ABSTRACT
From classical mouseions to contemporary sites of conscience, museums have always aimed to do work that is pertinent and valuable to society. Changing to meet the times, the “social relevance” of museums has involved many goals and taken many forms throughout history. What do we face in this ominous year of 2012? The scarcity of natural resources and the scope of social dysfunction seem unprecedented. Yet, equally impressive is the growing public awareness that human beings must relate to the earth and to each other in new ways, and the increasing evidence that people are willing to do so, taking risks on behalf of change. How do museums fit these times?
