ArtReview Symposium Explores Global Museum Crises and Future Directions

ArtReview's March 2026 issue features a symposium on museums facing multiple crises globally. In the U.S., institutions are targeted by the Trump administration for not aligning with patriotic narratives, while in China, a property market downturn has impacted private museums that expanded during the 2000s and 2010s. European museums face public funding cuts, exemplified by the Flemish government's moves against M HKA in Antwerp, alongside scrutiny of private and corporate funding. Despite high attendance at venues like the Louvre in Paris and the Prado in Madrid, which reports daily capacity limits, museums are embroiled in culture wars over issues like colonial loot and inclusivity. Contributors including Jonathan T.D. Neil, Alistair Hudson, Sarah Jilani, Sharmini Pereira, Daisy Nam, Eugenio Viola, farid rakun, Refik Anadol, and Charlotte Kent diagnose challenges from political polarization to AI's advance. They argue museums must shift from accumulation to social missions and dynamic experiences, though their future form remains uncertain. The symposium concludes that while museums will persist, significant change is necessary.