Museums and the Public Sphere

Museums and the Public Sphere investigates the role of museums around the world as sites of democratic public space. * Explores the role of museums around the world as sites of public discourse and democracy * Examines the changing idea of the museum in relation to other public sites and spaces, including community cultural centers, public halls and the internet * Offers a sophisticated portrait of the public, and how it is realized, invoked, and understood in the museum context * Offers relevant case studies and discussions of how museums can engage with their publics' in more complex, productive ways