Museums - A supply-side perspective

The educational and cultural mandates of museums are being transformed as institutions play an increasingly important part in urban economic development and tourism promotion strategies. In contrast to more common demand-side studies, this paper emphasizes the supply-side by focussing on everyday museum operations. It outlines the competitive responses being adopted by museums in Montreal, Canada, including shifts in sources of revenue, new technologies, labor practices and the development of networks. Study findings show that the restructuring of museum operations raises important questions concerning not only the traditional public mandate of museums, but also on its ability to enhance consumption experiences and to contribute to a diversified tourism product. All rights reserved. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd.