Creating a “Yes” Institution with Emelie Chhangur

In this episode, we welcome Emelie Chhangur, director and curator of the Agnes Etherington Art Centre at Queen’s University in Kingston, Canada. We learn how Emelie approaches the museum’s dual mandate as a public institution and pedagogical resource and how she has developed her experimental and participatory curatorial practice, including several feminist and decolonising initiatives. We explore in particular her concept of “in-reach”, which aims to transform institutions from within and to mobilise new kinds of relationships with surrounding communities. We also discuss Emelie’s development of a major expansion and renovation project at the Agnes and consider how new museum architectures can allow new stories, care practices and social imaginaries to emerge. Finally, as we reflect on the important distinction between access and trust, we ask how the museum can ensure space for Indigenous self-determination and become a home for entities, practices and temporalities that are, from Indigenous worldview, alive and breathing. “Feminisms in the Museum” is written and produced by Eliza Apperly and Alondra Meier. Sound design and editing by Benjamin Nash, Nora Mihle, Annelien Van Heymbeeck and Andreas König. Artwork by Diana Ejaita. Project curation by Michael Dieminger. Project management by Selina McKay. Our podcast is part of the 99 Questions programme at Stiftung Humboldt Forum im Berliner Schloss. For more information and show notes, visit https://www.humboldtforum.org/en/programm/digitales-angebot/digital-en/feminisms-in-the-museum-109860/.