The digital revolution fundamentally changed how cultural heritage is created, documented, analyzed, and preserved. The book focuses on this transformation's impact. How must museums and archives meet the challenges of digitally generated cultures and how does the digital revolution influence traditional object collection, research, and education? How do digital technologies and digital art and culture affect our interaction with images? Leading international experts from various disciplines break new ground. Pioneering interdisciplinary research results collected in this book are relevant to education, curators and archivists in the arts and culture sector and in the digital humanities.

Beyond their often beautiful exhibition halls, many museums contain vast, hidden spaces in which objects may be stored, conserved, or processed. Museums can also include unseen archives, study rooms, and libraries which are inaccessible to the public. This collection of essays focuses on this domain, an area that has hitherto received little attention. Divided into four sections, the book critically examines the physical space of museum storage areas, the fluctuating historical fortunes of exhibits, the growing phenomenon of publicly visible storage, and the politics of objects deemed worthy of collection but unsuitable for display. In doing so, it explores issues including the relationship between storage and canonization, the politics of collecting, the use of museum storage as a form of censorship, the architectural character of storage space, and the economic and epistemic value of museum objects. Essay contributions come from a broad combination of museum directors, curators, archaeologists, historians, and other academics.

The Spy Museum, the Vacuum Cleaner Museum, the National Mustard Museumnot to mention the Art Institute, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Getty Center: museums have never been more robust, curating just about everything there is and assuming a new prominence in public life. The Return of Curiosity explores museums in the modern age, offering a fresh perspective on some of our most important cultural institutions and the vital function they serve as stewards of human and natural history. Reflecting on art galleries, science and history institutions, and collections all around the world, Nicholas Thomas argues that, in times marked by incredible insecurity and turbulence, museums help us sustain and enrich society. Moreover, they stimulate us to think in new ways about our world, compelling our curiosity and showing us the importance of understanding one another. Thomas looks at museums not simply as storehouses of old things but as the products of meaningful relationships between curators, the public, history, and culture. These relationships, he shows, dont always go smoothly, but they do always offer new insights into the many ways we valueand try to preservethe world we live in. The result is a refreshing and hopeful look at museums as a cultural force, one that, by gathering together paintings, tropical birds, antiques, or even our own bodies, offers an illuminating reflection of who we are.
Paperback: 144 pages

The study of the museum visitor has undergone radical transformation. Each author here has asked unfamiliar questions and responded with fresh answers. Some of these questions involve the visitor's identity, what she brings to her museum experience. Can we gain entry into this experience? Does more technology really increase access to the objects themselves? Others probe the very nature of museum going and exhibition making, demanding that we reexamine the traditional exhibition to reposition the visitor and her meaning-making at the centre. The volume provokes imaginative research and encourages new conclusions.

Celebrating the diversity of institutions in the United States, Latin America, and Canada, Remix aims to change the discourse about museums from the inside out, proposing a new, panarchic nonhierarchical and adaptivevision for museum practice. Selma Holo and Mari-Tere Álvarez offer an unconventional approach, one premised on breaching conventional systems of communication and challenging the dialogues that drive the field. Featuring more than forty authors in and around the museum world, Remix frames a series of vital case studies demonstrating how specific museums, large and small, have profoundly advanced or creatively redefined their goals to meet their ever-changing worlds.

Drawing together nearly 40 years of experience, Museums without Borders presents the key works of one of the most respected practitioners and scholars in the field. Through these selected writings, Robert R. Janes demonstrates that museums have a broader role to play in society than is conventionally assumed. He approaches the fundamental questions of why museums exist and what they mean in terms of identity, community, and the future of civil life.

This book consists of four Parts: Indigenous Peoples; Managing Change; Social Responsibility, and Activism and Ethics. The Parts are ordered chronologically and each begins with an introduction and an overview of the ensuing articles which situates the papers in their historical and cultural contexts. Using an interdisciplinary approach that combines anthropology, ethnography, museum studies and management theory, Janes both questions and supports mainstream museum practice in a constructive and self-reflective manner, offering readers alternative viewpoints on important issues.

Considering concepts not generally recognized in museum practice, such the Roman leadership model of primus inter pares and the Buddhist concept of mindfulness, Janes argues that the global museum community must examine how they can meet the needs of the planet and its inhabitants. Museums without Borders charts the evolving role of the contemporary museum in the face of environmental, societal and ethical challenges, and explores issues that have, and will, continue to shape the museum sector for decades to come.

This book demonstrates that it is both reasonable and essential to expand the purpose of museums at this point in history not only because of their unique characteristics and value to society, but also because of Janes respect and admiration for their rich legacy. It is time that museums assist in the creation of a new, caring, and more conscious future for themselves and their communities. This can only be done through authentic engagement with contemporary issues and aspirations.

This is the first book to examine how and why museums are political institutions. By concentrating on the ways in which power, ideology and legitimacy work at the international, national and local levels of the museum experience, Clive Gray provides an original analysis of who exercises power and how power is used in museums.

Are Museums Irrelevant? Museums are rarely acknowledged in the global discussion of climate change, environmental degradation, the inevitability of depleted fossil fuels, and the myriad local issues concerning the well-being of particular communities - suggesting the irrelevance of museums as social institutions. At the same time, there is a growing preoccupation among museums with the marketplace, and museums, unwittingly or not, are embracing the values of relentless consumption that underlie the planetary difficulties of today. "Museums in a Troubled World" argues that much more can be expected of museums as publicly supported and knowledge-based institutions. The weight of tradition and a lack of imagination are significant factors in museum inertia and these obstacles are also addressed.

 

Taking an interdisciplinary approach, combining anthropology ethnography, museum studies and management theory, this book goes beyond conventional museum thinking. Robert R. Janes explores the meaning and role of museums as key intellectual and civic resources in a time of profound social and environmental change. This volume is a constructive examination of what is wrong with contemporary museums, written from an insider's perspective that is grounded in both hope and pragmatism. The book's conclusions are optimistic and constructive, and highlight the unique contributions that museums can make as social institutions, embedded in their communities, and owned by no one.

This new edition of the bestselling guide on marketing for museums is thoroughly updated, addressing the growing impact of technology, shifts in museum branding and marketing strategy, and also adds international case studies. Written by Neil Kotler along with his brother Phillip, the father of modern marketing, this book reflects the changing museum world. The rapid growth in the number museums worldwide, coupled with greater receptivity on the part of museum managers and boards regarding marketing solutions has created an atmosphere in which museum managers are seeking ways to be more strategic and creative in order to reach their institution's goals.


# Title: Museum Marketing and Strategy: Designing Missions, Building Audiences, Generating Revenue and Resources

# Hardcover: 528 pages

# Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 2 edition (August 8, 2008)

Global climate conditions demand a response by institutions that are here for the long haul--as museums are--to collect, preserve, and interpret in perpetuity. Environmentally friendly practices are crucial to the mission of our museums, which, as houses of preservation, are uniquely suited to modeling green behavior and sustainability. In The Green Museum, authors Sarah Brophy and Elizabeth Wylie offer a complete handbook to guide museum staff in incorporating green design into new construction and day-to-day operations. Sustainable practices can save on operating costs and even make museums attractive to new fundraising sources, as Brophy and Wylie show in case studies of museums that have already taken steps to become green. In this easy-to-read book, the authors demystify the process of going green, including detailed explanations of the basics of recycling, options for environmentally friendly exhibit design, and how to conduct energy audits. The Green Museum is full of practical information for museums of any size and a vital resource for every museum that wants to remain relevant in an increasingly green world. The Green Museum is printed with soy-based ink on recycled stock.


Paperback: 224 pages

Publisher: Altamira Press (July 31, 2008)

Innovative essays on establishing best practices in cultural landscape preservation.


Preservation has traditionally focused on saving prominent buildings of historical or architectural significance. Preserving cultural landscapesthe combined fabric of the natural and man-made environmentsis a relatively new and often misunderstood idea among preservationists, but it is of increasing importance. The essays collected in this volumecase studies that include the Little Tokyo neighborhood in Los Angeles, the Cross Bronx Expressway, and a rural island in Puget Soundunderscore how this approach can be fruitfully applied. Together, they make clear that a cultural landscape perspective can be an essential underpinning for all historic preservation projects.


Contributors: Susan Calafate Boyle, National Park Service; Susan Buggey, U of Montreal; Michael Caratzas, Landmarks Preservation Commission (NYC); Courtney P. Fint, West Virginia Historic Preservation Office; Heidi Hohmann, Iowa State U; Hillary Jenks, USC; Randall Mason, U Penn; Robert Z. Melnick, U of Oregon; Nora Mitchell, National Park Service; Julie Riesenweber, U of Kentucky; Nancy Rottle, U of Washington; Bonnie Stepenoff, Southeast Missouri State U.


Richard Longstreth is professor of American studies and director of the graduate program in historic preservation at George Washington University. A past president of the Society of Architectural Historians and vice president of the Vernacular Architecture Forum, he has written extensively on architectural and urban history as well as on historic preservation subjects. Currently he is completing a detailed study, The Department Store Transformed, 19201960.



256 pages, April 2008, University of Minnesota Press

Museums have moved from a product to a marketing focus within the last ten years. This has entailed a painful reorientation of approaches to understanding visitors as customers; new ways of fundraising and sponsorship as government funding decreases; and grappling with using the internet for marketing.This book brings the latest in marketing thinking to bear on the museum sector taking into account both the commercial issues and social mission it involves. Carefully structured to be highly accessible the book offers: a contemporary and relevant and global approach to museum marketing written by authors in Britain, Australia, the United States, and Asia; an approach that reflects the particular challenges museums of varying sizes face when seeking to market an experience to a diverse set of stakeholders: audience; funders; sponsors and government; a particular focus on museum marketing in the 'Information Age'; and, major case studies at the beginning and end of each section of the book, and smaller case studies within chapters.The hugely experienced author team, includes both leading academics and practitioners to ensure the book has broad appeal and is both relevant, innovative and progressive in approach.

It will be essential reading for students in museum studies, non-profit marketing, and arts management and marketing. It will also be equally relevant for professionals working in and managing museums and galleries, heritage attractions and ministries of arts. This is the most up-to-date treatment of marketing museums with a global approach. There is a blend of academic and practitioner expertise to appeal to students and professionals seeking a contemporary and relevant approach. It features a range of international case studies that demonstrate the museum experience and draw out the particular challenges that museums and galleries of varying sizes and types face in the global marketplace.

While some view strategic planning with trepidation, it is one of a museum's strongest tools for improving quality, motivating staff and Board members, adapting to environmental changes, and preparing the groundwork for future initiatives. The Manual of Strategic Planning for Museums offers proven methods for successful strategic planning in museums from two experienced leaders in the field.


Paperback: 170 pages

Publisher: AltaMira Press (April 28, 2007)

The volume will bring the coverage of marketing and management up-to-date and reflect changes in current thinking, while covering the essential elements involved in the field. Bringing together a selection of essential writings on the subject by some of the leading authorities in the field this volume is an invaluable introduction to the key issues and controversies.


Routledge, November 2006, Paperback, 320 pages

Museum Branding shows how museums can reinforce their image at every touchpoint, every encounter with their many constituencies: visitors, members, donors, sponsors, educators, community, staff, and volunteers.



In each of its 18 chapters, Museum Branding focuses on a different aspect of the museum and explains the responsibilities of each in strengthening the museums brand - Exhibitions, Carrying the Banner, Education Department, Volunteers, Membership, Fundraising, Corporate partnerships, Marketing and graphic, Museum Store, Branding museum Websites, The Golden Shopping Cart, Publications, Audio tours, The lobby, Loyalty eating, Your building, University Museums, and Future members.


Dr. Margot Wallace is a professor of marketing communication at Columbia College Chicago where she developed the Brands & Branding course. Active in the arts community, she serves in an advisory capacity for the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, and the Winnetka (Illinois) Public Library.



Publisher: AltaMira Press (2006)

208 pages

Fully updated and extended to examine the many changes that have occurred in the last decade, this second edition of world-renowned text Museum Basics provides a basic guide to all aspects of museum work and staff experience from museum organization, through collections management and conservation, to audience development and education.

Drawing on a wide range of practical experience, the authors have provided an excellent tool that enable museums throughout the world to conquer a common challenge; to keep up-to-date with new ideas and changing practices.

Organized on a modular basis, with over 100 units, Museum Basics is a reference to support day-to-day museum management, a key text in pre-service and in-service training programmes, and works brilliantly alongside case studies, project work and group discussion.

With a glossary, sources of information and a select bibliography, this is certainly a book that no museum professional, nor museum and heritage studies student will want to be without.

Section 1: Introductory
Section 2: The Museum and its Users
Section 3: The Development and Care of the Museums Collections
Section 4: The Museum and its Buildings
Section 5: The Museum and its Management
Section 6: Supporting Resources

Timothy Ambrose is an international museums and heritage consultant. He is an Associate Director of L&R Consulting, Europe's leading Consultancy in the heritage, cultural, leisure and tourism sectors and a Honorary Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Arts Policy and Management at City University, London. He was formerly Director of the Scottish Museums Council and Chair of ICOM UK. He has carried out a wide range of consultancy studies at national, regional and local level within the UK and Europe, published many books and articles on museum work and lectures widely on museum and heritage matters.

The Museum Educator's Handbook is a realistic guide to setting up and running education services in all types of museums, even the smallest. This new edition has been thoroughly revised and updated, with advice on the use of websites, interactive displays, databases and other technology added throughout, and a new chapter on loan services, reflecting new research into their importance. It also reassesses funding, curriculum needs and educational policy in the light of recent reports and gives more advice on meeting informal education needs, from evening classes to museum-initiated courses. The handbook offers straightforward advice and background information to museum educators, updating readers on recent developments. Teachers and students of museum studies, education specialists, other museum staff and exhibition designers will also find it a useful guide to support their work.

Hardcover: 184 pages

Publisher: Ashgate Pub Co; 2nd edition (December 30, 2005)

Is your institution grant-ready? This is a crucial question that almost every small museum or historic organization will find itself asking when considering grant funding, as it seeks to expand or improve programs, broaden its reach, or just simply maintain its existing level of performance. This succinct volume provides an accessible, step-by-step guide to assessing an organization's readiness for the grant application process, and includes seven real-life examples of institutions that have successfully achieved grant-readiness. Chapters will help assess readiness, and provide explanations and checklists to address the important components of this daunting process. Appendices contain proposal writing tips and a list of the author's favorite most-used resources. This innovative volume will be invaluable to museums, cultural institutions and students studying history or non profit work.


About the author: Sarah S. Brophy is a long-time freelance proposal writer for New England museums, tribes, municipalities and cultural resource organizations.


Complete Title: "Is Your Museum Grant-Ready?: Assessing Your Organization's Potential for Funding"

Series: American Association for State and Local History


Altamira Press, November 2005, 208 pages

Présentation de l'éditeur


Longtemps considérés comme n'étant pas soumis aux "forces du marché" les musées, bien que reconnus comme relevant du secteur non lucratif, connaissent à présent dans leur fonctionnement l'influence grandissante de la communication, de la commercialisation de la culture, de la globalisation et de la financiarisation de l'économie. En outre, les nouvelles exigences des visiteurs, des impératifs budgétaires croissants, l'essor des activités commerciales et l'intensification de la concurrence contribuent à transformer les musées en organisations hybrides évoluant entre le service du public et l'insertion dans le marché. Le scientifique devrait alors se muer en "manager", l'érudit en stratège et le lettré en visionnaire. Dans cet ouvrage remarquablement bien informé, l'auteur étudie et commente ce phénomène à travers de nombreux exemples, en France et à l'étranger. Il analyse à cet égard un grand nombre de questions cruciales telles que l'organisation des grandes expositions et l'exploitation des collections, la philanthropie privée et le mécénat d'entreprise, le tourisme et le développement local, la privatisation et l'internationalisation, ou encore la question de la communication culturelle, du loisir, du divertissement et de l'architecture. Il s'agit donc d'une somme de réflexions utiles aussi bien aux professionnels des musées et de la culture qu'à tous ceux qui se préoccupent des mutations fondamentales du secteur culturel dans le monde contemporain.



Biographie de l'auteur: Jean-Michel Tobelem, docteur en gestion, diplômé de l'Institut d'études politiques de Paris et d'études supérieures de droit public, dirige l'Institut d'étude et de recherche Option Culture.