Dear Colleagues:
The conversation about defining a museum has been enjoyable. In practice, after all is said, done, and pursued, what makes museums unique is their collection-based ethos. No other human invention exists to use the tangible to provide immediate or long-term evidence of the intangible. In essence, as they evolved into their present configuration, museums have not changed much. Their programming and how it is delivered can alter though. We see this reflected in such phrases as "rethinking the museum," or "museums for a new century," or "reinventing the museums." or " the new museology." How inclusive or exclusive a museum is or can be depends on where a specific museum is at a specific time in its development. As previously noted, the very type of museum will cause it to be exclusive as some people could care less about its subject and never visit.
My generic work-a-day museum definition is not dictionary material. It is an operating guide that I found of immense value on the job. The thoughtful discussion underway here aligns with my simple thinking. Regardless of my perspective, there have been lapses in what most people would consider a museum. The Ice Cream museum offers a perfect example. These, and similar variants, are exceptions that make the rule. Perhaps I missed it but when I visited the website I did not see any explanation of why it uses the word museum. Perhaps the owner wants to pump-up credibility since mainstream museums have scoops of that. (Sorry, could not resist.)
There is precedence of how the word museum is creatively applied by entrepreneurs. This aspect of museum history is either absent in discussions of the subject or only mentioned briefly. The most prominent example is P.T. Barnum's mid-nineteenth establishment at Broadway and Ann St. in New York City. Another was the Eden Musee on W. 23rd Street in that same city at the end of the same century. Both exemplified the museum as side-show venture to make money by entertaining.
Of course there are many places today that are museums in fact if not in name. The Frick Collection, NYC, the National Gallery, Washington, DC. and the Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia, immediately come to mind. How and if the word museum is used continues to be considered by museum-like places. Not too long ago the Indianapolis Museum of Art, lowered the prominence of that name and is now referred to as Newfields because of its large campus with includes far more than a museum operation. On the flip side, the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, San Marino, CA just replaced the word collections with the word museum.
Cheers,
Steve
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Steven Miller
Doylestown, PA
Executive Director Retired
Boscobel Restoration, Inc.
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-26-2019 07:58 AM
From: David Whitemyer
Subject: Is the Museum of Ice Cream a Museum?
Such a great question, Mackenzie!
In the traditional definition, the Ice Cream Museum is not a museum - not even close - because it neither collects, preserves, nor interprets anything.
Regardless, actual authentic museums are competing with the Ice Cream Museum and other selfie-ready installations for peoples' leisure time. Our firm, Luci Creative, has a white paper that suggests ways that cultural institutions can compete with these places, providing "Instagrammable" experiences within museum exhibitions.
Here's a link (and there's a downloadable PDF as well): https://lucicreative.com/say-cheese-3-ways-museums-can-compete-with-instagrammable-pop-ups/
Enjoy!
David
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David Whitemyer, AIA
Luci Creative
david@lucicreative.com
617.877.0211
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David Whitemyer AIA
Director of Business Development
Luci Creative
Lincolnwood IL
Original Message:
Sent: 09-24-2019 11:13 AM
From: Mackenzie Finklea
Subject: Is the Museum of Ice Cream a Museum?
This question has been on my mind lately. Between ICOM's new definition for museum and the rise in public attention (and criticism) for the Museum of Ice Cream, I wonder; are they a museum?
Though I personally have never visited, I had been on the fence about whether or not they were a "museum" in the traditional sense. It seems they are more or less an immersive, interactive art installation/adult playground.
I recently heard a great podcast from Jeff Martin at the Philbrook that caused me to have a change of heart about the Museum of Ice Cream and its national impact.
ICOM calls for a new definition because museums are changing… is the Museum of Ice Cream contributing to this change?
What are your thoughts?
Mackenzie Finklea
Website | LinkedIn