Museums' post-lockdown future hinges on three key strategies

As museums worldwide await reopening dates, with the Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia confirming extended closures, the sector debates its post-pandemic role. Marco Bazzini argues that success will depend not on blockbuster exhibitions but on three integrated points: rethinking permanent collections with new displays and contingent themes; developing digital spaces as genuine 'museum pavilions' with dedicated staff and specific languages rather than mere promotional tools; and implementing smart access policies targeting specific audiences over the long term, avoiding free admission trends. These structural investments could sustain museums until the expected full recovery in 2023, ensuring the lockdown period yields lasting benefits.