Special Topics in Museum Studies: Critical Philanthropy Studies in Cultural Institutions

This course centers philanthropy as a core institutional practice in cultural institutions. Philanthropy, which includes different forms of sponsorship and gift giving, impacts all other areas in cultural institutions, including curation, programming, community engagement, and collecting. Guided by literature from the fields of critical philanthropy studies, marketing, arts management, and museum studies, this course will explore the relationship between philanthropy and the culture sector from a variety of perspectives, including those of donors, cultural professionals, activists, and those who benefit from philanthropy in cultural organizations. The course is designed to connect multi-disciplinary intellectual frameworks with the realities of funding cultural organizations in the increasingly complex philanthropic world. By the end of this course, students will have an understanding of the philanthropic challenges facing contemporary cultural institutions and the ways in which philanthropic activity shapes other cultural practices.