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COMPETING FOR THE CULTURE CROWD

The New York Times, in a special section, explores how museums are transforming themselves into more inviting and comfortable destinations. Visitor-friendly outreach efforts include sophisticated shops and cafes, after-hours social and cultural events, elaborate traveling "exhibits with legs," and the highly successful practice of abolishing admission fees. Hot shows cover fashion and photography; museum websites are proliferating; and interactive multimedia gadgets enhance the visitor's experience. (The flip side of gadget-enhanced exhibits, of course, is a new generation of high-tech security devices.) And museum directors are not above exploiting the potential of Museum Guilt Syndrome, or "MUGS," as it is known in the trade. They are busily scheming to translate remorse over missing the blockbuster show of the moment into tangible gestures of atonement: higher attendance at the next big show and ever larger donations.

Tue, 18 Apr 2000 23:32:39 -0700

Submitted by: Lois Ambash