How thoughtful open-access policies can expand participation, support creativity and build trust, while respecting rights, ethics and sustainability.
By Naomi Korn, CEO
Event: Museums Association Conference 2026: Museums Connecting Communities
Session: Open licensing: connecting communities through shared culture
Date and time: Tuesday 3 November 2026, 14:00–15:00
Location: Birmingham Repertory Theatre, 6 Centenary Square, Birmingham B1 2EP
Chair: Naomi Korn
Speakers: Andrea Cop, Research and Academic Liaison Manager, National Museums Scotland; Amy Taylor, Picture Library Manager, Ashmolean Museum; Aidan McNeill, Head of IP and Licensing, Art UK.
Enabling global audiences to access and reuse online collections, museums can build stronger connections with the public, encourage collaboration and help cultural heritage become a genuinely shared resource. But openness is not without complexity. In the age of AI, museums must also consider the ethical use of collections, their commercial strategies and regulatory responsibilities, including copyright, privacy and cultural rights. On the 3 November 2026, at the Museums Association Annual Conference, I will have the pleasure in chairing a frank and open discussion with colleagues about this important topic.
When online collections are openly licensed, they can support many forms of public participation. Community groups can co-create new interpretations, educators can repurpose cultural material for learning, and museums can collaborate with Wikimedia communities to reach wider audiences. These activities do more than increase access. They can stimulate creative reinterpretations of heritage, bring fresh perspectives to collections and invite people to participate in culture rather than simply observe it.
For museums, moving towards open access requires careful judgement. Rights clearance can be time-consuming, funders may have their own requirements, and some material may be sensitive or culturally significant. Copyright, privacy, cultural rights and ethical stewardship all need to be considered before content is made available for reuse. Institutions must also balance public access with commercial sustainability. The challenge is not to choose between openness and resilience, but to develop policies that support both wherever possible.
Aligned with the theme of Museums Connecting Communities, open content policies can help institutions strengthen trust and enliven their collections. Clear, thoughtful approaches to licensing demonstrate how museums can expand participation while remaining attentive to ethical, regulatory and institutional responsibilities.
Real-world case studies, from policy development and funder engagement to educational initiatives and Wikimedia partnerships, can help organisations see what is possible and identify practical ways through common obstacles.
Open licensing is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Yet with clear policies, informed decision-making and meaningful partnerships, museums can open up more of their collections in ways that are responsible, sustainable and valuable to the communities they serve. The next step is to start the conversation: which collections could your organisation open, and what new connections might that make possible?
Look forward to catching up with everyone then: https://www.museumsassociation.org/events/conference-2026/programme/tuesday-3-november
