I love hearing stories of how others have applied agile in their work and life. I had the pleasure of interviewing Maria Ledinskaya, Conservator at the Conservation and Museums Advisory Service (CMAS) this week.
Maria has adopted agile within Conservation and Project Management at small and large museums, here in the UK and in Hong Kong.
She shares her story of how cuts and restrictions during in the pandemic led her to work in an ‘agile ‘ way to still deliver a key project and how she discovered agile and lean methods on that journey.
She also shares her experiences of its application more broadly supporting the opening of a new museum in Hong Kong and more recently at CMAS managing their marketing and social media as a team.
Maria shares insights into the challenges of adopting new ways of working in the sector, and how she has navigated them.
It’s a great interview full of great examples and stories.
If you would like to create your own board like the one Maria shares in the video watch my free Masterclass on Adaptable planning which will guide you step by step on how to create your own.
This interview is part of a collection of over 20 interviews and stories on agile thinking and it’s application included within the Being Agile Online Course
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Watch the Interview…
Being Agile is a way of thinking and working that helps people navigate complexity, adapt to change and work more sustainably. For those working in museums, galleries and heritage, agile can help us balance the demands of curation, collaboration, funding, change and wellbeing.
Here are five reasons why agile belongs in museums.
1. Supporting smart and creative curation
Curation is a craft that thrives on iteration. Agile helps us develop exhibitions and programmes in cycles, allowing us to test ideas, gather feedback and refine our work as we go. It encourages a mindset of learning and exploration, helping us stay audience focused while keeping the heart of our collections and stories alive. Whether we’re developing a new exhibition, redesigning interpretation or launching a digital archive, agile supports us to deliver meaningful experiences, one step at a time.
2. Navigating funding challenges
Funding in arts and heritage is often complex, time-limited and resource constrained. Agile supports us to plan flexibly and prioritise what matters most. It helps us make the best use of limited time and budget, breaking down projects into manageable pieces and focusing on achievable impact. By working in short cycles, we can demonstrate progress quickly and respond to funders’ feedback, building confidence and trust along the way.
3. Fostering creative collaboration
Agile thrives on teamwork. It creates space for open communication, shared goals and collective ownership. In heritage spaces where staff, volunteers, freelancers and partners work together, agile offers a common language and rhythm. Daily check-ins, visual boards and regular reviews can help everyone stay aligned and feel part of the journey, whether they’re front of house, behind the scenes or joining remotely.
4. Responding to change with confidence
From audience expectations to cost of living challenges constant change is all around us. Agile helps us respond rather than react. It gives us tools to sense what’s shifting and adapt our plans without losing direction. Instead of sticking rigidly to long-term plans, we can stay clear on our goals but flexible in how we reach them. That makes us more resilient and ready to explore new opportunities as they emerge.
5. Working at a sustainable pace
Many in the sector are facing burnout. Agile encourages us to work at a sustainable pace, not sprint endlessly from one deadline to the next. It supports wellbeing by building in time for reflection, celebration and rest. It helps us spot when we’re overstretched and take steps to rebalance. By focusing on steady, meaningful progress rather than perfection or pressure, agile helps us care for ourselves as well as our work.
Agile is already present in our heritage sector in many ways, often informally or instinctively. By adopting a more intentional agile approach, we can bring clarity, creativity and calm to our work. Whether you’re a volunteer or a senior curator, a project manager or an educator, agile offers tools and mindsets to help you thrive in a changing world.
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