It has been interesting to read these varied responses on what a museum's role actually is. Ideally, a museum (any museum) should be a reflection of the community in which it resides. What would the Milwaukee Art Museum be without highlighting the work of local Milwaukee artists? It would be a copy of any other art museum in the world. Certainly museums serve as bastions of the greatest examples of human endeavor--whether it be art, science, exploration, survival, or speed. But we must face the fact that not all examples of human endeavor are GREAT. Pop culture, like it or not, is a reality. When Andy Warhol came on the stage, who would have thought that his artwork would be some of the most sought after artwork in the world? Marie remarked in her response that "museums are not commercial". I wish that I lived in a world and worked in whatever museum she is in because I could not disagree more. All museums--from the biggest to the smallest--markets their institution and collections. Even a small, local historical society--open 1 day a week--has a visible sign in front announcing their presence. They may not charge admission, but this doesn't make them non-commercial. They have prints and maps and postcards for sale inside. Sure, their revenue is small...and probably not enough to sustain the organization...but they are still commercial. As an employee of a museum suffering the financial strains that so many others have also undergone in recent years, it at times feels as though we are selling our collective soul in order to stay afloat. I didn't enter the museum field for the money (I actually took a step down in pay from teaching...if you can believe that), but instead...as Marie stated...it's about the mission. We are an educational institution. We serve as a cultural center for the community. We are a repository for knowledge. We are a mirror against which the community can reflect and measure itself. The "Art of NASCAR" may not be your "cup of tea", but I guarantee that ANY museum hosting the exhibit will find new visitors who would not ordinarily see "French Impressionists" as their "can of beer" either. -Jason ________________________________ From: Julia Moore [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Monday, July 24, 2006 2:53 PM Subject: Re: museums catering to the general public I agree. Certain museums find it more within their mission to reflect popular cultural concerns, while others would find doing so a real stretch to their mission. I'm sure we all have shaken our heads at one point or another at the ludicrousness of certain exhibition choices by certain museums, finding them clearly driven by a motive to bring in the warm bodies at any cost. Any "new audiences" brought in typically result in a bump in revenue from admissions fees (if they exist), a temporary membership jump and increased sales in the gift shop during the exhibition, but these rarely have staying power if these audiences do not find that the regular mission of the museum is something that resonates with them. Also, all museums have certain topics within their mission that they know will bring in the foot traffic, but they can't do those too often at the expense of other mission-driven activities. (for example-quilt exhibitions are always popular and publicly-accessible for both history and art museums, but how many of those can one do without slighting the other important areas of the collection?) Having said that, I noticed on a recent visit to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame and Museum that they have added a couple of NASCAR cars to their extensive display of Indy cars, rather later than the actual introduction of NASCAR racing to the track itself. In this context, NASCAR programming makes sense. However, an exhibit of NASCAR autos at the Metropolitan Museum of Art might not. Julia Muney Moore Public Art Administrator Blackburn Architects, Indianapolis, IN (317) 875-5500 x230 ________________________________ From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Janice Klein Sent: Sunday, July 23, 2006 12:02 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] museums catering to the general public As you say, museums each have a mission which identifies what their focus area. I'm not sure that museums should be treated with such reverence -- although I would hope they all generate some form of "oh wow" in the visitor. NASCAR is not such an outlandish idea for a museum. One of the most interesting museums I've visited in the last year was the Unser Racing Museum in Albuquerque. Well laid out, lots of accessible information and cool cars. janice Janice Klein Director, Mitchell Museum of the American Indian [log in to unmask] www.mitchellmuseum.org -----Original Message----- From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Marie Morgan Sent: Sunday, July 23, 2006 2:13 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: museums catering to the general public Attracting wider audiences is something that museums struggle with, but museums usually have a mission, a narrowed focus of what they are about. Every museum is not supposed to cater to every person. Although, it seems that we have to do that more now in order to stay afloat. Museums are not commercial. Granted, to survive we need to think more that way, but at what cost? When you think of a museum you should have a silent, reverent feel at the word. Museum. That word should mean something significant. It was always meaningful to me, even when i was a kid. It was a place of learning, wonder, boredom and excitement. I don't ever want to feel about museums the way i feel about the mall. And that's a lot of money to spend on the tastes of the moment. Why do companies spend so much money on consumer testing? Because the fads come and go so fast. To sell your products you must stay on the crest of that wave. That is not financially feasible for museums. Yesterday wrestling, today nascar, tomorrow who knows? To me, the job of a museum is to preserve what is culturally significant. Is Nascar significant? Ask me in 20 years. Museums gamble on that every day. What young artist do they invest in? Should they accession the old office macintosh? What are people going to be interested in years from now? In this world museums are competing with TV, video games, themeparks, shopping centers, and so on. Does competing mean we have to emulate them? Every museum in America could host a traveling exhibit of the newest and biggest sensation, but should they? I haven't really answered your questions . . . but I really don't think there are any good answers out there. At the very base, you have to ask: What are museums? What do they do? What are they for? My best answer is that no museum can be everything to everyone. Let your mission guide you. Marie Micah Zender <[log in to unmask]> wrote: Being an outsider looking in (a contractor, and corporate donor) I find that museums often shy away from creating exhibitions that cater to the greater publics interests. I'M GENERALIZING HERE! Why? I know that having an "art of Nascar" exhibition may not fit well into the lineup of exhibitions next to say: Early Female Expressionists, or Decorative Indian Pottery. But there's a great following behind nascar, and may bring a new audience to the museum. Some of the institutions see this as petty, or not 'culturally significant', but isn't the core mission of most museums to bring culture, and appreciation for the arts? (Or something close to - I'm generalizing again) And isn't part of doing that reaching out to people that aren't in the upper-income bracket or aren't already artistically versed? (Super generalizing) My corporate clients spend a great deal of time, and money on 'consumer understanding) research, trying to figure out how to reach their customers effectively, do museums not do the same? Or want to? Are these practices considered 'dirty' - because companies like P&G use this information to sell more tampons, or soap, or dishwashing detergent - is this research not a fit for museums for moral reasons? "We don't want to trick people into coming here"?? I'm interested in your thoughts/oppinionms. Apologies for the generalizations I write with the purest of intentions. Thanks Micah Zender Micah A T Zender . Com -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.10.3/395 - Release Date: 7/21/2006 ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes). ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . 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