This issue of the Museum History Journal marks a number of changes in our editorial team. Firstly, Dr Bronwyn Labrum, Co-Editor of the journal since 2018, is sadly stepping down from this role to concentrate on her curatorial work. I would like to pay tribute to Bronwyn’s immense contribution to the journal over this period – she has made a particularly strong commitment to diversifying the range of contributors, reviewers and board members we work with, and making the journal more inclusive, and, as an academic-practitioner herself, has encouraged further dissolution of the boundary between museum practitioners or professionals and academics in thinking about museum history; more voices are being heard in the journal and for this I am particularly grateful. It should also not be forgotten that she helped steer the journal through the extremely difficult waters of the pandemic; and implemented a new submission management system. In the period of her co-editorship, the journal has grown in terms of submissions, readership, and all other metrics; and it has been a real pleasure working with her.
I am delighted to announce that the new co-editor of the journal will be Alexandra Bounia, Professor of Museology at the University of the Aegean. Alexandra has a wealth of experience in editing, and expertise in the history of museums in Greece, and Europe more widely. She has recently been a Managing Editor at Museum & Society, and has edited both books and special issues of journals. Her published research includes material on the history of collecting, as well as the history of Greek and Cypriot museology, and women in the history of museums, collections and exhibitions in Greece. Alexandra is about to start working on the next issue of the journal and we will be developing our editorial approach throughout the year.
Additionally, there are changes underway in Reviews. Kirstie Ross, who has also been Reviews Editor for about five years, is stepping down following a new position as Head Curator at Otago University, New Zealand. She took over a position which had been vacant for some time, and effectively created more up-to-date systems and approaches to enable the journal to act as a forum for news and discussion of publications in museum history. Our new Reviews Editor will be Dr Philip Deans, an early career academic at the University of Newcastle, whose work focuses on the history of the Imperial War Museum, UK. We anticipate that he will bring renewed energy and enthusiasm to the role.
All in all, it’s an exciting time for the journal – the previous editorial team have expanded our coverage and reach, and we’re keen to see where the next chapter takes us. Thanks again to Bronwyn and Kirstie, and welcome to Alexandra and Philip!