Sep 29, 2026 · 23 min · 8 segments
Why are museums being asked to deliver more public value with fewer public resources? In this episode, I talk to **Michele Rivet** as she discusses the long-term decline in museum funding, what it…
Michele RivetGuest
Carol ScottHost
Well, first, thank you so much, Carol, for permitting me to be with you today.
Public funding has declined globally, especially after the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Michelle, the decrease is puzzling because museums contribute so much to public education, placemaking, community cohesion, personal well-being.
It shows a decline in public funding is occurring alongside an increase in institutional responsibilities.
Museums are not expected to undertake ambitious societal missions, inclusion, sustainability, cultural dialogue, digital engagement, reconciliation, social justice, and that, and that all, should I say, without corresponding increases in support.
Museum now assume responsibilities with regard to the development of the digital culture and engagement with pressing social issues, such as displacement of population, poverty, climate change.
You make the point that even when funding is stable, rising costs mean that operational budgets are stretched very thin.
Beyond inflations, costs related to areas such as insurance, Compliance on cybersecurity standards and sustainability have become critical issues.
Even with nominal budgets remaining stable, inflation and increased responsibilities cause real funding decrease.
One respondent rightly pointed out that the energy crisis and rising energy costs in Europe are putting museums to the test as it affects everything from regulating conservation control to preserve the collections to maintaining built-in temperature for the comfort of visitors.
Gosh, so with all of this, what did your study find about the impact of public funding decline on museums?
Well, first, thank you so much, Carol, for permitting me to be with you today.
Public funding has declined globally, especially after the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Michelle, the decrease is puzzling because museums contribute so much to public education, placemaking, community cohesion, personal well-being.
It shows a decline in public funding is occurring alongside an increase in institutional responsibilities.
Museums are not expected to undertake ambitious societal missions, inclusion, sustainability, cultural dialogue, digital engagement, reconciliation, social justice, and that, and that all, should I say, without corresponding increases in support.
Museum now assume responsibilities with regard to the development of the digital culture and engagement with pressing social issues, such as displacement of population, poverty, climate change.
You make the point that even when funding is stable, rising costs mean that operational budgets are stretched very thin.
Beyond inflations, costs related to areas such as insurance, Compliance on cybersecurity standards and sustainability have become critical issues.
Even with nominal budgets remaining stable, inflation and increased responsibilities cause real funding decrease.
One respondent rightly pointed out that the energy crisis and rising energy costs in Europe are putting museums to the test as it affects everything from regulating conservation control to preserve the collections to maintaining built-in temperature for the comfort of visitors.
Gosh, so with all of this, what did your study find about the impact of public funding decline on museums?
The rest of this transcript — segmented and speaker-labeled, so you land on the exact moment something was said
Search every transcript — by keyword, by phrase, or by meaning, across every show Radar indexes
Trends — what is surging across podcasts, measured against its own baseline
Alerts — when a name you follow appears in a newly indexed episode
No account is needed to search Radar.
