Art Mobility between Museums in Europe

A case study of the Hermitage Amsterdam and the Guggenheim Bilbao

Thèse de Master , 2009 , 125 Pages , Note: B (ECTS), 8 out of 10

Art - Autres

Beginning with the last decades of the 20th century it has been an unprecedented tendency to create outposts of big museums abroad. The opening of the Hermitage-Guggenheim Exhibition Centre in Las Vegas and the decision of creating a filial branch of the Louvre in Abu-Dhabi in 2012 can serve as an illustrative example of this phenomenon.
The purpose of the present Master Thesis is to show that despite political, economic and linguistic diversities that exist between the Netherlands and Russia, strong cultural ties and cross-cultural dialogues have remained since the 18th century and are
flourishing nowadays. I will demonstrate what has been done in practice in order to strengthen international cross-cultural bonds and to introduce foreign cultural heritage abroad in particular.
The aim of the Master Thesis is to study the examples of museum models in the 21st century illustrated by the case study of the Hermitage Amsterdam Complex and the Guggenheim Bilbao Museum “satellite” museums. Taking into account the importance
and special significance of the latter, the choice of that particular case study seems rational and illustrative. I will present the motives and goals of “expansion” tendencies
of large art museums in the Netherlands and in Spain. I will elaborate on difference in motives beyond the opening of museums’ outposts by Russian and by American museums in the European Union. What are the crucial steps the museum authorities
tend to undertake in order to safeguard and promote the art Europe-wide?
I will point out how art mobility is connected to the present area of globalization. In my Master Thesis I will explore the following question: “Can the creation of museum “satellites” abroad be seen as the future model of museums’ development?”
In order to address this question the present paper is structured around four chapters. In the beginning of the Master Thesis I explore the notion of European museum and important features of Russian and Dutch cultural policies. Further on, I narrow down
my research of art mobility by using the case of museum “satellites” created by the Hermitage and Guggenheim networks. Finally, I describe main principles of museum
expansion under the challenges of modern times in order to identify possible museum models.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• Chapter One
  • 1.1 Dutch cultural memory in St. Petersburg and reception of European cultural traditions in St. Petersburg
  • 1.2 History of Dutch art collecting tradition in the Hermitage
  • 1.3 Dutch art collecting practices in the 20th century
  • Conclusion
• Chapter Two
  • 2.1 Development of the museum phenomenon as a forum of knowledge
  • 2.2 Overview of the cultural policies in post-Soviet Russia
  • 2.3 Overview of the cultural policies in the Netherlands
  • 2.4 Dutch – Russian mutual cultural projects
  • Conclusion
• Chapter Three
  • 3.1 Cross-cultural transfers and new types of collection exchange
  • 3.2 The "Hermitage Amsterdam” Exhibition Centre
  • 3.3 The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
  • Conclusion
• Chapter Four
  • 4.1 Mission and modern concepts of art museums in the 21st century
  • 4.2 Museum network as a possible model of museums development in the 21st century: the "Bilbao effect"
  • 4.3 The Hermitage Museum in the 21st century and the motives for the restoration of the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam
  • 4.4 Digitalization of art collections in the context of globalization and hybrid cultural expressions
  • Conclusion
• Bibliography
• Annex 1
• Annex 2

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This Master Thesis aims to explore the phenomenon of museum expansion in the 21st century, focusing on the creation of "satellite" museums by major institutions like the Hermitage and the Guggenheim. The thesis examines the motives behind this trend, particularly in the context of Dutch-Russian cultural relations. It analyzes the role of art mobility in fostering cross-cultural dialogue and strengthening international bonds.

• The development of museum networks as a model for museums in the 21st century
• The impact of globalization on art collections and museum practices
• The role of art mobility in promoting cross-cultural understanding
• The influence of economic and socio-political factors on art mobility
• The significance of cultural policies in shaping museum development

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

Chapter One delves into the historical context of Dutch-Russian cultural relations, tracing the influence of Dutch cultural memory in St. Petersburg and the development of Dutch art collecting traditions within the Hermitage. The chapter examines the evolution of Dutch art collecting practices in the 20th century, providing a foundation for understanding the contemporary context of art mobility.

Chapter Two explores the evolution of the museum phenomenon as a forum of knowledge, examining the cultural policies of post-Soviet Russia and the Netherlands. It analyzes the development of Dutch-Russian cultural projects, highlighting the significance of cross-cultural collaboration in shaping museum practices.

Chapter Three focuses on the case studies of the Hermitage Amsterdam and the Guggenheim Bilbao, examining the emergence of new models of collection exchange and cross-cultural transfers. It analyzes the motives and goals behind the establishment of these "satellite" museums, highlighting the role of art mobility in promoting cultural exchange and fostering international dialogue.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The keywords and focus themes of the text include art mobility, museum networks, cultural policies, cross-cultural dialogue, globalization, hybrid cultural expressions, Hermitage, Guggenheim, Dutch-Russian cultural relations, and museum development in the 21st century.

• Université: University of Groningen
• Cours: Double-Degree Erasmus Mundus Master Course "Euroculture: Europe in the Wider World"
• Note: B (ECTS), 8 out of 10
• Auteur: M.A. Arts Nadia Ptashchenko (Auteur)
• Année de publication: 2009
• Pages: 125
• N° de catalogue: V129681
• ISBN (ebook): 9783640368242
• ISBN (Livre): 9783640368518
• Langue: anglais
• mots-clé: Mobility, Museums, Europe, Hermitage, Amsterdam, Guggenheim, Bilbao