Shauna Allen

Shauna Allen (PhD Candidate)

Curating Change: A Trans-Atlantic Study of Activism in Museums

Supervisor: Dr Griffin Murray
Museum Studies

E-mail: shauna.allen@umail.ucc.ie

Shauna Allen is a 15-year museum professional and a graduate of the UCC MA in Museum Studies. Her Master’s Dissertation, Reconciliation and Social Justice in Museums, offered the perspective that museums should strive to promote positive social change across diverse communities. Over the course of her PhD research, Curating Change: A Trans-Atlantic Study of Activism in Museums, Shauna will explore the ways that museums can expand their role and relevance as activists and agents of change.

There is a powerful and growing sentiment in the museum field that museums should not hesitate to take a clear and concise stance on important issues such as human rights, equality, social justice, decolonization, and climate change. Museum Activism, whatever its form, has the potential to change lives. Through international case studies and critique, implementation and evaluation of museum activism initiatives, this project will provide context and a strategy for the pursuit of activism in museums.