Imperial War Museum
Curatorial Review: Narrative and Content Teams
Cultural Associates Oxford (CAO) was commissioned by the Imperial War Museum (IWM) to undertake a comprehensive review of curatorial practice, skills, and knowledge within the museum's Narrative and Content teams.
The project aimed to create a cohesive curatorial team with a shared understanding of what it means to be an IWM curator, embed commitment to the Curator Charter and Collection Strategies, and expand IWM's reputation as an innovator in curatorial practice.
To achieve these goals, CAO conducted a multi-faceted research approach:
Organised an online all-staff conference with representation from each curatorial team
Performed detailed desk research, including interviews with IWM staff from other departments and consultations with external institutions
Conducted in-depth interviews with a cross-section of curatorial staff
Mapped curatorial skills and knowledge
Facilitated a Leadership Workshop with heads of Narrative and Content teams
The final report provided a comprehensive set of recommendations designed to support the development of a more confident curatorial team with an enhanced profile across the organisation, positioning IWM as a leader in curatorial team development within the museum sector.