To receive and to give something back – director’s perspectives on public – private collaborations in Norwegian art museums

Abstract

The rapid growth of private museums, contemporary art, and the emergence of private collectors has changed public museums’ room for action and placed heightened pressure on museum directors worldwide. In recent years, Norway has witnessed a surge in extensive collaboration between publicly funded museums and private collectors. Based on qualitative interviews with eleven museum directors, this paper examines how they navigate and address criticism, challenges, and demands when collaborating with private actors, with a particular emphasis on private art collectors. Additionally, the study aims to uncover the opportunities that emerge from such collaborations. Findings reveal that public – private collaborations are seen as an inevitable solution for the future, driven by factors such as limited purchasing budgets, rising costs, and concerns about diminishing public support due to reliance on oil revenues. Despite facing challenges such as external criticism and collector demands, directors maintain an optimistic outlook regarding more public – private collaborations and advocate the opportunities they bring.