* Focus // Are Museums Having an Ecological Turn?

Panel Discussion at SAFI FAYE STAGE (HKW)

“Are Museums Having an Ecological Turn?” explores how museums are adapting to the climate crisis, examining their potential to engage with sustainability, conservation, and the long-term survival of the planet.

Drawing on insights from “Museums at the Ecological Turn” (NERO), the panel reflects on how museums can serve as ethical agents in the face of ecological collapse, particularly through the work of Jumana Manna, whose artistic practice highlights the complex relationship between ecology and politics, critiquing extractivism and colonial conservation practices.

A second key focus of the discussion will be the exhibition and publication “Things That Were Are Things Again” (EECLECTIC), an experimental attempt by GfZK (Galerie für Zeitgenössische Kunst), Leipzig to curate a climate-neutral collection show—developed in collaboration with artists and designers to implement circular strategies, reduce energy consumption, and rethink resource use.

Through these lenses, the panel considers the potential of museums to foster ecological awareness, social transformation, and sustainable futures.