Museum Management Revisited *

Stephen Weil, the renowned museum scholar-practitioner, was crystal clear about a fundamental point: there is no “essence of museum” that must be preserved at all costs. ¹ Museums exist in, of, by, and for society and are obligated to continually ponder their work in an effort to be worthwhile and make a difference. In framing the following discussion, I have borrowed the concept of a “new paradigm” from Stephen Weil’s article “Rethinking the Museum: An Emerging New Paradigm.” According to Thomas Kuhn, the historian of science who popularized the word, replacing a paradigm is tantamount to a revolution. ² Such an event has not yet occurred in the museum world and the prospects are limited, so I use the term advisedly. This new paradigm is about museums enhancing community well-being, with well-being broadly defined as “the contribution of the economic, social, cultural, and political components of a community in maintaining itself and fulfilling the various needs of local residents.” ³