Tributes are being paid by those in the museums sector following the passing of social media audience development consultant Mar Dixon.

Dixon was the creator of many sector-specific campaigns and projects designed to support the museums sector, including digital-first campaigns Museum Selfie Day, and 52Museums. She was also Project Coordinator for the first Museomix in the UK, and the founder of CultureThemes, a multinational group of museum professionals.

Dixon also set up Museumcamp, an ‘unconference’ for the sector, alongside Linda Spurdle, Head of Digital for Birmingham Museums Trust (BMT).

Spurdle announced on X that Dixon had passed away on Saturday following a short illness.

In tribute, Spurdle said Dixon “loved to be called a troublemaker, and it was always good trouble. Her reaction to a problem was always – what can we do about this? And she would come up with ideas, bring people together, and we’d do stuff – swept along by her energy, enthusiasm & crazy optimism”

Director of Manchester Museum Esme Ward also shared thoughts, describing Dixon as “wonderful, a force for good, full of hope and humour. Super smart. Kind. The best of us.. very very sad to hear this news. She’ll be missed by so many museum folk. Deepest condolences to her family and friends.”

 

Dave Patten, Head of New Media at the Science Museum Group, said Dixon “brought energy, enthusiasm and wit to the projects she worked on and was a joy to be with”.

Liz Hide, Director of The Sedgwick Museum, said Dixon’s passing was a loss to the museums sector, and described her as “inspiring and energetic, and a social media innovator back when museums social media was fun and exciting.”

Museums + Heritage Director Anna Preedy shared a photo with Dixon, writing: ” She would light up any room, full of laughter and endlessly positive and supportive. ”

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