Developing capacity building: reflections on Chicago's Field Museum, USA

Abstract

This article explores one aspect of the debate concerning the role of museums in contemporary society. From dusty storage facilities for ancient artefacts that are considered important by a handful of scholars, museums have become ‘social agents’, able not only to assume social responsibility, but also to trigger changes by developing capacity building. This idea is an evolution and an active expression of the school of thought known as ‘New Museology’ that emerged between the 1960s and 1970s. New museology focused on how museums might assist disadvantaged communities and boost processes of societal, cultural and environmental transformation. In order to discuss, how museums are changing their role in the contemporary society and are tackling new challenges, an analysis of the Cultural Connection Programme implemented in 1998 by The Field Museum (Chicago, IL, USA) and the Chicago Cultural Alliance consortium is presented.

Keywords:

• capacity building
• social agents
• partnership
• museum management
• new museology
• social responsibility

Acknowledgements

Nunzia Borrelli wishes to thank the Fulbright Commission for the grant which enabled the fieldwork in Chicago.

Notes on contributors

Nunzia Borrelli obtained her Ph.D. in 2005 in Spatial Planning and Local Development at Turin Polytechnic, Italy, with a thesis on Urban and Territorial Governance. In 2007, she spent several months as a visiting researcher and lecturer at the International Centre for Cultural and Heritage Studies at Newcastle University, UK. In 2009–2010 she was a Fulbright research scholar at Loyola University Chicago, IL, USA. Currently, she is a contract Lecturer in Urban Sociology and Post-Ph.D. researcher at University of Milan Bicocca.

Emeritus Professor of Museology at Newcastle University, Peter Davis’ research interests include the history of museums, the history of natural history and environmentalism, the interaction between heritage and concepts of place and ecomuseums. He is the author of several books including Museums and the Natural Environment (1996), Ecomuseums: A Sense of Place (1999; 2nd edition 2011) and, with Christine Jackson, Sir William Jardine: A Life in Natural History (2001).

Notes

1. There is no singular definition of capacity building. Over the years ‘capacity building’ has moved to a concern for individual training and the development of institutions to, more recently, a complex systems philosophy where individual capacities are linked with those of institutions and systems at large. Recent definitions emphasise the continuing process of strengthening of abilities to perform core functions, solve problems, define and achieve objectives, and understand and deal with development needs (Milèn 2001).

2. De Vita and Fleming (2001); Milèn (2001); Connolly and Lukas (2002); Light (2004); Marwell (2004); UNESCO (2006); Anderson (2011).

3. Unfortunately, it was not possible to interview Alaka Wali, the CCUC Director – a brief, informal meeting was held.

4. There were eight founding partners: Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture, The DuSable Museum of African-American History, The Field Museum, Hellenic Museum and Cultural Center, Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum, The Polish Museum of America, the Spertus Museum and the Swedish American Museum Center.

5. This initiative was supported by the John Nuveen Company and the National Endowment for the Humanities and was framed by the following questions: ‘What is pluralism in America? What is culture? What is diversity?’

6. Other grants come from Arts Work Fund for Organizational Development, The Boeing Charitable Trust, The Chicago Community Trust, The Field Museum, Fund for Folk Culture, Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, Illinois Arts Council, International Coalition of Sites of Conscience, The Joyce Foundation, Peoples Gas and The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation.

7. Core members are American Indian; Arab American Action Network; Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture; Brazilian Cultural Center of Chicago; Bronzeville Children's Museum; Bronzeville/Black Chicagoan Historical Society; Cambodian American Heritage Center and Killing Fields Memorial; Casa Aztlan; Chicago Japanese American Historical Society Chicago; Chinese-American Museum of Chicago; Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago; Indo-American Heritage Museum/Indo-American Center; Institute of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture; Irish American Heritage Center; Italian Cultural Center at Casa Italia; Korean American Resource and Cultural Center; Latvian Folk Art Museum; Mitchell Museum of the American Indian; Polish Museum of America; Swahili Institute of Chicago; Swedish American Museum; The History Makers; Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art; Ukrainian National Museum.

8. Partner institutions are Changing Worlds; Chicago 2016; Chicago History Museum; Chicago Zoological Society – Brookfield Zoo; Chinese Mutual Aid Association; Jane Addams Hull-House Museum; North Park University Chicago; Pullman State Historic Site; Snapshot Chicago; The Field Museum; The University of Chicago – Center for International Studies; United African Organization.

9. The twenty core members that co-founded the Alliance have an annual budget of about US$5 million and represent cultural and ethnic communities whose populations range from 3000 to 3 million in the Chicago area. Core members provide leadership in their communities by offering cultural and educational programmes, assistance to immigrants and youth, advocacy and gathering space. In addition, they facilitate unity and communication both within and between communities.