Reinventing the Museum - 3rd Edition by Gail Anderson (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

This dramatically updated version of this seminal reader provides an inspiring contemporary collection of works from diverse voices from the US and the international stage capturing change and innovative approaches useful to museum leaders, students, and professionals aiming to stay relevant, inclusive, and viable.

Review Quotes

Anderson's book brings together the visions and proposals of those who are leading change in museums, thus resulting in a compendium of the current state of the art.

It is a must-read not only for museum professionals, but also for the entire spectrum of museum stakeholders.

The first edition of Reinventing the Museum appeared in 2004, and this third edition follows the format of the earlier editions. Anderson is a museum consultant and the contributors represent a span of museum professionals, from directors and archivists to digital strategists and governance experts. The 2004 edition was subtitled Historical and Contemporary Perspectives on the Paradigm Shift, and the 2012 edition was subtitled The Evolving Conversation on the Paradigm Shift. As its subtitle indicates, the current edition focuses on equity, diversity, accessibility, and inclusion, issues that are all critical to today's museums. Anderson made an effort to select topics relevant to all museums, topics reflecting issues of global responsibility: for example, the climate crisis, poverty, and immigration. Each essay includes notes and an extensive list of references; the final section presents a selected bibliography of essays from the first two editions that, in the words of Anderson, "have stood the test of time." Recommended. Graduate students, researchers, faculty, professionals.

The list of authors of the articles in this important book reads like a 'who's who' in the international museums world . Included are articles by renowned professionals like Elaine Heumann Gurion, Margaret Middleton, Bob Janes, and George Abungu. Edited by the doyenne of museum management studies, Gail Anderson, the book is an up-to-date 'must read' for all museum people, whether they are new starters or old hands.

When I started my career as an Indigenous curator the first book I read was the first edition of Reinventing the Museum. It was ahead of the curve when it came to discussions around decolonizing museums, their colonial baggage, and inclusion. I am so excited for this third edition as it even more timely and forward-looking.

About the Author

Gail Anderson president of Gail Anderson & Associates (GA&A) works with museum leaders facilitating institutional transformation, building institutional and leadership capacity, and expanding community and global relevance. Anderson has dedicated much of her 40+ year career to researching, amassing and sharing resources and new ideas to contribute to the evolving thinking about museums. Anderson's projects include strategic planning, organizational restructuring, institutional assessment and development, and board development. She has worked with more than 70+ clients and completed over 110+ projects. Her core commitments have been to advance social responsibilities, DEAI efforts in the field, decolonization efforts, and museums as key players in the larger global ecosystem.
Prior to launching her own consulting business, Anderson was Deputy Director of The Mexican Museum, Vice President of Museum Management Consultants, Chair of the Graduate Department of Museum Studies at John F. Kennedy University in Berkeley, California, Assistant Director at the Southwest Museum in Los Angeles, and Museum Educator at the Museum of Northern Arizona.
Her publications include the American Association of Museums book, Museum Mission Statements: Building A Distinct Identity (1997), Reinventing the Museum: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives on the Paradigm Shift (2004), and the second edition, Reinventing the Museum: The Evolving Conversation on the Paradigm Shift (2012), and, Mission Matters: Relevance and Museums for the 21st Century (2019), plus numerous articles. This 3rd edition Reinventing the Museum: Relevance, Inclusion and Global Responsibilities is Anderson's latest publication. Anderson continues her commitment to advancing the field through frequent speaking engagements, writing, and teaching.