"Whose Muse? Art Museums and the Public Trust brings together six directors of leading American and British art museums who offer forward-looking alternatives to such prevailing views. While their approaches differ, certain themes recur: As museums have become increasingly complex and costly to manage, and as government support has waned, the temptation is great to follow policies driven not by a mission but by the market. However, the directors concur that public trust can be upheld only if museums continue to see their core mission as building collections that reflect a nation's artistic legacy and providing informed and unfettered access to them." "The book, based on a lecture series of the same title held by the Harvard Program for Art Museum Directors, also includes an introduction by Cuno and a fascinating - and surprisingly frank - round table discussion among the participating directors. A rare collection of sustained reflections by prominent museum directors on the current state of affairs in their profession, this book is without equal. It will be read widely not only by museum professionals, trustees, critics, and scholars, but also by the art-loving public."--BOOK JACKET.