Bethany Rex

Bethany Rex, a researcher at Newcastle University, is completing her doctorate in the Department of Media, Culture and Heritage. Her research investigates the transfer of public museums to community ownership, focusing on governance arrangements under UK austerity policies and the material practices of museums and local governments.

• Examines how progressive social/political actors transition into museum roles and enact new forms of 'museum work'
• Highlights the active role of material artefacts in shaping institutional activities and outcomes through ethnography

She has participated in international conference sessions discussing co-production in heritage, future directions for Critical Heritage Studies in the UK, and the intersection of citizenship, heritage policies, and political discourse. Her work bridges heritage theory with practical analyses of community-led governance and artefact-driven museum processes.