Museums Face Existential Questions About Relevance and Future Direction

Sharmini Pereira, chief curator at the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Sri Lanka, contributed to an ArtReview symposium examining contemporary challenges facing museums. Published in March 2026, the article questions traditional museum authority amid restitution claims, linguistic diversity, and audience alienation. The piece argues that future institutions must address historical injustices, embrace multiple perspectives beyond English dominance, and reconsider accessibility beyond free admission. Pereira suggests museums should prioritize unsettling established narratives over becoming entertainment venues.