ABSTRACT
In Article 28 of its Recommendation concerning the Protection and Promotion of Museums and Collections, their Diversity and their Role in Society, UNESCO affirms the key role of governing bodies in providing funding for public museums. However, in some parts of the world, public funding is now largely insufficient both to sustain museums and to develop a wide range of their activities, above all following the global Covid-19 pandemic. Governing bodies are, therefore, increasingly encouraging museum professionals to become more financially self-sufficient, both in managing their operating budgets and in seeking new income-generating activities. In this context, museums tend to see public-private partnerships (PPPs) as an important source of funding. It is useful to remember that there are many types of external funding and that interactions between partners are continuing to become more complex. In this article, we will examine the link between public institutions and private entities, whether individual or corporate philanthropists, in funding a non-profit project. First, we will examine the experience and practices of the Musée d'art et d'histoire (MAH) in Geneva. We will then analyse the opportunities and limitations of PPPs by referring to the normative frameworks that could define these types of collaborations. Finally, we will attempt to draw conclusions about the outlook for cultural philanthropy in museums in the coming years.
