Promoting the sustainable growth of museums is a fundamental principle in establishing a high-quality museum development framework. China, since the 18th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, has placed significant emphasis on museum sector development, achieving notable milestones in areas such as museum construction and cultural relics preservation. However, there still exists a significant gap between the uneven and insufficient development of museums and the public’s desire for an improved quality of life. Effectively addressing the challenges of museum survival and development, while maximizing their societal contributions, is a pressing concern in the current museum landscape. To tackle these challenges, exploring pathways to sustainable museum development is essential. This article examines the case of Suzhou Museum to analyze its initiatives in various areas, including environmentally friendly practices, fulfilling social roles, elevating management standards, and adopting digital transformation. Through this analysis, the study offers a comprehensive overview of Suzhou Museum’s efforts in pursuing sustainable development, providing valuable insights and empirical knowledge that can guide the sustainable development of museums as a valuable reference.
Written by Mu Xingchen, Research Assistant at the International Institute of Green Finance, and Tian Jing, Director of the Research Center for Art Finance and Charity Finance at the International Institute of Green Finance.