idea for an article, or you might want to share an idea that could be developed, perhaps in collaboration with others from the community. So even if you just have an initial interest in something, make a proposal and see what happens.
We are happy to help with developing your idea and subsequent article.
Use the form at the end of this page to submit a proposal.
Critical and Creative Reflections
We welcome engaging, accessible, and provocative think pieces, case studies, design proposals, opinion essays, and dialogues. These contributions should lean towards practice and experience, with an emphasis on inspirational writing. Images are welcome (with copyright clearance). We can even handle audio and video.
For inspiration, see our podcasts and videosLink opens in a new window, and visit museums!
Articles should be shorter and engagingly written, between 2000 and 4000 words.
Potential themes include:
- Decolonising museum practices and ethical restitution.
- Digital transformations, AI, and virtual engagement.
- Innovations in museum design.
- Museums as sites for social justice and activism.
- Community co-curation and challenging institutional authority.
- The future of museums in a post-pandemic, climate-conscious world.
- Teaching in/with/about museums.
This is not an exhaustive list; we encourage proposals on any topic that will spark conversation about the past, present, and future of museums.
Peer Reviewed Articles
We seek rigorous academic research and discourse that explores museums through disciplinary and interdisciplinary lenses. These articles should emphasise scholarly rigour and contribute to ongoing academic debates. Suggested topics include:
- Case studies on repatriation and legal frameworks.
- Museum labour, precarity, and unionisation.
- Queering the museum and feminist museology.
- Museums, trauma, and difficult heritage.
- The ethics of conservation
- Multisensory exhibition design.
This is not an exhaustive list; we encourage proposals on any topic that will spark conversation about the past, present, and future of museums.
Propose an idea, as fully formed as you like
The Plan
We have designed this process to be supportive and healthy, and to create a great edition. We are happy to help you throughout the process.
1. Initial proposals
October to end of December 2025, use the form at the bottom of this page to submit your idea for an article.
2. Networking events
November to the end of December 2025, meet the team, meet other potential authors, share ideas, develop your ideas.
3. Review and plan
January 2026, the editorial team will review proposals, and begin designing the edition. We will get back to potential authors to discuss how their proposal might be developed. This might include suggesting collaborations.
4. Iterate
In the Spring we might undertake further iterations of these steps, moving towards a final design and selection of articles.
5. Submit articles
Aiming for June 2026, to give time for feedback and further development.
6. Publication
Aiming for Autumn 2026.
7. Party!
There will be a launch event.