A Journey Through the United States: Highlights from the Spring 2025 Museums Next Generation Program
Museums & Heritage
Photo by Villa Albertine
From April 6 to 18 2025, seven French curators embarked on a two-week journey across the U.S., immersing themselves in the country’s vibrant museum scene.
Launched in 2023, Villa Albertine’s Museums Next Generation is an exchange and immersion program for French and American curators.
For its third edition, seven curators explored leading cultural institutions in Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Williamstown, and New York City, engaging in rich conversations with American peers. These exchanges offered the cohort a unique 360-degree perspective on how American institutions operate, innovate, and connect with their audiences.
The insights gathered during Museum Next Generation highlight both similarities and cultural contrasts between French and American museum models. All the discussions led to meaningful transatlantic dialogues and discussions on collaborative innovation in shaping the museums of tomorrow.
Take a look at key highlights from this year’s Museum’s Next Generation program below!
Overview
Dallas Museum of Art and Nasher Sculpture Center
From the Dallas Museum of Art and the Nasher Sculpture Center to the Kimbell Art Museum and the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, the group met the directors and teams of high-level museums, while sharing their vision on governance and curatorial and acquisition strategies. Workshops with curatorial and public engagement teams also delved into building new narratives and cultural representation and developing inclusive programming.
At each of these institutions, the group gained a deeper understanding of the museums’ curatorial philosophy and long-term vision.
The visits continued to Texas with a tour of The Menil Collection in Houston. Here the laureates learned about the Collection’s disruptive approach to giving space for contemplation in galleries, making it a true sanctuary for art.
The group then visited the Menil Drawing Institute, a key destination in the field since its opening in 2018. Chief curator Edouard Kopp generously shared his insights and experiences on different fields in the profession.
The visit to the Rothko Chapel rounded out reflections on how museums and cultural spaces can create a spiritual connection with art, offering a quiet escape from the noise of everyday life.
The visit to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston began with a meaningful exchange with Director Gary Tinterow, offering valuable insight into the museum’s vision and strategy. The visits to the galleries with the curatorial team also sparked rich conversations around modern, contemporary, and Latin American art, and on the use of interpretation tools and new technologies to enhance visitor experiences. The cohort were additionally introduced to innovative tools, including the ICAA website and database.
The Moody Center for the Arts was enlightening with its bold mission to foster interdisciplinary creativity through innovative encounters at the heart of Rice University.
After exploring Texas, the cohort traveled to Massachusetts where Olivier Meslay, Director of the Clark Art Institute, and his team shared valuable insights into the Institute’s governance, operational philosophy, and institutional strategy. The cohort also had the chance to explore the Clark library, one of the most distinguished art research libraries in the country.
The visit continued to MASS MoCA, a vast industrial space dedicated to contemporary art, and the Williams College Museum of Art, where an innovative Object Lab program highlighted the powerful dialogue between art and academia.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
In New York, a series of complementary visits sparked inspiring conversations at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Met Cloisters, the Hispanic Society of America, the Museum of Modern Art, and El Museo del Barrio. These discussions explored each institution’s legacy, strategic vision, current challenges, and priorities for the years ahead, highlighting their ongoing commitment to community-centered engagement. The program ended with a profound conversation at the Museum of Modern Art with Director Glenn Lowry and his team.
Each visit in the program challenged traditional perceptions of the museum’s role in society and highlighted the innovative ways their missions are evolving.
Learn more about this year’s participants here.
Interested in joining this unique professional program for curators? Discover the call for applications for the upcoming Museum Next Generation program, taking American laureates to France from November 3–14, here.
In partnership with
Albertine Foundation
Previously known as FACE Foundation, Albertine Foundation is an American nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting French-American relations through innovative cultural and educational projects. In close partnership with Villa Albertine, the French Institute for Culture and Education of the French Embassy in the United States, Albertine Foundation promotes artistic, literary, and educational exchange and collaboration between creative professionals from both countries thanks to corporate, foundation, and individual support.
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Institut national du patrimoine
The Institut national du patrimoine is an institute of higher education under the auspices of the French Ministry of Culture. The mission of the Institute is to recruit candidates through competitive entrance examinations and provide initial training to heritage curators and conservators-restorers. Training for these two closely related and complementary professions within the same establishment is unique in Europe. The Inp also proposes a wide range of continuing education program for both French and foreign heritage professionals. It is also a place for cultural diffusion through lectures and seminars and the opportunity to work along with other French and foreign heritage institutions and universities. Lastly, the Inp places its missions and actions within a network of international cooperation by sending its students on training program abroad, welcoming other foreign trainee students and exporting its training and expertise strategies.
FRAME (FRench American Museum Exchange)
For 25 years, FRAME (FRench American Museum Exchange) has played the role of a cultural bridge between France, the United States, and, more recently, Canada. This non-profit organization (501(c)3) promotes dialogue as a principle of mutual understanding between these countries through the collaboration of around thirty major museums in France and North America. This unique international network fosters the development of exhibitions, innovative educational programs, research missions, and the exchange of professional practices on both sides of the Atlantic.