A case of public pedagogy in Icelandic museums

Abstract

In this article, we present an illustrative case of public pedagogy in an Icelandic museum. The museum utilised social movement learning to present the recent event and responses to the financial collapse in Iceland beginning in 2008. We illustrate how a small regional museum disrupted cultural and institutional norms to challenge visitors, local community officials and other museums in Iceland through the exhibition, Shut Up and Be Quiet. We argue that museum practices, shaped by adult learning theory, can offer socially meaningful museum encounters that influence the individual visitors, the larger museum community and the society in which the museum operates.