The Sustainability of Non-Collecting Contemporary Arts Institutions

Non-collecting contemporary art institutions in the U.S. defy the traditional definition of an art museum because they focus exclusively on exhibitions rather than on the preservation or conservation of objects. The success of a non-collecting contemporary art institution rests solely on its temporary exhibitions and its ability to introduce new artists and artwork. Not knowing how audiences or the contemporary art world will respond to the new work introduces a great element of risk. Therefore, the strategies non-collecting contemporary art institutions choose to hedge against these risks are the key to their sustainability and success. The goal of this thesis is to identify common strategies used by non-collecting contemporary art institutions to sustain themselves. An analysis of the operations of current non-collecting contemporary art institutions was based on their histories, financial statements, annual attendance, and interviews conducted with the staff members of these institutions. The three main strategies that emerged were the museum model strategy, the merger/affiliation model strategy, and the business-centered strategy. These strategies were evaluated based on their pros and cons and key factors that contribute to their success.