What does the word “museum” mean to you? What do you expect from an institution that calls itself a museum? There are many answers to those questions, but one of the most important qualities from my perspective is excellence, as a standard of performance in every aspect of a museum’s operation.
We all expect a museum’s collection to be excellent—what we have in our vault and on our walls. But there is much more to a museum’s work than building and maintaining a collection. Museums are complex organizations. They present exhibitions, they build buildings, they develop educational activities, they publish books and conduct research, they market themselves and invest in human capital, they raise money, they entertain us, and they protect and help to define our collective heritage. Museums serve their communities. They help to create community pride. In every one of those endeavors we should expect a museum to operate with finesse and skill.
We want to trust the museum as an institution of integrity, scholarship, professionalism, and style—a high standard for institutions that greatly vary in size, resources, mission, age and ability. With thousands of museums across America, how can the public know which museums can be trusted to uphold standards of excellence and which museums fall short of this important goal? Read More
Director’s Spotlight: Naming Opportunities
Colossal bust of Ramesses II, the 'Younger Memnon' From the Ramesseum, Thebes, Egypt 19th Dynasty, about 1250 BC. One of the largest pieces of Egyptian sculpture in the British Museum Weighing 7.25 tons, The British Museum, Room 4. Author/Photo by: Mujtaba Chohan. Source: British Museum Visit. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. Courtesy http://commons.wikimedia.org/.
In the early 1990s, my wife and I traveled to Egypt and spent three glorious weeks touring the ancient monuments. While there were many memorable sites and experiences, one discovery was of particular interest and connected to my work at the Michener Art Museum.
Ramesses II ruled Egypt for 66 years, from 1279 BC – 1213 BC, and was over 90 when he died. He was the great builder who filled the kingdom with monuments from Abu Simbel to Luxor. In almost countless locations all across ancient Egypt, you can find Ramesses’ cartouche prominently displayed. The graphic symbol of his royal heritage is engraved on many buildings and serves as an ever present symbol of his greatness.
I learned from this experience that the desire for immortality is a human trait that goes back thousands of years. The effort to put one’s name on a building has a long history and it is just as strong today as it was in ancient Egypt. We may no longer wrap our dead in specially treated cloth to preserve their physical being, but we are still attaching our names to buildings and institutions in an effort to be remembered and to be honored. Read More »