Museum Synthesis Essay

Museums have for the past century represented a house of knowledge. Whether it is contemporary art or historical documentation, the purpose of a museum is to preserve and present history while simultaneously enlightening the public. With that in mind, it is vital for a curator to keep in consideration several contributing factors ranging from purpose to authenticity when choosing a new work of art to add to a collection. Firstly the curator, who is in charge of the museum, must be able to achieve a balance between business and education. In one hand, in order for a Museum to successfully operate, a budget and organizational structure have to be created as to avoid financial deficits like those noted from the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). The Museum of Modern Art suffered from “poor management structure” coupled with a lack of general consensus as to the “composition of MoMA’s permanent collection” caused an eminent recipe for disaster. (Source A) On the other hand, the financial aspect of a museum should not overshadow the intended education. According to Theobald Miley, “Commercialism has no place within the scope of museum activities.” Theobald
Humanity has been responsible for many inventions, cultures and fine arts, and although it may be quite overwhelming to choose something to specialize in, many times it is best to decide from both an economical and educational standpoint. For example, the National Museum of the American Indian is the first museum “dedicated to the preservation, study, and exhibition of the life… of Native Americans.”(Source C). With extensive collections including, “90,000 images… [and] more than 800,000 works” this National Museum has created a name for itself as home of the American Indian. By establishing a specialization, museums are able to stand out among the rest. This in turn can lead to a higher audience and more investment on its