Centre for Museum Studies CMS is a shared vision of INDICA and Cultre to revitalise the societal and economic importance of museums in the cultural landscape of India. This Centre aims to facilitate creation of 21st century museums that are flexible, connected and responsive, by working with existing museums as well as developing new museum concepts.
The Centre focuses on museum-based research, defining new concepts & road maps, museum management strategy, defining visitor experience for the museum, marketing and outreach planning and possible sustainability planning.
Cultre and INDICA announced the launch of the Centre for Museums on International Museum Day – May 18, 2022. While Cultre’s focus is on leveraging technology to democratize museum experiences, including exploring concepts like the metaverse and web 3.0, INDICA highlights its integral strategy to preserve and promote Indian Knowledge Systems and heritage, proposing interventions for transforming existing museums and nurturing private museum initiatives.
Over the last year, it has held a series of engaging talks featuring insights from both museum professionals and academics, covering a range of pertinent topics in the museum sector. Furthermore, it solicited intriguing proposals through an open call for commissioned research on the Indian Museum Sector. Out of the 16 proposals received, three case studies have been selected and are currently in the preparation phase by dedicated researchers.
Museum Week provided an opportunity for participants to connect with like-minded people through the variety of events planned. While the virtual panel discussions and case presentations were intended to inform and inspire, the exciting contests, competitions as well as on-ground activities in museum spaces gave heritage enthusiasts the chance to unlock their creativity and familiarise themselves with the immense potential that the Indian museum and culture sector holds.
It facilitated panel discussions, launched social media campaigns, and organized museum walkthroughs, as well as a merchandise design contest. Museum Walks took place in various cities, including Bengaluru, Bhopal, Delhi, Goa, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Shillong.
Additionally, we conducted ‘Museovers’ events with multiple museums over several months, providing audiences with virtual access to artefacts through images, videos, and interviews. These initiatives serve to bridge the gap between museums and their audiences, fostering greater engagement and appreciation for cultural heritage. The artifacts and exhibits at the Tibetian Museum in Dharamshala, Big Foot Goa – Ancestral Goa, C Krishnaiah Chetty Crystal Museum Salon, The Smritivan Earthquake Memorial Museum were showcased through Museover.
On International Museum Day, the Center presented an annual list of Museum Influencers recognising and celebrating the work of individuals who have immensely contributed to the growth of the museum and heritage sector in India.
Among the influencers were Amardeep Behl, founder of design studio AB Design Habit & Co. Pvt. Ltd, popularly known as Design Habit, has specialised in Exhibition Design from NID Ahmedabad.
Ashish Anand, the CEO and Managing Director of DAG, formerly Delhi Art Gallery, has shaped the prestigious art gallery into the multi-location art company that it is today.
Mugdha Sinha’s appointment as Joint Secretary, Ministry of Culture has so far, happily, brought India’s museums into the limelight. The three-day International Museum Expo 2023, which was held in New Delhi, comes as a first for the Indian museum sector.
Director and Chief Curator of the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA), Roobina Karode believes museums are much more than spaces to display historical objects – she sees them, more importantly, as places of interaction and confluence.
Co-founder of HopOn India and Museums22 (by Desiwalks Tours Pvt. Ltd.), Shalini Bansal’s contribution to museum tech and storytelling has been significant. Her innovative startup has not only been integral to digitising many Indian museums, but has also developed effective communication assets such as mobile applications and audio guides to democratise the old-world stories of Indian history hidden within museum collections.
Siddharth Bathla, an architect, industrial designer, and the founder of Design Factory India, applies a multi-disciplinary approach to design and follows the fundamentals of creating experiential and narrative spaces.
Vijay Kumar is the co-founder of the India Pride Project, originally his passion project, that works tirelessly to repatriate India’s lost heritage. The year 2022-23 saw a record number of historic objects that were traced and returned to the country.
