Book Fair Idea: Rethinking Publications During Hard Economic Times
Economic downturns are unpredictable and disruptive, but museums still need to develop ambitious exhibits if they are to remain relevant. Mining and reworking the permanent collection will work for a year or two, but ultimately each institution is judged by its ability to present fresh art and ideas to its community.
Books — exhibition and collection catalogues usually – document and extend the life and impact of the work museums do. In tough economic times publications are seen as easy line items to strike, but this may be shortsighted.
Instead, some of the sharpest museums are using this as a good time to rethink how they are publishing. Does it make sense to produce massive collection books in the same way they did in the 1980s? Sometimes it does, but usually not.
Some of the very best books that we have produced are not the most expensive, the most lavish, or the ones with the most authors. They do have these consistent qualities:
- * Clear and compelling concepts driving the project and the publication
- * Great art smartly presented
- * Steady focus on fundamental concepts
- * Scrupulous control of content to avoid academic bloat
It’s always a good time to remind ourselves of these simple points – but perhaps now is an especially good time.
By Ed Marquand
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