MGHG Postgraduate Workshop 2026

‘What is Museum History?’

Royal Botanical Gardens Kew, London

Friday 16 October 2026

11:00 – 16:30 

Have you ever wondered what we mean when we say ‘museum history’? 

If you are a Postgraduate Student or Postgraduate Researcher working on the history of museums, then this is the workshop for you!

Both ‘history’ and the ‘museum’ are contested concepts. Where museums can make claims about history through their displays, historians can make claims about museums through their narrativizing of the past. This Postgraduate Student and Postgraduate Researcher workshop reflects on the ways in which these claims are made, and, crucially, the intersections between museums and history. Designed to provide Postgraduates with an overview of methodological and historiographical approaches to museum history, the workshop will be based on a format of ‘case studies’, unpacked through group work in three workshop sessions, assisted by respondents from museums, heritage organisations and academia.

Our workshop will consist of three key group work sessions focused on (1) Theories; (2) Practices; and (3) Challenging the Museum Paradigm.  Each session will explore the assumptions that underpin museum histories, the different theoretical approaches to museum history, and the opportunities presented by global, cross-cultural, and comparative perspectives. 

Call for Case-Studies

If you are a postgraduate student or postgraduate researcher working on museums and history, we want to hear from you.

To participate, please send us a case study that focuses on museum history.  This could be the focus of your current postgraduate thesis (both taught programmes and research programmes), a key text or theory, a museum or collection or exhibition (historic or contemporary), an image, film, object or example of intangible heritage that can act as a catalyst for a workshop discussion on museums and history. Submissions can be in any format, but they should demonstrate how they will address ‘museum history’.

Please note this is not a call for presentation of a paper, case studies will instead be used to facilitate discussion in the workshop.

Please send us your suggestions for a case study, together with 2 or 3 questions that the case study might raise (maximum of 250 words in total), together with information on your affiliation and your status as taught postgraduate or postgraduate researcher. Please email to: contact@mghg.info. The deadline for submission of case studies is Tuesday 15th September 2026.

Please note: places at the workshop are limited. We may have a small amount of funding to support travel for some participants; if you wish to be considered for support for travel please include a statement on why you might be considered and the amount needed.  We would expect that funded PGRs (CDAs and CDP researchers) would be able to draw on their respective funding support.

Please Note: Student Membership of MGHG (£15 p.a.) is required to participate in this workshop – see details of membership.

For enquiries or questions please email MGHG – contact@mghg.info