Museums and Crisis: The Imperative to Achieve Strategic Agility in the Current Instability. A Case Study of the Major Archaeological Museums in Greece

Abstract

This study examines the impact of the current economic crisis on the reality of heritage protection, using the largest and most popular archaeological museums in Greece as case studies. The system of heritage protection and museum operation in Greece is outlined, and a description of the operation of these museums prior to the 2008 global economic crisis follows. The impact of the crisis on museums is examined, as well as the museums’ respective responses. Finally, a strategic model from the business field is presented that could help museums achieve tactical agility in the current unstable environment. This is a systematic attempt to examine the impact of the crisis upon the cultural sector in Greece using archaeological museums as a case study, and to suggest solutions to mitigate its impact. As the crisis is not exclusively a Greek issue but has a broader, international, relevance, the conclusions of this study could help various cultural organizations deal with the ongoing crisis — or even prepare for crises to come.