When museums are built these days, architects, directors, and trustees seem most concerned about social space: places to have parties, eat dinner, wine-and-dine donors. Sure, these are important these days - museums have to bring in money - but they gobble up space and push the art itself far away from the entrance.

Summary

This quote highlights the shift in priorities when it comes to designing museums. In recent times, there is a greater emphasis on creating social spaces within the museum, such as party venues and dining areas, in order to generate revenue and cater to donors. However, this focus on socializing consumes valuable space and often relegates the art to a more marginalized position within the museum, distant from the entrance. It implies that while generating income is crucial for museums, it should not be at the cost of compromising the accessibility and prominence of the artwork itself.

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