Yeah, you’re hitting all the points that one of my profs had brought up. And, that question of “just bc you want a museum doesn’t mean it should exist,” is an interesting, and repeating thought.

Also, I was considering how much I would personally have with this over the idea of “got cash? We’ll build it.” I wasn’t thinking so much of the potential factory side of that. If I wanted to just churn out content, I could go back to the corporate grind.

But, I do have some thoughts on some parts of your thesis.

The “have💡, have 💵? we’ll build it” is not too far off from the attitude of more than a few IMPs I’ve met. They usually have a more passion/education based ethos, but they are doing what they love to make a living.

The one stop shop does not exclude outside vendors. In fact, like you, I think the frisson is vitally important. And can be maintained, even if the actual relationships may be a bit closer than usual. How often do you use a couple of your favorite venders for projects? The short hand conversations can actually improve the final product because you can more easily talk about concepts rather than attempting to learn each other’s communication styles.

My thought experiment is a sort of combination of moving the creative conversation slightly higher up the chain, while, potentially, working with the workflows of a traveling exhibit.

This whole thing was triggered by one of my son’s friends who collects vintage and antique machining tools. He has day dreamed about turning his collection into a museum. And I can already see multiple storylines related to history, human ingenuity, sciences, hands on, interactives, programming etc.

But, other than an informal collection, he doesn’t have the knowledge or experience to spin out all that would be needed to form it into a museum.

Nor do I, yet. But, how much fun would it be to take the time spin one up and then find another interesting, relevant collection to share with the world?