Managing Tour Development in U.S. Art Museums
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Authors
Trujillo, Marcelene J.
Issue Date
2000
Type
Capstone
Language
en
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
The purpose of this master's project is to examine current art museum management practices regarding traveling exhibitions, to determine what is and is not working, and to offer suggestions for improving the tour development process. I have developed a new timeline (see Appendix B) for this process, which addresses the current challenges art museums in the United States face when they mount traveling exhibitions. This timeline can serve as a foundation for the improved management of scheduling, budgeting, and workload, when museums send art exhibitions on tour. In order to identify the current challenges, I interviewed exhibition managers responsible for managing the tour development process at art museums that are actively organizing traveling exhibitions. These interviews revealed the different decision-making and planning strategies of art museums, especially the exhibition program budgeting, staff workload issues, and exhibition scheduling. They further explored how museum professionals manage (or fail to manage) the problems that art museums face today to secure tour income and broaden exposure for the institution. An examination of how art museums plan tours, project expenses, and utilize or establish guidelines during tour development will benefit all museum professionals. In addition, an article derived from this master's project will be submitted for publication in a museum trade journal to reach museum professionals currently facing these issues.