Dispatches

What Keeps András Szánto Hopeful About the Future of Museums

On the heels of The Future of the Museum: 28 Dialogues, the cultural strategist talks change and evolution in the museum field. (Jing Culture & Commerce)

‘Glory of Arms and Art’” Napoleonic Plunder and the Birth of National Museums

Napoleon’s military conquests and mission to establish a “universal museum” fundamentally changed the way Europeans perceived art and heritage, manifesting itself in the form of colonization and plunder. (France24)

Culture Beats Construction in Covid Economic Recovery, Report Finds

The analysis, conducted by the Canberra-based thinktank the Australia Institute and based on Australian Bureau of Statistics data, suggests the country’s cultural sector was vastly underestimated when it came to the national economy. (The Guardian)

An Exploration of Possibilities and Challenges of Fair International Cultural Cooperation

In this publication, DutchCulture looks back at the past three years: from the presentation of the toolkit ‘Fairer international cooperation in the Arts’ in 2018, to the last edition in a series of expert meetings during the 2020 Forum on European Culture in Amsterdam to ensure that cultural cooperation becomes more sustainable, equal and inclusive. (DutchCulture) 

Struggling Nightclubs in Germany will be Recategorized as Cultural Institutions

In rapidly gentrifying cities like Berlin, clubs, which are a major tourist draw and important to the city’s social fabric, have been increasingly vulnerable in the face of new real estate development projects. (Artnet News)

Online Focus for Museums Here to Stay, University of Warwick Research Suggests

Researchers believe the pandemic has accelerated the sector’s digital transition to a “crucial turning point”, with audiences’ embrace of online content indicative that there will be no return to previous approaches. (Museum + Heritage Advisor)

The WPA is History

Professor Michael Rushton writes, “There are two major problems with launching a WPA-styled policy in 2021, one in terms of the choice of policy, and one in terms of the very conception of arts policy. We look at these in turn.” (ArtsJournal: For What It’s Worth)

How Property Tax Helped Transform the Detroit Institute of Arts

The Detroit Institute of Arts millage funding model, based upon responsiveness and accountability, is a successful paradigm that has sustained the DIA and benefitted the region. (Hyperallergic) 

Reimagining African Museums and Heritage Sites

Goethe-Institut South Africa regional head of programmes Asma Diakite says it’s time for a new approach for African museums after dozens of heritage attractions were forced to close due to being cash-strapped since the pandemic in this episode of The Clement Manyathela Show. (702)

Benin Bronzes Are Scattered All Over the World. We Asked Museums That Hold Them Where They Stand on Restitution.

Artnet News asked 30 various museums for an update on their plans for the Benin Bronzes in their possession, position on restitution, and the status of requests and returns. Here is what they had to say. (Artnet News)

Singapore’s Museums Get a Digital Makeover

In a carefully planned country such as Singapore, digitally savvy museums are also part of the drive to build a smart city ­­– a process that has raised privacy concerns in this quasi-authoritarian state. (Financial Times)

Africa’s First Crypto Art Collections Have Investors and Creators Feeling Optimistic

African artists stand to gain a lot if they can harness the potential of such platforms. Artists will get full transparency on secondary buyers, as well as the ability to set up royalties in order to earn from their art in perpetuity. (Quartz Africa) 

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