Democratization and Institutional Change: A Challenge for Modern Museums
The ambivalent history of museums with regard to public access is reviewed from their emergence in the 18th century to the present, documenting shifts in focus on the viewing public as a priority & the impact of private vs public investment on the responsiveness of museums to their visitors. From being considered highly esteemed institutions of culture to criticisms of elitist & conservatism, large-scale processes of cultural change in the late-20th century prompted policies & programs designed to make museums more "democratic." Statistical data demonstrate worldwide increases on government spending on the arts & culture, 1985-1995; the substantial impact of private initiatives on this growth is also indicated. The "institutional renaissance" of the past 30 years that has rescued museums from their threatened position at midcentury & greatly expanded public access has also brought new problems, particularly involving the balance between the preservation of heritage vs the promotion of cultural activities. The need for museum policies & strategies to better respond to increasing public diversity is discussed. 1 Table, 66 References. K. Hyatt Stewart
