Finding the Public: Models of Interaction Between Curatorial and Education Departments in Three American Encyclopedic Museums

Author

Liam Sweeney, The Graduate Center, City University of New YorkFollow

Date of Degree

2-2019

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.A.

Program

Liberal Studies

Advisor

Susan Dumais

Subject Categories

Civic and Community Engagement | Museum Studies | Sociology of Culture

Keywords

Community Engagement, Art Museum, Education, Curatorial, Interpretive Research

Abstract

Curatorial and education departments have coexisted for the last half century in American art museums, and have often had differing attitudes about who the museum is for and how best to convey the current and historical meaning of the works they display. This results from trends and transformations in the field, which have recently yielded an increased attention on broadening the definition of the public that the museum serves. This thesis examines interactions between curatorial and education departments in three encyclopedic art museums across the United States, in order to better understand how meaningful collaboration can be fostered between these cultural representatives, in order to most effectively build relationships with the museum’s constituents.

Recommended Citation

Sweeney, Liam, "Finding the Public: Models of Interaction Between Curatorial and Education Departments in Three American Encyclopedic Museums" (2019). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/3011