Art Museum: Case Study
This case study involves a campus art museum that for many years had a competent director, but a relatively staid presence on campus. The last director had a far more populist orientation. He tried to bring schoolchildren into the museum on a regular basis, and bring in traveling art exhibitions that were of interest to the larger public. But he seemed more interested in advancing a radical political agenda than truly supporting art. Because the art museum is seen as connected to the graduate school, there is a great deal of anger amongst faculty members, who believe that the museum should serve the interests of the school, specifically the graduate students studying for PhDs. In the future, the evaluation committee must have a more systematic process for evaluating candidates. The mission of the art museum must be clearly defined. And the past qualifications, necessary skills, and goals of the position must be stated as part of the job description. The new director must be sensitive to the needs of the community, yet also have relevant managerial experience.
Universities have multifaceted missions, and must please...
On one hand, they have a duty to educate graduate and undergraduate students, and to support student learning. Universities also have a duty to faculty members, to support their research as well. However, the university also has a responsibility to the community. It is not like a corporation that exists merely to serve its own interests. Its community responsibility is honored through educating students, including students that might not otherwise have cultural opportunities, if there were no museum outreach programs. The museum also has a duty to expose students, faculty, and members of the community to new cultures and ideas, which was accomplished with the Arab exhibition of art, even though the speaker selected to speak in honor of the exhibition was not appropriate. That unfortunate incident should not end the museum's welcoming of new collections and forms of art.
The difference between the old director and the new director must be that this director must keep the focus on art, ideology. However, art can still be transmitted to the public in a populist way. The new director should have experience in…
