Curatorial Practices at the Rijksmuseum: A Collaborative Model for Art Museums

Suarez, Nicole M. Neville

ISBN 10: 3838300777 / ISBN 13: 9783838300771

Published by LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing, 2009

About this Item

Seller Inventory # I-9783838300771

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Curatorial Practices at the Rijksmuseum: A Collaborative Model for Art Museums
• Publisher: LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing
• Publication Date: 2009
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 3838300777
• ISBN 13: 9783838300771
• Binding: Soft cover
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

Curatorial practices are shifting due to recent changes in the focus and structure of U.S. art museums (Brenson, 1998; Bryk, 2001; Willumson, 2007). As a result, curators experience conflicts due to a loss of their original audience, the collapse of their traditional hierarchy, new staff roles in museums, and the museum’s focus on visitors rather than art objects (Weil, 2003; Willumson, 2007). Using a reconceptualized framework developed by van Mensch (1990), this study qualitatively explored curatorial practices at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. The main data included four in-depth interviews with senior curators, observations at the Museum, and documents evaluation. The study uncovered how equality and collaboration among curators and staff can fulfill museum functions and may help resolve certain conflicts. It also revealed how in some cases curators can maintain their traditional functions while serving the broader public through the creation of exhibitions that facilitate education and provide meaningful connections. As a non-U.S. institution, the Rijkmuseum’s curatorial practices provided insight regarding problems experienced by U.S. art curators.

About the Author

Nicole M. Neville Suarez is a graduate of Florida State University where she received a Ph.D. in Art Education with a Specialization in Arts Administration. She has a M.A. in Art Curatorship from the University of Melbourne, Australia and a B.A. in Classical Studies and a Minor in Anthropology from the University of Florida.