Enough, already!  Each museum exists for some purpose.  Some places call
themselves museums for some reason, and there is no law against that.  And
yes, Brian, in the real world it is necessary for museums to "market" to
bring in the dollars, from visitors and from patrons.
-----Original Message-----
From: Robin Le Van <[log in to unmask]>
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.museum-l
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Thursday, May 27, 1999 3:28 PM
Subject: Re: Children's learning/ museum's without collections/McMuseums


>Just as there may be children's museums that seem to exclusively entertain,
>there are innumerable collections based museums that succeed only in boring
>us all to death. Children's museums have their place -- mainly to make the
>museum concept a user friendly one to the next generation. In St. Louis,
>MO., we have a museum called the City Museum which combines the best of
both
>worlds. Housed in an old, reclaimed, factory, the lower level is a
>beautiful, artistically executed series of mosaic tunnels for smaller kids.
>The second floor has a fun hands on ceramic studio  with a glass blower.
The
>third floor has a small acrobatic "circus", a professional quality
>architecture exhibition on Louis Sullivan, a funky pop culture cafe and an
>exhibition of artifacts relating to a local 19th century children's book
>author.
>Like many of you, I rankle at the thought of collectionless museums, a
>frightening and growing trend. However, I am equally bothered by the
>proliferate number of museums which seem overwhelmed with objects they are
>unable or unwilling to effectively interpret or care for.
>I think it is helpful to remember that the museum concept was given new
life
>for the general populous by showman P.T. Barnum in the 19th century.
>Something that P.T. Barnum clearly understood when designing his "museum"
in
>N.Y.C. -- it is easier to educate when your public is engaged. It has been
>refreshing, in recent years, to tour a fine art museum  and have signage
>which interprets the work, gives it context (both in art history and human
>history) as opposed to the old signage, which included the title, artist,
>donor and accession number. This kind of change invites the general public
>into the conversation, breaking down the barriers of intellectual, economic
>and educational elitism which often prevent the common man from entering
>museums.
>We all have an interesting story to tell. We are all trying to do this to
>the best of our abilities. Let us keep pursuing ways of enhancing our own
>and each others institutions. A beginning would be an acceptance of need
for
>a broad palette of presentation.
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
>Behalf Of Montogomery County Historical Society
>Sent: Thursday, May 27, 1999 8:42 AM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Children's learning/ museum's without collections/McMuseums
>
>
>Dear Friends:
>
>Perhapes I was too strong in my opinion on Children's museums, however it
>has
>been my experience that they hardly live up to their expectations.  How
many
>"museums" have a play tower, water play or that plastic ball land?  They
>have
>become generic.  One of the assignments I give my students in the Graduate
>program I teach in is to go to such a place and observe how the children
>play, interact, and learn.  We also interview the professional staff about
>their jobs.  We find some very remarkable things, generally very
unpleasent.
>The executive Director of one such museum told me a very interesting thing
>one time.  They said,  "  We were doing average until we discovered that
you
>market a children's museum to adults not to children."  "It plays off their
>guilt"  "It does not really matter if the kids are learning anything only
>that the parents think that this is quality time, after all the parents
have
>the money."   When educational institutions start chasing dollars and not
>quality education we all suffer.
>
>Brian
>
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