Curating Knowledge

Abstract

Chapter Summary

The rapid evolution of curation practices today is a response to expanded access to information and knowledge and the dynamic development of intelligent technologies well suited to curatorial practices. This chapter provides an overview of traditional curation theory and practice. It identifies its historical origins of anthropology, ethnography, museum work, and archival practices. The authors note that traditional curatorial practices have been a subset of preservation practices. Today it draws heavily from traditional practices but expands the goal and purpose beyond simple preservation to storytelling, learning, creating new perspectives, interpreting the past and present, and creating new business knowledge. The chapter lays out the emerging spectrum of curation purposes and practices. The widespread access to curatorial tools now opens curatorial work to the general public. More comprehensive access argues for a broader dialog around the new competencies and capabilities these new practices require.

Citation

Foster, M., Arvand, H., Graham, H.T. and Bedford, D. (2023), "Curating Knowledge", Knowledge Preservation and Curation (Working Methods for Knowledge Management), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 73-97. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-83982-930-720231005