Towards an agile turn in temporary exhibition making: Agile management approaches in Museo Sorolla temporary exhibitions

Abstract

The aim of this thesis is to examine the managerial approach of the temporary exhibitions organized in Museo Sorolla, located in Madrid, in the broader context of the cultural institution known as house museum. The objective is to provide comparisons, common grounds and divergences between the approaches adopted by the curators in the particular context of temporary exhibition in the house museum of a well-known Spanish painter and project managers implementing agile management methods, common in IT industries. In order to do so, it is necessary to place Museo Sorolla within its specific and distinctive context. As a result, a broader picture of house museum landscape is discussed, zooming in to house museums in Spain and sequentially in Madrid, until reaching Museo Sorolla, its temporary exhibitions and the managerial approaches adopted by its curators. By delving into this subject matter, this thesis aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of the intricate interplay between the management of temporary exhibitions, in particular pointing out agile management approaches, and the unique characteristics of house museums and their temporary exhibitions. Through an analysis of both theoretical and practical perspectives, provided by the state of the art and the Museo Sorolla curators’ experience, this research seeks to enrich the knowledge and practices in the field, while also offering insights into the potential benefits of adopting agile management methodologies in this specific cultural context. It also points out the gap in the literature regarding agile management approaches in the house museum sphere and in the making of temporary exhibitions, fostering further research on the topic.