Thriving in the Knowledge Age: New Business Models for Museums and Other Cultural Institutions

“A most valuable read for those concerned about America’s museums and cultural institutions, willing to confront realities, and uncertain what to do, and for those adventuring beyond traditional fundamentals of the model. Falk and Sheppard will challenge your thinking and give you ideas galore.” ―Frederick T. Miller, President, The Chatham Group

“John Falk and Beverly Sheppard are two of the most thoughtful professionals in the museum field. Thriving in the Knowledge Age poses many questions that all museums and museum professionals should be pondering as they plan for the future.” ―Jeff Rudolph, President, California Science Center

“This insightful, thought-provoking, and practical book is a must for museums of all sizes and disciplines. Its invaluable information will enable museums to create new business models that center effective and relevant public service at the heart of their work.” ―Irene Hirano, President and CEO, Japanese American National Museum

“The need for museums and other cultural institutions to rise to new levels of relevancy, in order that they be maximally useful to society, and thereby also sustainable, is the major context for this timely book. For leaders and managers who are currently importing a business-like approach to their strategic and operational planning, which arguably ought to be a growing majority of us, John Falk and Beverly Sheppard have valuably integrated their knowledge and vision.” ―Emlyn Koster, President and CEO, Liberty Science Center

“The two authors represent very different aspects of the museum world – science and history, academic and practitioner. Their collaboration has resulted in a valuable book for both new and veteran professionals.” ―Muse

“This is a ‘must read’ for everyone who leads America’s museums, works in these institutions, and believes in them as a vital part of American life. Thriving in the Knowledge Age may help each of us flourish with its creation of a new business model . . . a model which might also become essential to our very survival.” ―Kathy Dwyer Southern, President and CEO, National Children’s Museum

John H. Falk is executive director of the Institute for Learning Innovation and Sea Grant Professor Emeritus of Free-Choice Learning at Oregon State University. He is known internationally for his work in the area of free-choice learning; the learning that occurs while visiting museums, science centers, zoos, aquariums, parks, watching educational television or surfing the internet for information. His recent research has focused on studying the long-term impacts of free-choice learning institutions; understanding why people utilize free-choice learning settings during their leisure time and helping cultural institutions of all kinds re-think their future positioning and business models in the 21st century. Dr. Falk has authored over two hundred scholarly articles and chapters and has published more than a dozen books in this and related areas.