Abstract
The formation of networks among museums is a recent and growing phenomenon which deserves further studies. Research on the Italian case show that networking among museums is still in an embryonic phase and cooperation is initiated and supported mainly by local institutions and governmental bodies, given the small size and the geographical dispersion of museums. The present paper contributes to a further understanding of the phenomenon of museum networks, offering empirical validation to theoretical hypotheses derived from the literature on museum networks in their embryonic evolution. The paper relies on data derived from roster questionnaires delivered to respondents from two Italian museum networks in different phases of their embryonic evolution.