Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya organised another chapter of its popular series, Curatorial Talk on Friday, where Modeller of Manav Sangrahalaya, Kulasekaran Seshadri spoke on ‘From Being about Something to Being for Somebody’ (Transformation of Museum’s role in society and Effective Museum Management-3 case studies).
Keynote speaker of the Curatorial Talk, Seshadri said “The reflection of ever developing society is visible at Social Media. Social Media is playing key role in development of museums and fulfillment of its aims. If we ignore this development than Museum community and experts will become history too”.
Seshadri addressed Museum’s role in society and its transformation for the past 3 decades, by sharing 3 case studies on museums’ management, in order to get better understanding the possibility and complexity in raising funds.
In the first case study, two famous organisations came together to bail out themselves from financial expansion crisis. In 2002, Deutsche Bank opted to open a head office in New York with target of minimum 500 new accounts. During the same time MoMA, one of prestigious Museum in New York facing lack of visitor, Memberships, Gallery enhancement and an Eatery. The Directors of both institutions sat together and appointed two coordinators who first studied both institutions and created a report. In implementation of plan - The membership schemes published in all public transports, Free Bank account who take membership, Free Museum membership those who open Bank account, On the opening day 1200 bank accounts opened, In 45 days MoMA museums membership increased 560 per cent, Banks name branded in New Yorkers mind.
The second case study, explains how a private company contribute to a museum and in return playing a vital role in improving lives of Children. In the early 1990s, the Mexican Grupo Bimbo was a leader in the world food industry, operating in 16 countries. In November 1993, Papalote Children's Museum (Papalote Museo del Nino) was created in Mexico City. Shortly after its creation, the museum entered into a collaborative agreement with Bimbo, and the company agreed to sponsor several exhibitions in exchange for brand exposure on museum premises.
In this agreement Bimbo covered the expenses for low-income children's visits to Papalote Children's Museum. Free Bimbo buns/Cakes for all kids visiting Papalote Children's Museum, Entire family got gift hampers from Museum Canteen, Free transport to Museum from all corner of city, with free Bimbo cakes while travelling, 20 special buses donated by GRUPO BIMBO company to take travelling exhibition to all parts of Mexico.