Museum director, curator, and cultural producer at large, Chris Dercon is the President of the Réunion des musées nationaux – Grand Palais, an umbrella group of national museums in France. His career in major cultural institutions across Europe spans several decades. From 2011 to 2016, he was director of London's Tate Modern. He has been program director of MoMA PS1 in New York, and has served as director of the Witte de With Center of Contemporary Art in Rotterdam, Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam, the Haus der Kunst in Munich, and Berlin's Volksbühne theater. He is also a presenter, writer and maker of cultural documentaries.
www.grandpalais.fr

CHRIS DERCON

The public has started to use museums in a completely different way. When we asked at the TATE Modern, why do you want to come? People said, "We want to come to gain knowledge. People said, “We want to come to admire, but most people said, "We want to come to the museum because it's a perfect place for encounters."

I always speak not about good or bad art. I don't think that's interesting. I speak about necessary or not necessary art. I teach a lot, still do, and when I asked students, "Why do you come and study?" I was only interested in students who spoke about I want to make a contribution...I want to know what they can contribute.

This interview was conducted by Mia Funk with the participation of collaborating universities and students. Associate Interviews Producer on this podcast was Jennifer Kim. Digital Media Coordinator is Hannah Story Brown.

Mia Funk is an artist, interviewer and founder of The Creative Process.