The Price of Patronage

In the art world the relationships between private collections, public museums, commercial galleries and auction houses have become increasingly complex. This book maps out and examines this network by focusing on the practices of contemporary patronage. It shows how government and private interests have become more aligned, using art to widen access and build audiences. The juxtaposition of case studies from different sectors reveals the increasingly important role that art plays in the global economy and the complex relationship between cultural, economic and political interests that constitute contemporary networks of patronage. The book is written for undergraduate and graduate students of cultural studies, museum studies, art and design history, visual culture, sociology, business and management, marketing, travel and tourism and leisure studies. It would also be of interest to museum professionals and those employed in the creative industries.