A rare glimpse behind the scenes of the world's most influential museums

Museums are more than spaces for art-they are cultural institutions shaped by visionaries. In Living Museums, Donatien Grau speaks with leading museum directors from Paris, London, New York, Moscow, Vienna, and Berlin. These conversations reveal their motivations, challenges, and visions for the future of museums worldwide. 

Highlights of the book: 

• Exclusive interviews with legendary directors of the Louvre, Tate, Metropolitan Museum, Guggenheim, and more 
• Personal, cultural, and art-historical perspectives from behind the scenes
• Insights into museum practice, leadership, and cultural politics 
• Reads like a thrilling art documentary about passion, power, and mediation

An essential read for art lovers, students, cultural managers, and anyone fascinated by museums as cultural powerhouses.

DONATIEN GRAU (1987) is an internationally recognized critic, scholar, and museum executive. Named one of Apollo Magazine's "Forty under Forty Europe" in 2014, he is a leading voice in the dialogue between contemporary culture and classical institutions. Grau currently serves as Head of Contemporary Programs at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris, where he shapes innovative exhibitions and fosters global conversations on art, museums, and cultural policy. His work bridges scholarship and practice, making him one of the most influential cultural figures of his generation.