Of course we're talking about the recent theft at the Louvre Museum in Paris, which occurred on October 19th and promptly made news headlines worldwide. Four masked and hooded thieves took more than $100 in jewels before exiting the museum (in broad daylight) and speeding away on motor scooters. Amid the many articles and written reports concerning this theft that appeared just after it happened, one piece that caught out eyes was "The Louvre Heist Was a Colonial Wake-Up Call" (from Hyperallergic, the arts/cultural website). Our guest on Museum Confidential is the author of this piece, Dr. Emiline Smith, a Lecturer in Criminology at the University of Glasgow, Scotland (UK).
Museum Confidential
Ever wonder what really happens after the museum doors close for the night? Museum Confidential, hosted by Jeff Martin, pulls back the velvet rope to explore the hidden stories, unexpected challenges, and fascinating people that make museums tick. This isn't a dry lecture on art history; it's a candid conversation from the heart of the institution itself. Produced by the Philbrook Museum of Art in partnership with Public Radio Tulsa, each episode feels like a private tour, revealing the complex decisions behind exhibitions, the peculiarities of caring for priceless objects, and the ongoing debates about what museums are and who they serve. You'll hear from curators, conservators, registrars, and even security staff-the voices often unheard by the public. The result is a surprisingly human and sometimes humorous look at the effort to preserve and present culture. Tune in every other week for this unique podcast that demystifies the inner workings of these cultural cornerstones, proving there's always more to the story than what's hanging on the wall.
Podcast Episodes
Ralph Steadman
Ralph Steadman is an English artist and illustrator best known for his long collaboration with the iconoclastic Hunter S. Thompson, notably illustrating "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas." Their partnership helped define "…
On "Japonisme"
When Japan opened its borders for trade and travel in the 1850s, the goods that hit markets across Europe and America sparked an international craze known as "Japonisme." On this episode we explore the history, legacy, a…
What's a Creative Director?
Museum staff titles are often lengthy, so "Creative Director" seems pretty straightforward. But what exactly does it mean? And what exactly do they do? Bhadri Verduzco holds this position at Philbrook, so on this episode…
Crip Curation and Disability Art
Why are museums built the way they are? Why do we hang art at that height? If a disabled artist makes art, is it necessarily Disability Art? Who gets to decide? On this episode we explore these questions and more with "C…
Reimagining Native Art
As Season 9 resumes, we travel to New Jersey's Montclair Art Museum to experience the Museum's stunning new installation, Interwoven Power: Native Knowledge / Native Art and a chat with Laura Allen, the acclaimed curator…
Introducing: Immaterial
While our midseason break here at MC continues, we would like to introduce our beloved listeners (that would be you) to something special. It's a podcast called Immaterial: 5,000 Years of Art, One Material at a Time; it'…
Return To Taliesin West
Four years ago, deep in the pandemic, we travelled to Frank Lloyd Wright's Arizona compound, Taliesin West, to see how they were weathering the unprecedented challenges. We just went back to see what was learned and what…
Charles Gaines
A dispatch from the Phoenix Art Museum where we recently traveled to speak with acclaimed conceptual artist, Charles Gaines prior to the opening of a new retrospective. Charles Gaines: 1992–2023 runs through March 9, 202…
Live from Tulsa
This special episode of MC was recently taped before a live audience at Philbrook Museum of Art. Our host Jeff Martin is joined by on stage by interdisciplinary artist Cannupa Hanska Luger, Brooklyn Museum curator Kimber…
What is American Art?
What makes American art "American"? Let's discuss. On this episode we welcome back Philbrook curator, Susan Green to chat about the new exhibition, "American Artists, American Stories from the Pennsylvania Academy of the…