How are major European museums « privatising » their spaces?

Thursay, January 25th: 02:00-03:45 p.m., Arcole room

How are major European museums « privatising » their spaces?

When we first conceived the idea of MUSEVA, it seemed quite natural that the territory it would cover would, of course, be Europe. Europe is not only our cultural territory but also our economic territory, and privatisations, for which Europeans use the simpler term “leasing”, are one of the large number of positive instances of the relationship between culture and economics.

We invited our guests – the British Museum, the Berlin State Museums, the Fundación Thyssen-Bornemisza, the Geneva Musées d’Art et d’Histoire and the Domaine de Chantilly- to explain to us how they have handled this by having all of them complete the same questionnaire which combines precise economic data with questions about development statutes, responsibilities and prospects. From all this, we hoped to bring out the unique character of each of our speakers.

Because, of course, leasing space in museums and at cultural sites in general is much more than just a somewhat desperate attempt to balance the books. It can be, and for many already is, a social act, an opening-out, a gesture that reinforces the presence of the museum in its location and beyond.

The concept of leasing cultural spaces is only in its infancy. We hope and intend that this conference, which stands alongside a world premiere: the launch of MUSEVA, the new leasing exhibition, will be the start of something big.

Facilitator of the conference: Jean François Grünfeld, Museumexperts CEO.

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Download the presentations of the conference:
– Lisa Guastella, British Museum, London click
– Katrin Hansch, Museum & Location, Berlin click
– Maria Ruiz-Rivas, Museo Nacional Thyssen Bornemisza, Madrid click
– Laura Zani, Museums of Art and History of Geneva click
– Charles-Henri Diriart, Foundation for the Preservation and Development of the Domaine de Chantilly click