In this episode of The Art Engager, Claire Bown talks with Ciaron Wilkinson, Head of Partnerships and Engagement at Manchester Museum — one of the UK’s largest university museums and recent winner of European Museum of the Year.

After a values-led redevelopment, Manchester Museum has reimagined how a museum can engage with its community. Its mission is to be the most caring, imaginative, and inclusive museum people will ever visit - a place where everyone belongs.

Ciaron shares how this vision has reshaped the museum’s spaces and ways of working: co-curating the South Asia Gallery with 30 community members over five years, celebrating faith and culture through the Manchester Museum Celebrates series, and opening the Top Floor hub, shared with 25 local organisations dedicated to social justice and climate action.

This conversation offers practical insights into co-curation, community engagement, and the values-led decisions behind creating cultural spaces where everyone feels welcome.

The Art Engager is written and presented by Claire Bown. Editing is by Matt Jacobs and Claire Bown. Music by Richard Bown. Support the show on Patreon and find more resources at thinkingmuseum.com

‘The Art Engager: Reimagining Guided Experiences in Museums‘ is now available worldwide through your favourite online platforms and retailers. Buy it here on Amazon.com: https://tinyurl.com/buytheartengager

The Art Engager book website: https://www.theartengager.com/

Support the show with a simple monthly subscription on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArtEngager

Episode Links:

Manchester Museum website

Manchester Museum Instagram

Article on European Museum of the Year

Article on decolonisation

New York Times article following reopening