Mission Accomplished: The Performing Arts at Museums and Cultural Sites

What do Claude Debussy, Abraham Lincoln, and Oscar Wilde have in common? They are engaging visitors at museums and cultural sites across New England—and you might be surprised to know that these iconic historic figures are doing it right on mission.

Museum spaces and cultural sites have long been utilized as concert venues. But all too often the scales have been tipped to showcase the performance, leaving the museum to play the role as host or—pardon the pun—second fiddle. But times are changing. In this post-pandemic world, where a paradigm shift in museum interpretation has raised the bar with regard to thought, theory, and practice, audiences expect more; indeed, they deserve more. With some thoughtful insight, a touch of creativity, and a little bit of museum magic, a more balanced model of performing arts-museum collaboration is emerging that puts mission and vision right at the very heart of the equation.