Boundary-spanning activities and the mitigation of barriers in museum–university partnerships

Museum–university partnerships (MUPs) constitute a notable element of the creative and cultural landscape internationally. Despite their prevalence, few studies provide systematic insights into the barriers these partnerships encounter or how they can be mitigated. This study examines selected barriers and associated boundary-spanning activities, drawing on interviews with 20 experienced museum and university professionals. The findings suggest that the most common MUP challenges, relating to financial, governance, and human resource considerations, are most effectively addressed when boundary spanners on both sides demonstrate initiative and communicate proactively. In addition, museum staff emphasize the need to understand cultural differences, whereas academics highlight the importance of recognizing structural distinctions and cultivating interorganizational relationships. Tentative differences also emerge between education- and research-oriented MUPs. Collectively, these insights extend the boundary-spanning perspective to the MUP context and underscore heterogeneity in boundary-spanning activities between for-profit and non-profit cross-sectoral university partnerships. The study further offers practical guidance, particularly for museum practitioners, on managing everyday challenges in MUPs.