The Anatomy of a Museum provides an insightful and candid look at what museums are and how they operate, from the perspective of a professional who has been a leader in the industry for more than forty years, and who has extensive experience in all the core elements of the field. Written in a style that is engaging, humorous and honest, it is the first single-volume, substantive text to reveal the collective and collaborative inner-workings of museums from a real-world perspective, as well as offering the occasional expose of museum life. --The book explains the component parts and disciplines found within these unique institutions. Amongst other topics, this broad ranging text reviews the fundamentals of governance, directing, curating, fundraising, conservation, education, management, maintenance and security. The narrative presents philosophical ideals but the text is reality-based, and all perspectives, anecdotes and opinions are drawn from experience