Moments of Discomfort and Conflict: Holocaust Museums as Agents of Change

Abstract

Museums serve as a place of memory, where heritage is conserved, collections cared for, and the best possible conditions are created for visitors to experience exhibits and the meanings and events they represent. These cultural institutions are increasingly defined by the ability to act as disseminators of culture and history as well as conveyors of controversial issues and have the ability to provide a vast range of informal and purposeful learning opportunities for adults. Programming that addresses a range of issues centering on social and environmental consciousness and human rights allows cultural institutions to draw upon resources and expertise to provide chances for individuals to change professional practice, gain new perspectives on societal norms, and challenge existing mental models. The events of the Holocaust and its representation in museums serve as an agent of change to improve the social and environmental situations for individuals and the organizations and communities in which they live and work. Using transformational learning theory as a conceptual frame, this article presents two cases for exploring museums’ role in supporting HRD and offers suggestions for partnerships between organizations and museums. Looking to museums and historic sites as sources of human resource development has far-reaching implications for cultural, organizational, and individual practices and is an innovative approach to initiating societal and institutional change.