Museums Shift from Traditional Philanthropy Models
Published on 8.4.25
US museums are shifting away from traditional philanthropic models, with institutions like the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston and the Andy Warhol Museum forming unconventional partnerships and launching spin-off businesses. This shift is driven by a need for sustainability, as highlighted in recent articles by Julia Halperin. The author notes that docents, often white, middle-class individuals, embody the tensions between tradition and change in US museums. Additionally, the recruitment process for new museum directors has come under scrutiny, with some questioning its transparency. To address these issues, the Readying the Museum group has created a blueprint to prioritize public engagement over trustee influence, aiming to promote equity within institutions and make them more accountable to their communities.