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Why the Museum Matters
A powerful reflection on the universal art museum, considering the values critical to its history and anticipating its evolving place in our cultural future
Art museums have played a vital role in our culture, drawing on Enlightenment ideals in shaping ideas, advancing learning, fostering community, and providing spaces of beauty and permanence. In this thoughtful and often personal volume, Daniel H. Weiss contemplates the idea of the universal art museum alongside broad considerations about the role of art in society and what defines a cultural experience. The future of art museums is far from secure, and Weiss reflects on many of the difficulties these institutions face, from their financial health to their collecting practices to the audiences they engage to ensuring freedom of expression on the part of artists and curators.
In grappling with these challenges, Weiss sees a solution in shared governance. His tone is one of optimism as he looks to a future where the museum will serve a greater public while continuing to be a steward of culture and a place of discovery, discourse, inspiration, and pleasure. This poignant questioning and affirmation of the museum explores our enduring values while embracing the need for change in a rapidly evolving world.
Art museums have played a vital role in our culture, drawing on Enlightenment ideals in shaping ideas, advancing learning, fostering community, and providing spaces of beauty and permanence. In this thoughtful and often personal volume, Daniel H. Weiss contemplates the idea of the universal art museum alongside broad considerations about the role of art in society and what defines a cultural experience. The future of art museums is far from secure, and Weiss reflects on many of the difficulties these institutions face, from their financial health to their collecting practices to the audiences they engage to ensuring freedom of expression on the part of artists and curators.
In grappling with these challenges, Weiss sees a solution in shared governance. His tone is one of optimism as he looks to a future where the museum will serve a greater public while continuing to be a steward of culture and a place of discovery, discourse, inspiration, and pleasure. This poignant questioning and affirmation of the museum explores our enduring values while embracing the need for change in a rapidly evolving world.
224 pages, Paperback
First published November 29, 2022
30 people are currently reading
396 people want to read
About the author
Daniel H. Weiss
8 books3 followersDaniel H. Weiss is Homewood Professor of the Humanities at Johns Hopkins University and President Emeritus of the Metropolitan Museum of Art where he served from 2015-2023.
A scholar of art history and a seasoned leader of complex institutions, Weiss was previously President and Professor of Art History of Haverford College and, from 2005 to 2013 of Lafayette College. He holds an MBA from Yale and a PhD from Johns Hopkins University in western medieval and Byzantine art, where he joined the art history faculty and in six years rose to full professor and then chair of the department. Three years later, he became the James B. Knapp Dean of Johns Hopkins’s Krieger School of Arts and Sciences.
The author of seven books and numerous articles, Weiss has published and lectured widely on a variety of topics, including the art of the Middle Ages and the Crusades, higher education, museums, and American culture.
A scholar of art history and a seasoned leader of complex institutions, Weiss was previously President and Professor of Art History of Haverford College and, from 2005 to 2013 of Lafayette College. He holds an MBA from Yale and a PhD from Johns Hopkins University in western medieval and Byzantine art, where he joined the art history faculty and in six years rose to full professor and then chair of the department. Three years later, he became the James B. Knapp Dean of Johns Hopkins’s Krieger School of Arts and Sciences.
The author of seven books and numerous articles, Weiss has published and lectured widely on a variety of topics, including the art of the Middle Ages and the Crusades, higher education, museums, and American culture.
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May 20, 2025
Do you have a favorite museum? Museums have always been a source of joy and discovery to me, a place where since childhood I have stood in awe at the creative spirit or the staggering weight of history. It is a place that fosters inspiration, and wonderment that makes us feel and feel pride at being part of a humanity I often struggle to be proud of. It is a place that cultivates a cultural record while pointing towards the future, a space for discourse and a space that curates a celebration of creativity and achievement that, in order to be productive, must respond to the needs of its community with an aim for plurality and progress. ‘Museums are wormholes to other worlds,’ as art critic Jerry Saltz once wrote, ‘they are ecstasy machines,’ and each city I visit I always try to see their art museum. Yet here in the US, where museums are already often behind a price barrier, their futures are uncertain as the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and other arts funding are facing financial execution under an administration openly hostile the arts, education, and historical record. Museums and libraries are ‘the backbone of our education system’ as Karin Slaughter, American crime writer and founder of Save the Libraries wrote, and with that in mind it felt the right time to read Why Museums Matter by Daniel H. Weiss, former president of the Metropolitan Museum of Arts or, simply, The Met. Weiss examines the past, present, and possible futures of museums to discuss how museums are a place where people can find ‘common ground in a world otherwise riven by competition and conflict,’ all housed in ‘a sublime setting and in conversation with the larger world.’ It is a lovely little book that reminds us why museums matter and why we must fight to protect them. You can start by going to SaveIMLS.org but lets talk about museums a bit.
‘The only way to understand painting is to go and look at it. And if out of a million visitors there is even one to whom art means something, that is enough to justify museums.’
—Pierre-Auguste Renoir
Museums are such an important space that highlights culture and humanities. ‘That's why we have the Museum,’ Lois Lowry writes in her book Messenger, ‘to remind us of how we came, and why: to start fresh, and begin a new place from what we had learned and carried from the old.’ Weiss begins with a rather interesting overview on the history of museums spending much of his time looking at how they were culturally important to Ancient Greece and Rome and moves forward to the present. He also spends a good deal discussing Philosopher Jürgen Habermas has his investigations into ‘the history and role of the public sphere as a space for community discourse’ which was quite engaging. ‘The creation of public spaces as a means of fostering free and open discourse was a distinctive achievement of the Enlightenment,’ Weiss writes and we see how this public space is increasingly important in an age where it is difficult to even exist in public without having to pay money (though unfortunately most museums in the US charge and can be rather expensive).
Art is made to last and tell a story for generations. ‘I paint flowers so they will not die,’ said artist Frida Kahlo. It is why preserving art is a way of preserving culture and respecting those who came before us. Sure, there are a lot of issues with museums too, particularly with upholding colonialism and having stolen many artifacts and a part of loving museums is also being able to criticize and push for improvements. This is especially a great opportunity for people to push for more inclusive collections that allow us to see the world from a wide variety of persepectives.
In short, museums must respond to their communities and be public servants for the betterment of society. ‘A museum has to renew its collection to be alive, but that does not mean we give on important old works,’ said David Rockefeller, a major figure in the US art world and served as chairman of the Board of Trustees for MoMA, and Weiss emphasizes this sort of responsive need throughout the book.
‘At a time when we desperately need institutions that authentically serve the public good and are genuinely accountable to us all, the museum matters now more than it ever has.’
Despite the overall good and importance of museums, many have tried to promote propaganda to the idea that they are not worthwhile. In the US, a recent executive order designed to bypass democratic governance was issued on March 14th, 2025 to dismantle the IMLS and six other agencies. All staff were placed under administrative leave. In May, a US District Court issued a temporary restraining order but now the Republican congress and White House have moved to completely defund the IMLS and all federal library and museum funds under the upcoming budget. While State propaganda claims it is a cost savings measure, the IMLS accounts for only 0.0046% of the overall federal budget. This has been followed by a lot of propaganda aimed at hurting public images of public goods, such as in my own town where the vanity press “news” group—funded by the Ottawa Impact commissioner Joe Moss—ran an ”article” against funding the local museum claiming ‘Holland Museum getting a little too "woke"’ as their issue. The idea that underrepresented people can be represented has always caused a lot of wailing and gnashing of teeth in bad faith but, as Weiss writes:
The International Council of Museums (ICOM) have long argued that ‘museums need to stand firm, with individuals and diverse communities around the world, against prejudice, stereotype, and inequality,’ and diverse collections are important. For instance, Nerys Rudder, President of ICOM Barbados says ‘why is gender equality important for the social role of museums? So that little girls see themselves represented, and little boys learn balance.’ This can apply to any social issue on representation too.
‘To develop their social role, museums must be a microcosm of the society – but rather than just a mirror, a mirror of the future. In other words, it must incorporate in its operational mode what we want society to be. Therefore, museums must be open to everybody and promote equal access to opportunities.’
—Milene Chiovatto, Chair of the ICOM International Committee for Education and Cultural Action
In an interview for Yale Insights, Weiss discusses how ‘museums matter—and perhaps more now than in the past because their role has become more central to our civic lives.’ First, he counters the idea that museums are harmful to budgets pointing out that, instead, they are ‘engines of the economy’:
Museums are also an important source for civic engagement. It brings people from all over and of many mindsets into a shared space with a shared purpose. ‘They allow us to discuss, debate, and find capacity for agreement across differences,’ Weiss writes, ‘if we can model that in an art museum, then maybe we can learn to do it in government and in the larger society.’ This is an important and wonderful hope. While the book does not go into his rather unpopular changes to The Met’s payment program, the article does and is worth a read.
‘Museums, like universities, are mission-driven institutions, which means that fulfillment of their purpose is to realize a set of objectives that are not directly tied to profitability but are tied to sustainability. If a museum isn’t able to balance its budget, take care of its collection, and invest in its future, it cannot survive, and the leadership is not fulfilling its obligations.’
Weiss also has great ideas for the future and offers four key ideas for museums to thrive and meet the needs of society moving forward. First is to become more universalist in outlook and approach, to show ‘the multitudes of cultures around us.’ Second is to ‘adapt our work to meet the needs of the present moment and the various audiences that we are aiming to reach.’ Third, museums must take a long view as ‘stewards of our cultural history,’ and finally, fourth, to ‘to reflect more deeply on how we operate as citizens of the world to generate better ideas for connecting with and being of service to others.’ The keywords here, for me, are ‘service’ and ‘servants’ where, not unlike librarianship and my daily role in service to my community, we must serve the public and be good stewards of their needs.
‘Homo sapiens remains a species with insatiable tastes for music, pictures, dance and storytelling. The unity of the arts emerges from the unity of mankind.’
—Denis Dutton, The Art Instinct: Beauty, Pleasure, and Human Evolution
I love museums and I want to see them thrive. Why Museums Matter was a wonderful reminder of just how important they are and why we should protect them and other public institutions. A quick, but beneficial little read.
4/5
‘This is, above all, why museums matter: because they can, through collective effort, self-awareness, and a commitment to progress, take us to better places while preserving our history and culture, as they must. Precisely because of the important role they have come to play in our society, we have a moral obligation to preserve our museums while making them more responsive to the needs of our word…’
How to Help Museums
There are many ways to help and the first is to visit museums, share your photos and experience, and encourage others. For more specific actions you can start by going to
—SaveIMLS.org who has a great list of action items.
—American Alliance of Museums who also curates a great list
—Contact your Congress person and call all your representatives
—Sign a petition or launch one of your own
—check out Art Workers United
—Donate to your local museums or become a member
—Spread the word on social media or write to your local newspaper
—Get involved with the International Council of Museums
—Support libraries as well by checking out books and using their inter-library loan system
Museums and Libraries are important public goods and we should protect them. Thank you for your time.
‘The only way to understand painting is to go and look at it. And if out of a million visitors there is even one to whom art means something, that is enough to justify museums.’
—Pierre-Auguste Renoir
Museums are such an important space that highlights culture and humanities. ‘That's why we have the Museum,’ Lois Lowry writes in her book Messenger, ‘to remind us of how we came, and why: to start fresh, and begin a new place from what we had learned and carried from the old.’ Weiss begins with a rather interesting overview on the history of museums spending much of his time looking at how they were culturally important to Ancient Greece and Rome and moves forward to the present. He also spends a good deal discussing Philosopher Jürgen Habermas has his investigations into ‘the history and role of the public sphere as a space for community discourse’ which was quite engaging. ‘The creation of public spaces as a means of fostering free and open discourse was a distinctive achievement of the Enlightenment,’ Weiss writes and we see how this public space is increasingly important in an age where it is difficult to even exist in public without having to pay money (though unfortunately most museums in the US charge and can be rather expensive).
‘Throughout antiquity public collections played an essential role in nation-building by helping to shape an origin myth that defined the character of a community. The objects, their provenance, and the stories they told contributed to inventing the history of a people—some of it real and some imagined&that became part of a shared identity for an emerging city-state.’
Art is made to last and tell a story for generations. ‘I paint flowers so they will not die,’ said artist Frida Kahlo. It is why preserving art is a way of preserving culture and respecting those who came before us. Sure, there are a lot of issues with museums too, particularly with upholding colonialism and having stolen many artifacts and a part of loving museums is also being able to criticize and push for improvements. This is especially a great opportunity for people to push for more inclusive collections that allow us to see the world from a wide variety of persepectives.
'At its best, the museum should be a place that celebrates artistic achievement, while also embracing the idea that cultures are both diverse and interconnected, with an almost infinite variety in how we experience beauty, creativity, and excellence'
In short, museums must respond to their communities and be public servants for the betterment of society. ‘A museum has to renew its collection to be alive, but that does not mean we give on important old works,’ said David Rockefeller, a major figure in the US art world and served as chairman of the Board of Trustees for MoMA, and Weiss emphasizes this sort of responsive need throughout the book.
‘At a time when we desperately need institutions that authentically serve the public good and are genuinely accountable to us all, the museum matters now more than it ever has.’
Despite the overall good and importance of museums, many have tried to promote propaganda to the idea that they are not worthwhile. In the US, a recent executive order designed to bypass democratic governance was issued on March 14th, 2025 to dismantle the IMLS and six other agencies. All staff were placed under administrative leave. In May, a US District Court issued a temporary restraining order but now the Republican congress and White House have moved to completely defund the IMLS and all federal library and museum funds under the upcoming budget. While State propaganda claims it is a cost savings measure, the IMLS accounts for only 0.0046% of the overall federal budget. This has been followed by a lot of propaganda aimed at hurting public images of public goods, such as in my own town where the vanity press “news” group—funded by the Ottawa Impact commissioner Joe Moss—ran an ”article” against funding the local museum claiming ‘Holland Museum getting a little too "woke"’ as their issue. The idea that underrepresented people can be represented has always caused a lot of wailing and gnashing of teeth in bad faith but, as Weiss writes:
‘The museum is at its best when it is supported by a pluralistic society that values true diversity and community, but not tribalism.’
The International Council of Museums (ICOM) have long argued that ‘museums need to stand firm, with individuals and diverse communities around the world, against prejudice, stereotype, and inequality,’ and diverse collections are important. For instance, Nerys Rudder, President of ICOM Barbados says ‘why is gender equality important for the social role of museums? So that little girls see themselves represented, and little boys learn balance.’ This can apply to any social issue on representation too.
‘To develop their social role, museums must be a microcosm of the society – but rather than just a mirror, a mirror of the future. In other words, it must incorporate in its operational mode what we want society to be. Therefore, museums must be open to everybody and promote equal access to opportunities.’
—Milene Chiovatto, Chair of the ICOM International Committee for Education and Cultural Action
In an interview for Yale Insights, Weiss discusses how ‘museums matter—and perhaps more now than in the past because their role has become more central to our civic lives.’ First, he counters the idea that museums are harmful to budgets pointing out that, instead, they are ‘engines of the economy’:
‘The Metropolitan Museum of Art sees 7 million visitors a year. It’s the number one tourist attraction in New York City and an extraordinarily powerful source of economic vitality for the whole city…
Across the country, there are more than 35,000 museums. They account for 750,000 jobs and generate $50 billion in economic activity. Museums today are very healthy, notwithstanding the fraught political and cultural issues surrounding them.’
Museums are also an important source for civic engagement. It brings people from all over and of many mindsets into a shared space with a shared purpose. ‘They allow us to discuss, debate, and find capacity for agreement across differences,’ Weiss writes, ‘if we can model that in an art museum, then maybe we can learn to do it in government and in the larger society.’ This is an important and wonderful hope. While the book does not go into his rather unpopular changes to The Met’s payment program, the article does and is worth a read.
‘Museums, like universities, are mission-driven institutions, which means that fulfillment of their purpose is to realize a set of objectives that are not directly tied to profitability but are tied to sustainability. If a museum isn’t able to balance its budget, take care of its collection, and invest in its future, it cannot survive, and the leadership is not fulfilling its obligations.’
Weiss also has great ideas for the future and offers four key ideas for museums to thrive and meet the needs of society moving forward. First is to become more universalist in outlook and approach, to show ‘the multitudes of cultures around us.’ Second is to ‘adapt our work to meet the needs of the present moment and the various audiences that we are aiming to reach.’ Third, museums must take a long view as ‘stewards of our cultural history,’ and finally, fourth, to ‘to reflect more deeply on how we operate as citizens of the world to generate better ideas for connecting with and being of service to others.’ The keywords here, for me, are ‘service’ and ‘servants’ where, not unlike librarianship and my daily role in service to my community, we must serve the public and be good stewards of their needs.
‘Homo sapiens remains a species with insatiable tastes for music, pictures, dance and storytelling. The unity of the arts emerges from the unity of mankind.’
—Denis Dutton, The Art Instinct: Beauty, Pleasure, and Human Evolution
I love museums and I want to see them thrive. Why Museums Matter was a wonderful reminder of just how important they are and why we should protect them and other public institutions. A quick, but beneficial little read.
4/5
‘This is, above all, why museums matter: because they can, through collective effort, self-awareness, and a commitment to progress, take us to better places while preserving our history and culture, as they must. Precisely because of the important role they have come to play in our society, we have a moral obligation to preserve our museums while making them more responsive to the needs of our word…’
How to Help Museums
There are many ways to help and the first is to visit museums, share your photos and experience, and encourage others. For more specific actions you can start by going to
—SaveIMLS.org who has a great list of action items.
—American Alliance of Museums who also curates a great list
—Contact your Congress person and call all your representatives
—Sign a petition or launch one of your own
—check out Art Workers United
—Donate to your local museums or become a member
—Spread the word on social media or write to your local newspaper
—Get involved with the International Council of Museums
—Support libraries as well by checking out books and using their inter-library loan system
Museums and Libraries are important public goods and we should protect them. Thank you for your time.
November 30, 2022
Daniel H Weiss is currently the president and CEO of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and in Why the Museum Matters, he makes the case for the museum in 21st century America. Divided into three sections, Weiss presents a short history of the museum as a concept, describes the organizational methods for collections, present brief select controversies, details a typical governance structure and goes into depth with the values, roles and public place of the museum.
This is the latest entry for Yale's "Why X Matters" series where "passionate authors present concise arguments for the continuing relevance of important people or ideas."* And Weiss is definitely passionate having served as President of the MET since 2015 (though it has been announced he'll be stepping down in June 2023). Prior to joining the MET, Weiss was president of Haverford College. Earlier he served as president for Lafayette College, where he also taught Art History. This shows extensive time and experience with leading institutions dedicated to education, while also having experience teaching and engaging with art.
However, from the outset, the book is more limited in its range than might be suggested by the title. Much of its focus is instead describing and detailing the "encyclopedic art museums, particularly in the form envisioned and created in the United States."** And when it comes to examples, Weiss draws from his direct experiences at the MET. This is all the more emphasized when one views the Praise blurbs from the Yalebooks page that are all from these larger art museums.
Considering that Weiss has "[w]ritten this book for the general reader rather than the specialist.."*** the above seems especially frustrating. Weiss strongly feels that museums matter, and I'm in agreement, but this book is both too focused and too narrow. The first section detailing the history and development of the museum condenses centuries into about 40 pages. The heart of the book, section II "Why the Museum Matters" brings up many issues and controversies, but for the ones related to Museum professionals racial insensitivity to the George Floyd 2020 protests reads almost apologetically that those professionals suffered after long careers for momentary lapses. Intention matters, and here Weiss frames these two incidents (Garrels and Christiansen) as representative of our societal division. It is a worthy point for discussion, but doesn't feel well presented. Part III laysout Weiss's beliefs for what museums should do in the present and near future, and this is also the shortest section.
Museums can serve as bastions of preservation, many are strongly committed to education and scholarship and can be an asset to their communities. However what gets into a museum, how much it costs and who pays for it, as well as who the museum is for and who is represented by its staff, collections and programming are all questions or debates taking place without easy answers or solutions. Weiss rightly points out that it is all a process, and policies need to be regularly reviewed and adjusted.
Weiss excels when recounting decision processes tied to controversies at the MET or when making the case for transparency and museums being "at [their] best when it is supported by a pluralistic society that values true diversity and its community."****
For the specialist, students in museum studies or those involved in museum governance would all find ideas and content to consider, discuss and debate. For the general reader, they'd be better served by books focused on specific museum issues, such as female representation in art in Catherine McCormack's Women in the Picture: What Culture Does with Female Bodies or a more in-depth work such as Mary and Edward Alexander's Museums in Motion: An Introduction to the History and Functions of Museums .
*“Introducing Yale’s ‘Why X Matters’ Series.” Yale University Press London Blog, 6 Apr. 2011, https://yalebooksblog.co.uk/2011/04/0....
**Introduction, Kindle reader location 87.
***Introduction, Kindle reader location 94.
****Location 1594.
I received a free digital version of this book via NetGalley thanks to the publisher.
This is the latest entry for Yale's "Why X Matters" series where "passionate authors present concise arguments for the continuing relevance of important people or ideas."* And Weiss is definitely passionate having served as President of the MET since 2015 (though it has been announced he'll be stepping down in June 2023). Prior to joining the MET, Weiss was president of Haverford College. Earlier he served as president for Lafayette College, where he also taught Art History. This shows extensive time and experience with leading institutions dedicated to education, while also having experience teaching and engaging with art.
However, from the outset, the book is more limited in its range than might be suggested by the title. Much of its focus is instead describing and detailing the "encyclopedic art museums, particularly in the form envisioned and created in the United States."** And when it comes to examples, Weiss draws from his direct experiences at the MET. This is all the more emphasized when one views the Praise blurbs from the Yalebooks page that are all from these larger art museums.
Considering that Weiss has "[w]ritten this book for the general reader rather than the specialist.."*** the above seems especially frustrating. Weiss strongly feels that museums matter, and I'm in agreement, but this book is both too focused and too narrow. The first section detailing the history and development of the museum condenses centuries into about 40 pages. The heart of the book, section II "Why the Museum Matters" brings up many issues and controversies, but for the ones related to Museum professionals racial insensitivity to the George Floyd 2020 protests reads almost apologetically that those professionals suffered after long careers for momentary lapses. Intention matters, and here Weiss frames these two incidents (Garrels and Christiansen) as representative of our societal division. It is a worthy point for discussion, but doesn't feel well presented. Part III laysout Weiss's beliefs for what museums should do in the present and near future, and this is also the shortest section.
Museums can serve as bastions of preservation, many are strongly committed to education and scholarship and can be an asset to their communities. However what gets into a museum, how much it costs and who pays for it, as well as who the museum is for and who is represented by its staff, collections and programming are all questions or debates taking place without easy answers or solutions. Weiss rightly points out that it is all a process, and policies need to be regularly reviewed and adjusted.
Weiss excels when recounting decision processes tied to controversies at the MET or when making the case for transparency and museums being "at [their] best when it is supported by a pluralistic society that values true diversity and its community."****
For the specialist, students in museum studies or those involved in museum governance would all find ideas and content to consider, discuss and debate. For the general reader, they'd be better served by books focused on specific museum issues, such as female representation in art in Catherine McCormack's Women in the Picture: What Culture Does with Female Bodies or a more in-depth work such as Mary and Edward Alexander's Museums in Motion: An Introduction to the History and Functions of Museums .
*“Introducing Yale’s ‘Why X Matters’ Series.” Yale University Press London Blog, 6 Apr. 2011, https://yalebooksblog.co.uk/2011/04/0....
**Introduction, Kindle reader location 87.
***Introduction, Kindle reader location 94.
****Location 1594.
I received a free digital version of this book via NetGalley thanks to the publisher.
July 21, 2024
A well written analysis of the relevance, role, and responsibility of art museums in the 21st century.
May 13, 2023
”At its best, the museum should be a place that celebrates artistic achievement, while also embracing the idea that cultures are both diverse and interconnected, with an almost infinite variety in how we experience beauty, creativity, and excellence.”
It is important, at times, to pause and reflect on those institutions that add value to our lives. Places, such as museums, that provide a sense of connectedness and meaning through the lessons and solutions sought and found by those who came before us. Those who are otherwise an ocean or sunset or millennium away. Through their objects, with which we are invited to commune, we are reminded that these others sought beauty as we do, felt the need to understand the divine as we do, and hoped to learn their place in the cosmos as do we.
Weiss will say that humankind is incontrovertibly interconnected, “bound to each other in complex and inextricable ways.” The essential function of art museums in the United States, he says, is to shape ideas, advance learning, foster community, and provide places of beauty and permanence. They give us an opportunity to genuinely learn about differences and go beyond our own experiences. As perpetual institutions, museums reflect generations of achievement that must not collapse under the “fragility of our certainty at the moment.”
Thank you to Yale University Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC.
It is important, at times, to pause and reflect on those institutions that add value to our lives. Places, such as museums, that provide a sense of connectedness and meaning through the lessons and solutions sought and found by those who came before us. Those who are otherwise an ocean or sunset or millennium away. Through their objects, with which we are invited to commune, we are reminded that these others sought beauty as we do, felt the need to understand the divine as we do, and hoped to learn their place in the cosmos as do we.
Weiss will say that humankind is incontrovertibly interconnected, “bound to each other in complex and inextricable ways.” The essential function of art museums in the United States, he says, is to shape ideas, advance learning, foster community, and provide places of beauty and permanence. They give us an opportunity to genuinely learn about differences and go beyond our own experiences. As perpetual institutions, museums reflect generations of achievement that must not collapse under the “fragility of our certainty at the moment.”
Thank you to Yale University Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC.
Read
January 24, 2025read this to hype myself up for my museum studies applications
i think weiss says some good things here - though very surface level and only focused on US museums (but he admits that this is very general and not for specialists) the case of European museums is also VERY different
idk im not exactly in the field yet but he just talks about how museums should be more open to dialogue and change and focus on the mission of serving the greater public... leaves out any nuance but whatever .. what do expect from the president and ceo of the MET.. this was a good toe dip into museum politics... maybe i DO wanna get a museum studies degree
i think weiss says some good things here - though very surface level and only focused on US museums (but he admits that this is very general and not for specialists) the case of European museums is also VERY different
idk im not exactly in the field yet but he just talks about how museums should be more open to dialogue and change and focus on the mission of serving the greater public... leaves out any nuance but whatever .. what do expect from the president and ceo of the MET.. this was a good toe dip into museum politics... maybe i DO wanna get a museum studies degree
October 18, 2024
I appreciated the history of museums and how their role has expanded over time. The author acknowledged the challenges faced by museums today without prescribing how to meet those challenges.
dnf
January 17, 2023I received an eARC of this book for review from the Yale University Press via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Full disclosure: I DNFd this at 51%.
• The Brief: The first half of the book explores American art museums, the history of their development, and their place in public life.
• The scholarly style, structure, and language choices make it difficult to recommend to the casual reader. It may be beneficial to emerging museum professionals, as the chapters on the historical development of modern museums provide a good number of reference sources for further study. Beyond that, the casual dismissal of public expression makes it rather disappointing for the head of an institution designed to serve the public.
Why the Museum Matters is a brief introduction to the cultural influences that shaped the development of art museums and the roles those museums have today. It is organized into three parts: A Selective History of the Art Museum; Why the Museum Matters; and New Directions. The ethics of encyclopedic collecting, a term used repeatedly by the author, were addressed in three short paragraphs at the end of Chapter 4: A Place of Consequence. In other sections, the author briefly touches on the specific repatriation case of Parthenon frieze at the British Museum but misses other opportunities for this discussion such as his visit to the Nefertiti bust at the Neues Museum in Berlin. He also mentions slave owner Elizabeth Vassall Fox admiringly, without addressing how she gained the wealth she then used to support fledgling museums. All of these decisions added up were concerning to me, but I was determined to power through in the hopes of finding a new primer for emerging museum professionals.
Chapter 5: A Forum for Ideas changed my mind. The author attempts to present himself as objective, but his language betrays him at times. For example, on page 76 he uses the term Cancel Culture as a synonym for liberal politics. In this chapter, the author advocates that museums should be a place to learn and persuade. Then he uses the social movements that began in 2020 as an example of threats to just that discourse rather than inspirations for new conversations. His argument doesn’t acknowledge that by ostracizing those have who only recently acquired the power of a voice through technology, he is ignoring the systematic pain, harm, and victimization which has led to modern call out culture. In fact, he uses quotation marks around the word harm in his text, thereby implying it isn’t the lived reality of millions. He describes this as a private and individual experience when it is experienced by so many people that it must be considered a public issue. Finally, he equates protest over the exploitation of black pain to "behavioral racism" without understanding that racism is defined by systematic oppression – a power not available to the protesters by virtue of our society’s structure. This is when I stopped reading. I could no longer overlook the biases of the author.
Full disclosure: I DNFd this at 51%.
• The Brief: The first half of the book explores American art museums, the history of their development, and their place in public life.
• The scholarly style, structure, and language choices make it difficult to recommend to the casual reader. It may be beneficial to emerging museum professionals, as the chapters on the historical development of modern museums provide a good number of reference sources for further study. Beyond that, the casual dismissal of public expression makes it rather disappointing for the head of an institution designed to serve the public.
Why the Museum Matters is a brief introduction to the cultural influences that shaped the development of art museums and the roles those museums have today. It is organized into three parts: A Selective History of the Art Museum; Why the Museum Matters; and New Directions. The ethics of encyclopedic collecting, a term used repeatedly by the author, were addressed in three short paragraphs at the end of Chapter 4: A Place of Consequence. In other sections, the author briefly touches on the specific repatriation case of Parthenon frieze at the British Museum but misses other opportunities for this discussion such as his visit to the Nefertiti bust at the Neues Museum in Berlin. He also mentions slave owner Elizabeth Vassall Fox admiringly, without addressing how she gained the wealth she then used to support fledgling museums. All of these decisions added up were concerning to me, but I was determined to power through in the hopes of finding a new primer for emerging museum professionals.
Chapter 5: A Forum for Ideas changed my mind. The author attempts to present himself as objective, but his language betrays him at times. For example, on page 76 he uses the term Cancel Culture as a synonym for liberal politics. In this chapter, the author advocates that museums should be a place to learn and persuade. Then he uses the social movements that began in 2020 as an example of threats to just that discourse rather than inspirations for new conversations. His argument doesn’t acknowledge that by ostracizing those have who only recently acquired the power of a voice through technology, he is ignoring the systematic pain, harm, and victimization which has led to modern call out culture. In fact, he uses quotation marks around the word harm in his text, thereby implying it isn’t the lived reality of millions. He describes this as a private and individual experience when it is experienced by so many people that it must be considered a public issue. Finally, he equates protest over the exploitation of black pain to "behavioral racism" without understanding that racism is defined by systematic oppression – a power not available to the protesters by virtue of our society’s structure. This is when I stopped reading. I could no longer overlook the biases of the author.
December 22, 2022
Why Museums Matter by Daniel H Weiss, part of Yale's Why X Matters series, takes a narrower perspective than the title implies but, for what it is, it is a nice read.
Like a couple other books in this series, I would prefer either a broader approach or a more accurate title. This doesn't mean this book, or the others, aren't good, just that they are not speaking to everyone and/or about all of the entities covered by the title. In this case, it is the scope of inclusion. This is a book about why encyclopedic art museums matter. With that in mind and with the expectations set up by the title downgraded, this is an enjoyable book.
With some history of museums and art museums in particular and some general insight into examples drawn from his tenure at the Met in NYC, the reader grasps some of the inherent contradictions between the idea of an encyclopedic museum and the selective nature of any enterprise that can only acquire and display a limited number of works.
While touching on the uglier side of the history of museums, the imperialism and empire adjacent aspects and the undeserved bias, these are given little space or deep consideration. A disappointment but also understandable for a work of this size targeting a general readership. It did, however, make me go back and revisit the book Under Discussion: The Encyclopedic Museum edited by Donatien Grau from Getty Publications, which uses interviews with administrators, artists, and others to dig deeper into the history and future of such museums.
I would recommend this to readers who want an accessible overview of (art) museums that gives a little history, touches on a little of the controversies, and gives a glimpse behind the scenes of a major museum. If you're interested in more depth in any one of these areas, there are plenty of other options, but most readers will likely be content with this summary.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
Like a couple other books in this series, I would prefer either a broader approach or a more accurate title. This doesn't mean this book, or the others, aren't good, just that they are not speaking to everyone and/or about all of the entities covered by the title. In this case, it is the scope of inclusion. This is a book about why encyclopedic art museums matter. With that in mind and with the expectations set up by the title downgraded, this is an enjoyable book.
With some history of museums and art museums in particular and some general insight into examples drawn from his tenure at the Met in NYC, the reader grasps some of the inherent contradictions between the idea of an encyclopedic museum and the selective nature of any enterprise that can only acquire and display a limited number of works.
While touching on the uglier side of the history of museums, the imperialism and empire adjacent aspects and the undeserved bias, these are given little space or deep consideration. A disappointment but also understandable for a work of this size targeting a general readership. It did, however, make me go back and revisit the book Under Discussion: The Encyclopedic Museum edited by Donatien Grau from Getty Publications, which uses interviews with administrators, artists, and others to dig deeper into the history and future of such museums.
I would recommend this to readers who want an accessible overview of (art) museums that gives a little history, touches on a little of the controversies, and gives a glimpse behind the scenes of a major museum. If you're interested in more depth in any one of these areas, there are plenty of other options, but most readers will likely be content with this summary.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
January 5, 2023
I have very much enjoyed taking classes in art history. They are a wonderful way to learn about both topics-art and history. Integral to these classes are visiting museums and seeing art works virtually when that works best. Clearly, museum’s holdings offer the material for these classes. A class that I took on museums themselves also examined the role of the museum in society; it can be complex as is also shown in this well written book on why museums matter.
The author is connected to the Metropolitan Museum in New York City. He offers a well thought out look at his topic. Weiss notes the important role that museums have played in society, in part, because they make something accessible to not only those who are very wealthy. He also examines some of the current issues that museums are facing. These are financial and at times ethical.
Readers will find chapters on the antecedents of the art museum, a look at America and museums and, finally, a look at evolving and preserving in order to keep these institutions vital. Weiss is an accessible writer and one does not need previous background to engage with this title. I recommend it.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Yale University Press for this title. All opinions are my own.
The author is connected to the Metropolitan Museum in New York City. He offers a well thought out look at his topic. Weiss notes the important role that museums have played in society, in part, because they make something accessible to not only those who are very wealthy. He also examines some of the current issues that museums are facing. These are financial and at times ethical.
Readers will find chapters on the antecedents of the art museum, a look at America and museums and, finally, a look at evolving and preserving in order to keep these institutions vital. Weiss is an accessible writer and one does not need previous background to engage with this title. I recommend it.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Yale University Press for this title. All opinions are my own.
February 4, 2023
Why the Museum Matters is the latest in the 17-volume “Why X Matters” series from Yale University Press. The series aims to justify the existence in today’s public sphere of disciplines and topics ranging from writing and architecture to the Constitution, the New Deal and baseball. Daniel Weiss is the President and CEO of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, and brings considerable gravitas to this discussion in an era when museums are facing a number of challenges including financial, structural, political, and of course the aftermath of the COVID pandemic.
Weiss starts with a selective history of the art museum, emphasizing key museums throughout history and how they reflected the culture in which they grew. The modern American art museum, as a center for education, community building and culture, is a very different animal than Nebuchadnezzar’s collection, which featured looted sculptures from conquered countries, or the early Greek museums in the 1st century BCE which aimed to create a shared history and identity by putting their own artistic achievements on literal pedestals. Contemporary museums relate more to the museums of the social equality and educational aims of the Enlightenment (even as controversies over looted items like the Elgin Marbles in the British Museum exist).
Weiss identifies four central purposes for today’s art museums: as places where people can learn, experience, grow, and simply see beautiful things; as forums for ideas and dialogue, including about issues that are politically, culturally and historically challenging; as community resources; and as a vehicle for creating shared identity and culture. Museums are challenged on many fronts today, many of the challenges relating to an anti-intellectual and small government climate. Weiss proposes that the only way out is through - instead of pulling back on controversy, museums should go deeper by engaging meaningfully with their community and its members, creating shared governance with a variety of stakeholders, and to work to meet the needs of the present day while also embracing a preservationist view.
There is a lot of food for thought in this book, and I hope it is used in Museum Studies classes as well as in the board rooms of museums of all sizes.. I think the book might be particularly useful in communities which don’t have easy access to legacy museums, and are struggling to make their local museums relevant in the face of decreased funding and politicians who don’t understand that attendance is not the only measure of a museum’s success.
Thanks to Yale University Press and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
Weiss starts with a selective history of the art museum, emphasizing key museums throughout history and how they reflected the culture in which they grew. The modern American art museum, as a center for education, community building and culture, is a very different animal than Nebuchadnezzar’s collection, which featured looted sculptures from conquered countries, or the early Greek museums in the 1st century BCE which aimed to create a shared history and identity by putting their own artistic achievements on literal pedestals. Contemporary museums relate more to the museums of the social equality and educational aims of the Enlightenment (even as controversies over looted items like the Elgin Marbles in the British Museum exist).
Weiss identifies four central purposes for today’s art museums: as places where people can learn, experience, grow, and simply see beautiful things; as forums for ideas and dialogue, including about issues that are politically, culturally and historically challenging; as community resources; and as a vehicle for creating shared identity and culture. Museums are challenged on many fronts today, many of the challenges relating to an anti-intellectual and small government climate. Weiss proposes that the only way out is through - instead of pulling back on controversy, museums should go deeper by engaging meaningfully with their community and its members, creating shared governance with a variety of stakeholders, and to work to meet the needs of the present day while also embracing a preservationist view.
There is a lot of food for thought in this book, and I hope it is used in Museum Studies classes as well as in the board rooms of museums of all sizes.. I think the book might be particularly useful in communities which don’t have easy access to legacy museums, and are struggling to make their local museums relevant in the face of decreased funding and politicians who don’t understand that attendance is not the only measure of a museum’s success.
Thanks to Yale University Press and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
January 25, 2023
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.
This didn't end up being quite the book I expected to read, which is both good and disappointing, lol.
I expected more (any) pictures--and maybe there are, in the final product, but there weren't in the ARC. The book also definitely read more academic than expected, despite disclaimers it's written for the layperson. But, I did geek out a bit over the history of the museum; I was a European Studies major in college, and seriously contemplated getting a certificate in Museum Studies from my local state university. I feel like I got that (to a small degree, anyway) with this read!
The author brought up a lot of interesting points, and fleshed them out well. (I wasn't sure at points, especially on the hot-button topics, but those ended up going better than anticipated. Yay!)
Many interesting things to contemplate here. Would I revisit? Probably not. However, it still merited a read, for sure, and is a great starting point for ongoing discussion about the importance of museums.
I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
This didn't end up being quite the book I expected to read, which is both good and disappointing, lol.
I expected more (any) pictures--and maybe there are, in the final product, but there weren't in the ARC. The book also definitely read more academic than expected, despite disclaimers it's written for the layperson. But, I did geek out a bit over the history of the museum; I was a European Studies major in college, and seriously contemplated getting a certificate in Museum Studies from my local state university. I feel like I got that (to a small degree, anyway) with this read!
The author brought up a lot of interesting points, and fleshed them out well. (I wasn't sure at points, especially on the hot-button topics, but those ended up going better than anticipated. Yay!)
Many interesting things to contemplate here. Would I revisit? Probably not. However, it still merited a read, for sure, and is a great starting point for ongoing discussion about the importance of museums.
I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
December 14, 2022
*Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review*
This is a short book, and while it reads like an academic paper, the points the author makes are relevant and crucial to understanding the state of museums and how the professionals working in them think about their roles in society going forward. There's a nice little bit about the history of museums, going back to ancient Greece and Rome, through the Enlightenment and on to the present. The focus is on art museums, specifically American art museums, which makes sense given the author's current position at the Met and that American museums tend to differ from European ones. I felt that the author had a great argument, and I was pleasantly surprised at the concept of museums he envisions in the future. There was also points where the less ethical history (and current issues) of museums was addressed, which I appreciated. Overall, this was a good read, perfect for anyone really interested in museums, though it was a dry read that felt more like homework at times.
This is a short book, and while it reads like an academic paper, the points the author makes are relevant and crucial to understanding the state of museums and how the professionals working in them think about their roles in society going forward. There's a nice little bit about the history of museums, going back to ancient Greece and Rome, through the Enlightenment and on to the present. The focus is on art museums, specifically American art museums, which makes sense given the author's current position at the Met and that American museums tend to differ from European ones. I felt that the author had a great argument, and I was pleasantly surprised at the concept of museums he envisions in the future. There was also points where the less ethical history (and current issues) of museums was addressed, which I appreciated. Overall, this was a good read, perfect for anyone really interested in museums, though it was a dry read that felt more like homework at times.
March 8, 2023
A powerful reflection on the universal art museum, considering the values critical to its history and anticipating its evolving place in our cultural future.
Museums are so important. With a degree in Art History museums are essential to our culture and I found this read from Daniel H. Weiss intriguing. This book is read in sections; short history of the museum, collections, controversies, governance structure and finally values of the museum. I appreciated the conversation regarding museums dark history and how historians can do better.
To capture an audience this book needs many more photos. The writing is formal and well done but photos would offer relief from facts after facts after facts.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Yale University Press for this title. All opinions are my own.
Museums are so important. With a degree in Art History museums are essential to our culture and I found this read from Daniel H. Weiss intriguing. This book is read in sections; short history of the museum, collections, controversies, governance structure and finally values of the museum. I appreciated the conversation regarding museums dark history and how historians can do better.
To capture an audience this book needs many more photos. The writing is formal and well done but photos would offer relief from facts after facts after facts.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Yale University Press for this title. All opinions are my own.
January 6, 2023
As someone currently studying for a degree in museum education I thought that this would be an interesting and informative read and I was right. The author lays this book out in a way that is easy to understand and allows you to compare it with other literature on the subject; while relating it to the current social-political climate.
With the author themselves being the president of the Metropolitan Museum of Art it is interesting to get an insider's perspective specifically one that is willing to accept change while also still being protective of the museum as a source of education.
This would be an interesting introduction to the world of museums, as it contains sections on the history of the museum, going back to Ancient Greece and the Romans, and takes the readers to the modern period while mentioning some of the problems associated with the idea of the museum at each stage of its development.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publishers.
With the author themselves being the president of the Metropolitan Museum of Art it is interesting to get an insider's perspective specifically one that is willing to accept change while also still being protective of the museum as a source of education.
This would be an interesting introduction to the world of museums, as it contains sections on the history of the museum, going back to Ancient Greece and the Romans, and takes the readers to the modern period while mentioning some of the problems associated with the idea of the museum at each stage of its development.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publishers.
December 4, 2022
This was a very pleasant book to read. I enjoyed reading the persective of the President of the Met. His passion for museums and their purpose of serving communities is inspiring.
I enjoyed reading about the history of the art museum and how they came to be what they are today. I would have enjoyed further discussion on this. I appreciate the insights on how museums are run and all of the behind-the-scenes effort and funding is required for an art museum to be great.
This was an enjoyable read and makes me both appreciate museums more, and makes me want to engage further with the museums in my community. This book is certainly a success.
I enjoyed reading about the history of the art museum and how they came to be what they are today. I would have enjoyed further discussion on this. I appreciate the insights on how museums are run and all of the behind-the-scenes effort and funding is required for an art museum to be great.
This was an enjoyable read and makes me both appreciate museums more, and makes me want to engage further with the museums in my community. This book is certainly a success.
December 21, 2022
An enjoyable read about — just as the title suggests — why the museum matters, diving into the history of The Met, the mission behind its founding, its guiding inspirations, and the history of art museums in general. I learned so much reading this book, and it reminded me of the crucial role museums play in our society in inspiring and educating the public, promoting dialogue and connection, shaping collective stories and identities, and preserving culture.
November 12, 2024
Another book for Museum Studies, but I found it very interesting. Heavy focus on my beloved Met 🫶 but important commentary on museums at large. I would be interested to know his takes on more specific collections/ museums and how he understands those roles in society along with encyclopedic museums but one can only cover so much in 187 pages
December 20, 2024
Very well thought out and written examination of the role of museum's historically and contemporarily. The accessible language makes it great for beginners who are just coming to understand how museums work and affect wider society as well as for those more familiar with the art/ museum world who want to gain insight into the thoughts and ideas of a museum leader.
March 6, 2023
A detailed insight into the history of museums and a strong reminder of how important they are in sharing what has been learned over centuries and reflecting ways in which we are all interconnected. A fascinating read. Thank you to Net Galley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
May 3, 2023
This is me preparing for my Museum Studies masters and getting so excited! I think this was a great introduction and I can't wait to explore some of these ideas more. I like Weiss' writing style - it feels very accessible. This also made me want to read more of the books in this series.
November 15, 2024
I liked this book quite a bit, but I especially liked talking to Dr. Weiss when he came to my class and then listening to him speak. He was incredibly down to earth, funny, and an engaging speaker. I appreciated his unique insights into the museum world.
August 1, 2025
Interesting perspective on the role of museums and the struggles that “universalist” museums face in the 21st century. Opened my eyes to the complexities of running a museum and their increasingly unique position in our society. A quick and well-written read.
June 6, 2024
yapper alert 📣
August 10, 2025
Wonderful, logical, important.
October 2, 2025
I feel like this was extra good because i read it for the first time in Europe
July 25, 2023
Book Review: WHY THE MUSEUM MATTERS by Daniel H. Weiss 🏛️
Split into three sections—the history of the US art museum, the museum’s role in society, and Weiss’ vision for the future of museums—WHY THE MUSEUM MATTERS is an interesting read for anyone eager to understand how museums function and how cultural institutions can persevere and evolve in the coming years.
Authored by Daniel H Weiss, president and CEO of The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met), and former president of my alma mater, Lafayette College 🙌, this short book is clearly written by a knowledgeable representative of the museum field who is also a proponent of the museum’s role as a cultural heritage steward. As a museum employee myself, I found the first and final sections to be most interesting. The second section (on the role of the museum) shared a lot of the business aspects of museum life, aka what I experience in my day to day, so while not revelatory to me, it could be really interesting to the average museum-goer and reader. The first section on the US art museum history was easily my favorite of the three sections, though Weiss’ vision for the future of museums was also interesting if not particularly groundbreaking.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)
😘 Thanks to @netgalley and @yalebooks for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was thrilled to already see it in our Museum Store.
Split into three sections—the history of the US art museum, the museum’s role in society, and Weiss’ vision for the future of museums—WHY THE MUSEUM MATTERS is an interesting read for anyone eager to understand how museums function and how cultural institutions can persevere and evolve in the coming years.
Authored by Daniel H Weiss, president and CEO of The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met), and former president of my alma mater, Lafayette College 🙌, this short book is clearly written by a knowledgeable representative of the museum field who is also a proponent of the museum’s role as a cultural heritage steward. As a museum employee myself, I found the first and final sections to be most interesting. The second section (on the role of the museum) shared a lot of the business aspects of museum life, aka what I experience in my day to day, so while not revelatory to me, it could be really interesting to the average museum-goer and reader. The first section on the US art museum history was easily my favorite of the three sections, though Weiss’ vision for the future of museums was also interesting if not particularly groundbreaking.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)
😘 Thanks to @netgalley and @yalebooks for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was thrilled to already see it in our Museum Store.
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