Nick Merriman

The Manchester Museum

University of Manchester

A New Paradigm for Collecting?

Local & global dimensionProcess would be as important as

outcome: it’s about relationshipsRelationships can be virtual as well as

face-to-faceCollecting would be as much about

digital as about objectsCollecting becomes qualitative rather

than quantitative – the relational museum

What might collecting look like?

Promoting understanding between cultures

Working towards a sustainable world

The Manchester Museum: Objectives

Collective Conversations

Living Worlds Gallery

Trees: forestation and deforestation; climate change; cultural meanings

Water: Peak District & Egypt; water management; cultural associations; biodiversity

Cotton: Manchester and Turkey; cultivation; manufacture; meanings; distribution; consumption

Migration: plants and animals; movement of people and species

Potential collecting themes