The network museum: commerce, culture and exchange

This chapter analyses the transformation of the Guggenheim from a place-bound New York museum to a global cultural enterprise sustaining a network of relationships with public and private institutions. Under the leadership of Krens, the Guggenheim evolved into what he characterised as a ‘network of cultural dialogue, cultural discourse and cultural exchange’. Claims about a new museum blueprint that promoted transcontinental flows of information and networks of activity are examined against a critique of cultural imperialism and corporate commercialisation.

This chapter is part of a body of work that considers the history and development of the museum sector and changes in the practices of exhibition and display. Related outputs on museums and curating include the following articles, reviews, conference papers and exhibitions:

Museums Journal reviews
Ryan, N. (2011) 'Holburne House', Museums Journal, October.
Ryan, N. (2011) ‘Roman Baths, Bath’, Museums Journal, February, pp. 50-51.
Ryan, N. (2010) ‘South London Gallery’, Museums Journal, December, pp. 48-51.
Ryan, N. (2010) ‘Chatsworth, Derbyshire’, Museums Journal, November, pp. 48-51.
Ryan, N. (2010) ‘Gallery of Costume, Platt Hall, Manchester’, Museums Journal, July, pp. 48-49.
Ryan, N. (2010) ‘Rediscovering Greece and Rome’, The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, Museums Journal, May, pp. 52-53.
Ryan, N. (2009) ‘Pitt Rivers Museum’, Museums Journal, September, pp. 42-45.
Ryan, N. (2009) ‘The Whitechapel Gallery, London’, Museums Journal, June, pp. 46-49.
Ryan, N. (2008) ‘China Design Now’, Museums Journal, May, pp. 52-53.

Other:
Ryan, N. & Steele, A. (2011) ‘From the Gallery to the Street: Universities, Museums and Public Engagement’, Leisure in Transition: People, Policy and Places, Leisure Studies Association Conference, July 5-7.

Ryan, N. & Glavey, P. (2009) ‘The Museum of...Project: an interdisciplinary collaboration in the development and visualisation of a new museum concept’, HEA-ADM website. Available at: http://www.adm.heacademy.ac.uk/resources/case-studies/the-museum-of-project-an-interdisciplinary-collaboration-in-the-development-and-visualisation-of-a-new-museum.

Museums Futures Group (MFG) (2011) ‘Museum Futures: Exploring Partnerships and Public Engagement’ Exhibition & Event, 28-30th March, London College of Communication. www.museumfuturesgroup.com

(2012) ‘Artefact & Affects: Exploring Objects through Sound, Space and Moving Image’, Exhibition & Event, 9th- January, London College of Communication (forthcoming).

Publisher's Book Synopsis:

Networks of Design maps a new methodological territory in design studies, conceived as a field of interdisciplinary inquiry and practice informed by a range of responses to actor network theory. It brings together a rich body of current work by researchers in the social sciences, technology, material culture, cultural geography, information technology, and systems design, and design theory and history.

This collection will be invaluable to students and researchers in many areas of design studies and to design practitioners receptive to new and challenging notions of what constitutes the design process.

Over ninety essays are thematically organised to address five aspects of the expanded notions of mediation, agency, and collaboration posited by network theory: Ideas, Things, Technology, Texts, and People. The collection also includes an important new essay on rethinking the concept of design by Bruno Latour, one of the most influential figures in the philosophy and sociology of science and technology and a pioneer of actor network theory, and essays deriving from forum discussions involving designers and designer-makers responsive to actor network theory.

Rather than an anthology of previously-published essays, Networks of Design presents work in progress on design theory and its applications. It is the outcome of a live and vigorous debate on the possibilities and actualities offered by actor network led conceptualisations of the relationships and processes constituting design. All the essays, many collaborative, derive from papers presented at the international conference of the Design History Society held at University College Falmouth, UK in the Autumn of 2008.