The Digital Imperative: Why Museums Must Build for Access, Resilience, and Relevance

Museums today are navigating a pivotal moment. While the most urgent disruptions of the pandemic have passed, its ripple effects remain deeply felt. Audiences have changed. Funding landscapes have shifted. Community expectations around access, inclusion, and participation are evolving—quickly.

At the same time, many museums are still expected to do more with less. Staff capacity is stretched. Digital infrastructure is uneven. And expectations—from visitors, boards, funders, and the public—continue to rise.

This whitepaper offers a grounded, optimistic look at what digital transformation means for museums today. It is not a call to become tech companies. It’s not about innovation for its own sake. Rather, it’s a roadmap for how digital tools—when thoughtfully applied—can help museums do what they’ve always done: steward stories, foster connection, and serve their communities.