Tthe role of museums in sustainable transition : from the toolkits to sustainable exhibitions

Dealing with Sustainability today essentially means (pre)occupying oneself with the needs of the future, not only focusing on environmental sustainability, but addressing the challenges of climate change in their entirety, considering aspects of economic and social sustainability as well (Culture Northwest, 2006). In addition to the aforementioned areas, there has recently emer- ged the need to introduce a fourth pillar of sustainability: Culture. The Agenda 21 for Culture and the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG, 2010) Executive Bureau, in 2010, published the document ‘Culture: Fourth Pillar of Sustainable Development’, in which it is asserted that economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental balance no longer reflect all the dimensions of our global societies, and it is proposed to integrate the dimension of culture into policies aimed at sustainable development. The document highlights the necessity of addressing not only economic, social, or environmental challenges, but also cultural ones; creativity, diversity, and beauty are the indispensable foundations of dialogue for sustainable progress (Culture: Fourth Pillar of Sustainable Development, 2010). Indeed, envisioning transformation implies a deeper understanding of how an individual reshapes their views of the world and shapes new modes of engagement for sustainability (N. Duxbury, 2019). According to Duxbury, the cultural dimension is necessary be- cause it: * Provides new ways of perceiving and investigating the world, stimulating and promoting changes in thinking, acting, and living; * Activates public engagement, catalyzing social relationships and evolving new ways of producing and living together; * Physically and symbolically changes the spaces in which we live and relate, fostering greater connection with the natural and built environment (N. Duxbury, 2019). This chapter investigates the role of museums as cultural venues and frontline promoters of sustainability issues, highlighting current challenges and future opportunities. The analysis also identifies case studies and best practices carried out by various museum organizations and identifies the main toolkits currently available to them, particularly for exhibition design. In conclusion, several challenges related to the design of toolkits and their usage are highlighted, and future opportunities are indicated as avenues for further development of sustainability in museums. “How can culture advance the transformation of our society towards more sustainable lifestyles?” (S. J. Kagan, 2012)