Course Description
How are art collections and museums formed? Who decides what a museum exhibits? Is a museum like a bank vault filled with precious objects, or is it more like a secular cathedral? This course will address these questions by surveying the history and philosophyl of art collections and museums. Topics include: public, private and corporate art collections; the conservation and preservation of art; museum architecture; installation design; traveling exhibitions; museum education programs; exhibition catalogs; museum trustees; laws that impact museums; commercial galleries and non-profit artists' spaces.