My $0.02--

Speaking as a curator with a M.B.A. (also known as a "director's worst
nightmare"), I believe that ALL subject specializations in museums should
have a little business training in order to help avoid certain conflicts and
provide a common base of knowledge.  Specifically, overview classes in fund
accounting (to improve budgeting skills), marketing (to help define
audiences and innovate how to serve them), and organizational behavior (to
help work more effectively with others in the organization) should be
required as professional development, to be paid for by the museum.  This
suggestion will no doubt engender much controversy.

As for what the director should be skilled in, I would say that the director
needs to be more of a business-type leader than an academician.  He/She
should be able to view his/her role as bringing together the appropriate
resources in order to promote an overall plan/goal/mission, and should
realize that the staff's role is to provide the specialized knowledge in
their individual areas.  I do not agree that it is easier to teach a curator
business skills than it is to teach a business leader the purpose of the
museum--either one has  leadership ability or one doesn't, and that cannot
be taught by any class, course, or degree.

Julia Moore
Director of Exhibitions and Artist Services
Indianapolis Art Center