Beyond the Turnstile: Making the Case for Museums and Sustainable Values - Hardcover

Selma Holo; Mari-Tere Alvarez

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0759112215 ISBN 13: 9780759112216

Publisher: AltaMira Press, 2009

Synopsis

Beyond the Turnstile argues that museums are indispensable to civil society, especially in an era in which museums often are reduced to cultural businesses or "edu-tainment" sites. Is it inevitable that a museum's success will be measured solely by how many people come through the door and how much money they spend? The eminent contributors to this volume provide museum leaders with a different set of criteria for evaluating the success of their museums, proposing a set of sustainable values that can help museums preserve themselves and advance their social mission in hard times--and help them thrive when times improve. While attendance and money will continue to count and be counted in our museums, numbers alone can never drive sustainable success. Only the unique dynamic identity that a museum can claim will do that.

About this title

About the Author

Selma Holo is director of the Fisher Museum of Art and the International Museum Institute at the University of Southern California. Mari-Tere Alvarez is project specialist at the J. Paul Getty Museum and serves as associate director of the International Museum Institute.The book includes essays by:  Lita Albuquerque, Mari-Tere Alvarez, Maxwell L. Anderson, Joseph Aoun, Anthony Appiah, Placido Arango, Javier Arnaldo, Leticia Azcue Brea, Elazar Barkan, Marco Barrera Bassols, Ivan Guillermo Barrios, David Bomford, Faya Causey, Elliot Davis, Alejandro de vila Blomberg, Graciela de la Torre, James Elkins, Shelly Errington, Gerardo Estrada Rodrguez, Steven Evans, James Folsom, Tom L. Freudenheim, Mara Isabel Graen Porra, Fredrik Hiebert, Selma Holo, Leonard Krishtalka, Ramiro Martinez, Gary Matthews, Charles Merewether, Carlos Monsivais, Bernard Mueller, Ilber Ortayli, Santiago Palomero, Carrie Przybilla, Nelly Robles Garca, Steven Seidel, Jon L. Seydl, Alan Shestack, Cherise Smith, Lori Starr, Gary Vikan, Vanda Vitali, Jorge Wagensberg, James Walvin, Jay Wiegel, David Wilson, and Donny George Youkhanna

Review

More than anything I've read lately, this book makes the case for transforming the traditional museum into a vital, creative, and groundbreaking entity that is truly relevant. This is absolutely must-reading for anyone in the museum field. --Richard Koshalek, Director, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

Beyond the Turnstile does more than make the case that museums are essential for the way we need to live; it provides both clarity and multiple perspectives to help us articulate and implement the values that enrich the lives of our communities. --John L. Gray, President and CEO, Autry National Center of the American West

The timing could hardly be better for this guide to values that can sustain museums. Under economic pressures, museums are tempted to resort to stopgap strategies ...Beyond the Turnstile offers the opportunity to return to core principles.  --Steven D. Lavine, President, California Institute of the Arts; co-editor, Exhibiting Cultures and Museums and Communities

I  hesitate to use the word 'masterpiece,' in this case the word is appropriate. This book defines the contemporary state of museums and foretells what changes are necessary for a sustainable future.   --Warren Bennis, Distinguished Professor of Management and University Professor, University of Southern California; author of On Becoming a Leader

The book offers lessons for all knowledge- and performance-based institution. While museums should make this book required reading, all educated people will benefit from this compilation of  essays by many of the world's most influential thinkers. --Warren Bennis, Distinguished Professor of Management and University Professor, University of Southern California; author of On Becoming a Leader

Edition details

• Publisher: AltaMira Press
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0759112215
• ISBN 13: 9780759112216
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 216