Proactive Spaces. An Insight on the Spatial and Museographical Features of 21st Century ‘Postmuseum’

The contemporary globalised, networked, multi-cultural and convoluted context is triggering the enhancement of the role of contemporary museums as “active instruments at the service of society and its development”, which is being actualised mainly through the experimentation of new curatorial practices, awarenessraising education projects and participative activities. The paper suggests that this thorough reassessment of the museums’ mission and purposes, which is fostering a reconsideration of their scientific programmes, practices and approaches, might be as well complemented by a transformation and reorganisation of their spaces, intended as essential components potentiating museums’ effectiveness towards contemporary society. By observing the projects of a selection of newly built or recently renovated European museums, it is possible to detect the recurrent presence of strategic spaces, which are meant not only to accommodate but also to support and even foster the development of new practices. We may refer to them as “proactive” spaces – where the adjective “proactive” suggests their ability in consciously reacting to events, in timely adapting, or even driving and fostering changes. Proactive spaces are flexible, adaptive, multi-purpose and in-progress spaces, which remain “open” in their form, function and meaning in order to better respond to the evolving needs and activities of 21st century museums.