Art for Whose Sake? Modern Art Museums and their Role in Transforming Societies: The Case of the Guggenheim Bilbao

In the past two decades the industrial decline of many western economies has forced them to turn towards the tertiary sector in order to diversify their infrastructure and find new sources of income. One of the characteristics of this process was the development of urban regeneration plans, which re...

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Main Author: Evdoxia Baniotopoulou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Ubiquity Press 2001-11-01
Series:Journal of Conservation and Museum Studies
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.jcms-journal.com/articles/19
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spelling doaj-1988028536df462098ef3a1f7444d1ca2020-11-24T22:50:19ZengUbiquity PressJournal of Conservation and Museum Studies2049-45721364-04292001-11-0171510.5334/jcms.701119Art for Whose Sake? Modern Art Museums and their Role in Transforming Societies: The Case of the Guggenheim BilbaoEvdoxia Baniotopoulou0University College LondonIn the past two decades the industrial decline of many western economies has forced them to turn towards the tertiary sector in order to diversify their infrastructure and find new sources of income. One of the characteristics of this process was the development of urban regeneration plans, which recognised the potential of the cultural sector for economic development. Central to this approach was the use of modern art museums as magnets for tourism and inward investment. This practice has produced a number of examples, the most famous being the Guggenheim Bilbao. The phenomenal success of this museum has caused it to become a model and this is why it ought to be examined critically. The creation of the museum is initially considered in the framework of particular historical and political circumstances. It is then placed in the context of the local cultural policy, a combination of theory and local political aspirations. The involvement of the external factor – the Guggenheim Foundation – is considered next, followed by an assessment of the museum in both quantifiable and non-quantifiable terms. Lastly, the preference shown in modern art museums to play this role is discussed. It is concluded that the Guggenheim Bilbao is the outcome of special political and socioeconomic circumstances, which renders it a unique case that should not be replicated uncritically.http://www.jcms-journal.com/articles/19art museumssocietycontemporary artmodern art
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Evdoxia Baniotopoulou
spellingShingle Evdoxia Baniotopoulou
Art for Whose Sake? Modern Art Museums and their Role in Transforming Societies: The Case of the Guggenheim Bilbao
Journal of Conservation and Museum Studies
art museums
society
contemporary art
modern art
author_facet Evdoxia Baniotopoulou
author_sort Evdoxia Baniotopoulou
title Art for Whose Sake? Modern Art Museums and their Role in Transforming Societies: The Case of the Guggenheim Bilbao
title_short Art for Whose Sake? Modern Art Museums and their Role in Transforming Societies: The Case of the Guggenheim Bilbao
title_full Art for Whose Sake? Modern Art Museums and their Role in Transforming Societies: The Case of the Guggenheim Bilbao
title_fullStr Art for Whose Sake? Modern Art Museums and their Role in Transforming Societies: The Case of the Guggenheim Bilbao
title_full_unstemmed Art for Whose Sake? Modern Art Museums and their Role in Transforming Societies: The Case of the Guggenheim Bilbao
title_sort art for whose sake? modern art museums and their role in transforming societies: the case of the guggenheim bilbao
publisher Ubiquity Press
series Journal of Conservation and Museum Studies
issn 2049-4572
1364-0429
publishDate 2001-11-01
description In the past two decades the industrial decline of many western economies has forced them to turn towards the tertiary sector in order to diversify their infrastructure and find new sources of income. One of the characteristics of this process was the development of urban regeneration plans, which recognised the potential of the cultural sector for economic development. Central to this approach was the use of modern art museums as magnets for tourism and inward investment. This practice has produced a number of examples, the most famous being the Guggenheim Bilbao. The phenomenal success of this museum has caused it to become a model and this is why it ought to be examined critically. The creation of the museum is initially considered in the framework of particular historical and political circumstances. It is then placed in the context of the local cultural policy, a combination of theory and local political aspirations. The involvement of the external factor – the Guggenheim Foundation – is considered next, followed by an assessment of the museum in both quantifiable and non-quantifiable terms. Lastly, the preference shown in modern art museums to play this role is discussed. It is concluded that the Guggenheim Bilbao is the outcome of special political and socioeconomic circumstances, which renders it a unique case that should not be replicated uncritically.
topic art museums
society
contemporary art
modern art
url http://www.jcms-journal.com/articles/19
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