Basics of Museum Management. Theory and Practice

Bachelor 2020/2021

Type: Elective course (History of Art)

Area of studies: History of Art

Delivered by: School of History

Where: Faculty of Humanities

When: 2 year, 1, 2 module

Mode of studies: offline

Instructors: Olga Nefedova

Language: English

ECTS credits: 3

Contact hours: 56

Full Syllabus

Abstract

The course “Basics of Museum Management. Theory and Practice” introduces the principles and practices of cultural heritage. During the course key areas of cultural heritage are taught, such as collections management, museum, gallery and site management, exhibition development, education and emerging digital technologies, including education in museums, digital heritage, object-based learning and curating contemporary art. The course provides training in a range of practical skills as well as encouraging critical thinking in relationship to heritage practices. The course offers a set of lectures/seminars that allow students to develop basic practical and theoretical understanding of current museological practice. The aim of this course is to provide students a broad and challenging introduction to the practical and theoretical issues of contemporary museum and gallery practice in an international context; to encourage students to develop critical awareness in relation to museums, heritage and professional practice; to introduce students to the key areas of cultural heritage including theoretical principles, collections management, museum, gallery and site management, exhibition development, education and emerging digital technologies. At the completion of the course students will develop a critical awareness of relevant heritage issues in museum and gallery practice at local, regional, national and international levels, have basic knowledge of collections management, preventive conservation, object and collections-based research, exhibition production and evaluation, have a good understanding of the principles and ethical considerations which govern the museum and gallery profession, as well as relevant national and international legislation and key advisory bodies, have a good knowledge of relevant museological literature and additional relevant art and heritage-related resources.

Learning Objectives

Developing students’ writing and analytical competencies through assignments designed around specific writing and speaking activities that gradually lead students to the final production of the analysis.
Developing students’ oral and communication skills.
Develop students’ critical thinking related to museum management practices.
Developing ability to apply fundamental museum management terminology.
Developing an appreciation for the process of museums’ foundation.
Developing an understanding of purpose and function of museum, the ability to analyze its functions, programs, achievements.
Developing students’ research and methodology skills through portfolio assignments.

Expected Learning Outcomes

To develop students’ writing and analytical competencies through assignments designed around specific writing and speaking activities that gradually lead students to the final production of the analysis. To develop students’ oral and communication skills.
To develop students’ critical thinking related to museum management practices. To develop ability to apply fundamental museum management terminology.
To develop an appreciation for the process of museums’ foundation. To develop an understanding of purpose and function of museum, the ability to analyze its functions, programs, achievements
To develop students’ research and methodology skills through portfolio assignments.

Course Contents

Introduction. Principles of museum and gallery practice. History and theory of museum and gallery development and the formation of their collections. The changing role, function and organization of art and heritage organizations in society. Case studies from museums and galleries in Europe, South Africa, USA and the Middle East.
General introduction to collections care and management. Managing museums and gallery collections: documentation, collections management systems, preventive conservation, environmental monitoring, risk management, security issues, storage and loans management
Introduction to the accreditation/registration process. Acquisition and lifecycle of a museum object. The management of information about collections. Different types of documentation: object catalogues, accession registers, and procedural documentation (such as loan forms).
Practicalities of documentation within a museum environment. Popular computer‐based Collections Management Systems. Main environmental factors affecting collections - light, relative humidity, pollutants, pests, temperature, and security. Security and emergency planning. Innovative display and outreach techniques.
Managing museums and cultural heritage. International, national and local role of heritage sites, museums and galleries. Large scale project management principles and practice. Heritage interpretation. Museum methods of communication and interpretation. Exhibition design.
The issues around object handling, movement, packing and risk assessment. Best practice in the area of collections management and care. The methods developed by museums, collections and archives for safe interaction with objects.
Education, outreach and community engagement. School and adult education and learning in the museum. Educational role of the museum, gallery and heritage site within the community. Methods of working with objects in a learning environment. Digital heritage.
Critical and theoretical study of the role of digital media in museums and galleries. Information and communication technologies from a museological point of view. Digital heritage policies and strategies in the context of the information society; the online version of the museum; the role of interactives and interactivity in exhibition spaces; the use of mobile media and social software.

Assessment Elements

In-class participation
In-class test
Presentation
Final exam

Interim Assessment

Interim assessment (2 module)
0.4 * Final exam + 0.24 * In-class participation + 0.24 * In-class test + 0.12 * Presentation

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

Alexander, E. P., Alexander, M., & Decker, J. (2017). Museums in Motion : An Introduction to the History and Functions of Museums (Vol. Third edition). Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=nlebk&AN=1465805
Ambrose, T., & Paine, C. (2012). Museum Basics (Vol. 3rd ed). Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=nlebk&AN=463323
Genoways, H. H., Ireland, L. M., & Catlin-Legutko, C. (2016). Museum Administration 2.0. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=nlebk&AN=1288465
Johnson, A., Huber, K. A., Cutler, N., Bingmann, M., & Grove, T. (2017). The Museum Educator’s Manual : Educators Share Successful Techniques (Vol. Second edition). Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=nlebk&AN=1545635
Piacente, M., & Lord, B. (2014). Manual of Museum Exhibitions (Vol. Second edition). Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=nlebk&AN=759389
Tzortzi, K. (2015). Museum Space : Where Architecture Meets Museology. Farnham, Surrey, England: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=nlebk&AN=997155

Recommended Additional Bibliography

Ioanna, G., & George, T. (2019). Visitor-oriented strategic museum management for small regional museums. The Greek case of the Ethnological Museum of Thrace. Journal of Regional & Socio-Economic Issues, 9(1), 33–44. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=bsu&AN=137302339
Latham, K., & Simmons, J. (2014). Foundations of Museum Studies: Evolving Systems of Knowledge : Evolving Systems of Knowledge. Santa Barbara: Libraries Unlimited. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=nlebk&AN=867412
Portnova, T. (2019). Information Technologies in Art Monuments Educational Management and the New Cultural Environment for Art Historian. TEM Journal, 8(1), 189–194. https://doi.org/10.18421/TEM81-26
Self, R. (2014). The Architecture of Art Museums : A Decade of Design: 2000 - 2010. London: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=nlebk&AN=760768

Course Syllabus