The Museum Choice: Institutionalization Dynamics in the Comics Field in Italy

(disponible en anglais seulement)

[VERSION EN PRÉPUBLICATION]

Francesca Leonardi, Francesca Fino, Yesim Tonga, Maria Luisa Catoni

Francesca Leonardi is post-doctoral researcher in Organiza­tion Studies at University Tor Vergata in Rome. She holds a PhD in Analysis and Management of Cultural Heritage at IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca. Her research focuses on organiza­tion studies in cultural and creative industries, difficult heritage, and creative careers.
Francesca Fino is a post-doctoral researcher and lecturer in Management of Cultural Heritage in the Department of Management of the University of Bologna. She holds a PhD in Analysis and Management of Cultural Heritage from IMT School for Advanced Studies. Her research centers on accounting and accountability in cultural and public organizations.
Yesim Tonga is Assistant Professor of Organization Studies at the LYNX Center for the Interdisciplinary Analysis of Images, Contexts, Cultural Heritage Research Unit. She coordinated the “L’Italia a Nuvolette – Indagine sulla filiera del fumetto italiana” project.
Maria Luisa Catoni is Full Professor of Ancient Art History and Archaeology, Coordinator of the PhD Program in Manage­ment and Development of Cultural Heritage at IMT Lucca and  permanent fellow at the Italian Academy for Advanced Studies in America (Columbia University), New York.

ABSTRACT
The research aims to explore the under-researched world of Italian comics museums by (i) mapping and analyzing the characteristics of Italian comics museums; (ii) comparing them with other comics institutions not defined as museums but relevant in the cultural sector, (iii) understanding the motivations underlying their choice of the organizational form. The article’s methodology is based on the qualitative analysis of ten semi-structured interviews with the directors of Italian comics museums and cultural institutions. Three hybrid models of comics institutions emerge: (a) art museums-like institutions, (b) documentation centers-like institutions and (c) independent magazine-based organizations. The different institutionalized organizations are the results of a drive to legitimize comics as artistic production and follow different paths of isomorphism.
KEYWORDS
Museum management; arts management; comics museums; institutional isomorphism; legitimation