Fiona Candlin

Fiona Candlin is Professor of Museology at Birkbeck, University of London, specializing in small independent museums, museum closure, and sensory history. She directs the Mapping Museums Lab, an interdisciplinary collaboration with computer scientists, geographers, and historians. Previously, she developed the MA Museum Cultures program and worked with Tate Liverpool and The British Museum.

Her research includes major projects funded by AHRC, including 'Mapping Museums' which documented over 4,000 UK museums and developed a publicly accessible database. She has secured significant grants including £1 million for 'Museum Closure in the UK 2000-2025' and £190,000 for 'UK Museums during the Pandemic'.

Research interests focus on:

• Micromuseums and independent sector development
• Museum data collection and sector analysis
• Sensory experiences in museum contexts
• Museum closure and collection afterlife

Professional activities include advisory roles for Arts Council England, The Sloane Lab, and Centre for Sensory Studies. Outreach includes oral history projects and public lectures on museum development.