What are museums for?

Well, the Smith Art gallery in Stirling decided to ask the public.
 
Working in conjunction with the local art college they have given over one gallery to an interactive project asking members of the public  what they want from museums.
 
 
Interesting to see the tiger and café were listed as the main attraction , albeit I suspect by young people. Sadly, nobody mentioned the museum’s impressive art collection (see extra). 
 
Not that long ago, museums replaced churches as a source of spiritual nourishment. Now even that is in doubt.
As museums struggle for survival in our post-modern age more and more are beginning to ask themselves:” what are we for?”
 
 
I like the definition adopted by the International Council of Museums:

“A museum is a not-for-profit, permanent institution in the service of society that researches, collects, conserves, interprets 
 
exhibits tangible and intangible heritage. Open to the public, accessible and inclusive, museums foster diversity and sustainability. 
 
 
How this fits into the emerging 21stcentury with the digitization of the cultural landscape is another matter.