Values, strengths and futures of museums, libraries and community centres as seen by experts in the field: First round results of a Delphi study

Abstract

In the process of building local communities with shared cultural values, museums, libraries and community centres are key agents in civil society. When these institutions project specific notions and ideal types of identity and citizenship, they have the potential to produce changes in people’s behaviour. It is only natural that political bodies are interested in these processes. On 16 September 2016, the Ministry of Human Capacities of the Hungarian Government launched an EU-funded project with the primary aim of strengthening social cohesion within the region. As a part of this project, we surveyed 59 professionals working in Hungarian museums, libraries and community centres, using the Delphi method, to gain insights about their capacities, needs, and visions. This article presents the results of the first round of analysis. Respondents’ answers were analysed using NVivo qualitative data analysis software, which resulted in a thematic map showing the main problems professionals in these sectors are struggling with, and highlighting the kinds of visions they had for their institutions’ future. The study clearly shows that the cultural sector is plagued by financial problems, and that there is a strong need for reform when it comes to the professional training of workers in these fields. Regarding the future, visions are centred around cultural institutions increasingly becoming community spaces, thinktanks, and ideas workshops that consciously guide community formation.