Peggy Levitt on the globalization of museums

Peggy Levitt, from Wellesley College and Harvard University, discusses the effects of globalization on museums.

She draws on research she has conducted on museums in Europe, the United States, and Asia. She stresses the global circulation of museum professionals and argues that the profiles of people working in museums can differ greatly from those living near them. She proposes the concept of “global museum assemblages” to discuss the global homogenization of museums, referring to the “package” that they are now expected to provide.

What is your opinion?

Do you think that the global circulation of museum professionals accentuates the divide with local communities? Can such circulations contribute to the diminution of prejudices against foreign cultures in museums?