Museum resilience: the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the independent museums in the UK

Li, Lingjun (2025). Museum resilience: the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the independent museums in the UK. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

Since the coronavirus swept across the globe, the cultural and creative sectors worldwide have faced unprecedented challenges in terms of financial revenue, public safety and staff wellbeing, and museums are no exception. Therefore, the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on the museums and strategies for navigating these institutions within such a shifting social environment has been the central concern within the UK museum sector. This thesis scrutinizes the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on independent museums in the UK and explores how the independent museum sector has responded to these challenges in the light of museum resilience. This thesis delves into both the conceptual underpinnings and practical applications of the concept of museum resilience in the context of the independent museum sector during the Covid-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2023.

To capture data relating to the research question, this thesis has employed a multi-method qualitative research methodology, incorporating methods of secondary research, surveys, case studies, and semi- structured interviews. With the assistance of the Association of Independent Museums, this research received 207 survey responses from museum professionals across the independent museum sector in the UK. Additionally, thirteen distinctive independent museums participated as case study museums.

Inspired by the conceptual roots of resilience in ecological literature, this research adopts an ecosystem framework to analyse the research data. This ecosystem comprises diverse stakeholders such as independent museums, governmental bodies, professional organizations, and museum communities. This thesis evaluates the functioning of each stakeholder within this ecosystem during the Covid-19 pandemic, investigating their interconnections. As a result, it furnishes a comprehensive perspective for understanding the dynamics of the independent museum sector in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In doing so, this research yields insights into the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on independent museums and their responses, encompassing financial, institutional, and emotional dimensions. First, it details the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the financial stability of independent museums and then it explores the combined effect of financial pressure on institutional decision-making regarding operations, staffing, and long-term strategy. It also discerns the emotional impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on museum workers, such as worries, loneliness, and exhaustion. More importantly, this thesis provides numerous examples of efforts made by the independent museum sector to mitigate the impact of the pandemic, which involve a bundle of strategies to boost museum finances, re-engage museum audiences, and alleviate staff emotional stress. By analysing these responsive strategies, this thesis examines the notion of museum resilience within the context of the crisis induced by the Covid-19 pandemic, offering a more detailed interpretation of what it means for a museum to be resilient.

This thesis reveals that the lockdown caused by Covid-19 pandemic significantly reduced ticket sales, retail, and catering revenues for many independent museums in the UK. Although visitor numbers gradually recovered as museums reopened, these institutions continued to face financial pressure to enhance online services and ensure on-site safety in the post-pandemic era. Thanks to the function of public grants, the financial impact of the pandemic did not lead to widespread permanent closures of independent museums in the UK. However, the loss of volunteers, the gap of digitalization between different museums, and the dilemma between promoting staff welfare and navigating financial constraints could pose future survival risks for these museums. Additionally, the pandemic took a toll on museum staff’s mental health, leading to anxiety, loneliness, and fatigue, which may present potential challenges in the future. Moreover, external risks such as climate change, geopolitical instability, and inflation further exacerbate the challenges faced by the independent museum sector in the UK. Therefore, enhancing museum resilience has become more critical than ever.

This study, through analysing various cases, posits that museum resilience is a combination of the defensive ability to avoid destructive failure, consistency in upholding the museum’s core mission, the flexibility to mobilize resources, and the progressive power to achieve greater goals. This research provides a forward-looking perspective for future museum management studies, as the threat of the Covid-19 pandemic may have diminished, but potential museum crises have not disappeared. Beyond its focus on museology, this research presents successful crisis response strategies, serving as a resource for professionals in the cultural sector. These professionals can enhance their understanding and draw lessons from the experiences of independent museums.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):