In this public event, leaders from U.S. and Chinese museums discussed the role that museums play within their respective communities, addressing some fundamental and important questions: What do museum leaders in both countries feel a museum’s mission should be? What are a museum’s civic and social responsibilities? How do U.S. and Chinese museums aim to serve their public? Do these communities have different expectations for their museums? Do these expectations affect the way artwork is presented and interpreted? What are the methods used by museums in both countries to effectively engage their audiences? In the twenty-first century, how do museums make historical material relevant to visitors? This discussion was moderated by Boon Hui Tan, director of Asia Society Museum.

Participants:
Sharon Matt Atkins, Vice Director of Exhibitions and Collections Management, Brooklyn Museum
Catherine L. Futter, Director of Curatorial Affairs, Nelson-Atkins Museum
Katherine Anne Paul, Curator of the Arts of Asia, Newark Museum
Qizhi Wang, Deputy Director, Nanjing Museum
Heng Wu, Deputy Director of Cultural Exchange Center, Nanjing Museum