New Books in Critical Theory Helen Graham, "Deconstituting Museums: Participation’s Affective Work" (UCL Press, 2024)
Jan 16, 2026
Helen Graham, an Associate Professor at the University of Leeds and author of *Deconstituting Museums*, explores the urgent need for change in museum practices. She discusses the concept of the 'museum constitution' and its inherent contradictions, highlighting tensions in participation and institutional logic. Graham introduces 'participation's affective work,' advocating for participatory methods that genuinely engage audiences. She challenges conventional notions of conservation and representation, urging a shift toward relational and restorative practices for a more meaningful museum experience.
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From Access Work To Participatory Practice
- Helen Graham moved from access work to facilitating participation inside museums over her career.
- She found participation emotionally intense and repeatedly encountered painful, conflictual moments while facilitating it.
Participation Tied To Direct Democracy
- Graham defines participation as involving non-staff in museum work and links it to direct democracy.
- She argues participation requires openness to being affected, mutual accountability, and horizontal scaling out rather than top-down scaling up.
Museum Constitution Concept
- Graham introduces
