The Management of Museums has changed since globalisation has risen. France is the first concerned with those changes and takes the opportunity to spread its culture worldwide. Therefore rumors about a future Pompidou Center in Shangaï or a future Rodin Museum on the shores of Bahia were recently discussed among the Paris intelligentsia. But that is the project of building future Louvres in Atlanta and Abou Dhabi that has led to controversy.
Indeed the boss of the Louvre in Paris, Henri Loyrette, was the target of the art circles. Among those Françoise Cachin former director of the "Reunion of the Museums of France" believes that the globalisation policy of the Louvre is not meant to be. According to those art circles the Louvre in Abou Dhabi is a project that conveys financial purposes and not artistic goals. Lending artworks, carrying out exibitions for one decade are among the aspects of the operation that are violently criticised. In return, the emirate of Abou Dhabi is committed to pay 700 million euros, to France. That sum represents 4 years of the Louvre's budget !
Stéphane Martin, president of the French Museum of "the Quai Branly" declares that: "Museums cannot work the way they used to twenty years ago. Museums have acquired a dimension, and a visibility that they couldn't think of, back in time. Emerging countries want to participate in this adventure and there is nothing wrong with the fact that we could help them. Besides we are not the first one to do so !" Indeed the Guggenheim Foundation has long understood it and Guggenheim have therefore grown in Bilbao, Venice and Berlin. The institution has also signed a contract to build a Museum in Abou Dabhi and it will be built once again by Frank Gerhy. The Chinese have also reached an agreement with the British and the Victoria and Albert Museums. Examples of globalization of Museums are numerous.
Are Museums becoming brands ? That is a different question that also leads to war among concerned circles. Today, Museum directors are real managers. They have well understood the financial impact of operations abroad. Stephane Martin once again said that " the aim of Museums is not to make profits". But it is not forbidden to increase its revenues. Hence this desire to increase, not without risks. Mike Kelley contemporary artist denounces "the disneylandisation" of Museums where we come to consume art as we would consume sandwich. Conservators of French Museums are also really worried about the infuence of great companies on art. Luckily for him in France it is impossible to sell a Museum's piece to buy others, which is not the case for American Museums for example.
So what are Museums victim of ? Nothing and they have to seduce audiences in order to keep growing and face emerging countries competition. This new policy is not against art. It is the total contrary since masterpieces can finally be seen by visitors. Moreover isn't it the best way to promote culture and especially make French culture known better worldwide ? Marketing is quite often pointed out as the scapegoat, but criticisms generally come from conservative people reluctant to any change, or any moves of what they consider immutable or unchangeable. But Art is meant to live, not be dead or boring !
More info on:
www.louvreatlanta.org
www.louvre.fr/
http://www.guggenheim.org/
http://www.quaibranly.fr/
http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/
Indeed the boss of the Louvre in Paris, Henri Loyrette, was the target of the art circles. Among those Françoise Cachin former director of the "Reunion of the Museums of France" believes that the globalisation policy of the Louvre is not meant to be. According to those art circles the Louvre in Abou Dhabi is a project that conveys financial purposes and not artistic goals. Lending artworks, carrying out exibitions for one decade are among the aspects of the operation that are violently criticised. In return, the emirate of Abou Dhabi is committed to pay 700 million euros, to France. That sum represents 4 years of the Louvre's budget !
Stéphane Martin, president of the French Museum of "the Quai Branly" declares that: "Museums cannot work the way they used to twenty years ago. Museums have acquired a dimension, and a visibility that they couldn't think of, back in time. Emerging countries want to participate in this adventure and there is nothing wrong with the fact that we could help them. Besides we are not the first one to do so !" Indeed the Guggenheim Foundation has long understood it and Guggenheim have therefore grown in Bilbao, Venice and Berlin. The institution has also signed a contract to build a Museum in Abou Dabhi and it will be built once again by Frank Gerhy. The Chinese have also reached an agreement with the British and the Victoria and Albert Museums. Examples of globalization of Museums are numerous.
Are Museums becoming brands ? That is a different question that also leads to war among concerned circles. Today, Museum directors are real managers. They have well understood the financial impact of operations abroad. Stephane Martin once again said that " the aim of Museums is not to make profits". But it is not forbidden to increase its revenues. Hence this desire to increase, not without risks. Mike Kelley contemporary artist denounces "the disneylandisation" of Museums where we come to consume art as we would consume sandwich. Conservators of French Museums are also really worried about the infuence of great companies on art. Luckily for him in France it is impossible to sell a Museum's piece to buy others, which is not the case for American Museums for example.
So what are Museums victim of ? Nothing and they have to seduce audiences in order to keep growing and face emerging countries competition. This new policy is not against art. It is the total contrary since masterpieces can finally be seen by visitors. Moreover isn't it the best way to promote culture and especially make French culture known better worldwide ? Marketing is quite often pointed out as the scapegoat, but criticisms generally come from conservative people reluctant to any change, or any moves of what they consider immutable or unchangeable. But Art is meant to live, not be dead or boring !
More info on:
www.louvreatlanta.org
www.louvre.fr/
http://www.guggenheim.org/
http://www.quaibranly.fr/
http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/
No comments:
Post a Comment