This paper explores how UK national museums have sustained cross-border collaborations with European counterparts in the wake of Brexit. Despite the loss of EU funding, new restrictions on mobility, and rising administrative burdens, partnerships between UK and EU cultural institutions have shown notable resilience. Based on doctoral research involving thirty interviews with museum professionals and extensive archival analysis, the paper provides examples from three case studies: Amgueddfa Cymru (National Museum Wales), National Museums Liverpool, and the Victoria and Albert Museum. The analysis considers how national museums in the UK have continued to engage with European partners post-Brexit and identifies the forms of institutional and relational resilience that have supported this continuity. Findings highlight the enduring strength of professional relationships, the strategic autonomy of institutions, and the capacity of individuals, particularly senior leaders, to navigate change while reaffirming shared priorities. In a period marked by political fracture, these museums demonstrate how continuity is maintained through organisational planning and the intelligence embedded in long-term relationships and leadership practices. This paper contributes to broader discussions on how public cultural institutions respond to external pressure and uncertainty. It positions museums as active participants in transnational networks, where resilience emerges from human insight, institutional memory, and sustaining trust. At a time when frontline staff are often the first affected by crisis measures, this study prompts a deeper reflection on the role of human agency and intelligence in institutional survival and the capacity to endure change.

Authors:
Kirsty Warner, King's College London, United Kingdom

About the Presenter(s)
Kirsty Warner is an Assistant Professor at the University of Warwick. Her research focuses on cultural policy, international relations, and museums. She currently contributes to the ESRC project Living with the Neighbours.

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