Museums & Society 2034: Trends and Potential Futures

Looking ahead to the year 2034, not only is the make-up of society changing but the role of the museum is too. In order to engage an aging population and one that is racially diverse, museums will need to take an honest look at best practices and creating innovative programs. This report from the Center for the Future of Museums is a thoughtful look at what the future may look like and what it means for museums.

Museums are often viewed as conservators of the past, but some have always been in the business
of the future—even going so far as to enshrine it in their mission statements. But what will the future look like? How much can we really anticipate about the world of 2034?

To address those questions, Reach Advisors pored over nearly a thousand articles, data sets, interviews and discussion forums to identify the trends that are most likely to change U.S. society and museums during the next 25 years.

Some highlights:

• Aging Population: As the Baby Boomers age, their sheer numbers tell a story of future change in U.S. society. Today, 1 in 8 Americans are older than 65. In 2034, the ratio will jump to 1 in 5. This is a generation that has reshaped lifestyles and the U.S. consumer landscape at every stage of life. The upcoming stage will be no exception.
   
• A Multi-Ethnic America: One of the most striking changes in the composition of America since 1984 has been the dramatic expansion of the minority population. For most of the prior century, just 1 in 10 Americans was a minority, accelerating rapidly to 1 in 5 Americans in the early 1980s to 1 in 3 Americans today. The fundamental challenge is that while the population is already one-third minority, heading towards majority minority, today only 9% of the core visitors to museums are minorities and approximately 20% of museum employees are minorities. If museums want to remain relevant to their communities, the museum audience will have to look dramatically different.
   
• A New Gender Gap: Women are out numbering men in pursuing higher education, leading to higher income levels and making the time they are married with children later in life.

Copyright 2008 American Association of Museums.

James Chung, Susie Wilkening, Sally Johnstone
Reach Advisors

The Center for the Future of Museums (CFM) helps museums explore the cultural, political and economic challenges facing society and devise strategies to shape a better tomorrow. CFM is a think-tank and research and design lab for fostering creativity and helping museums transcend traditional boundaries to serve society in new ways. CFM is an initiative of the American Association of Museums.