The following thesis focuses on the collaboration between nonprofit art museums and large companies. For art museums, building a partnership with well-known corporations can help to increase the audience attendance, saving marketing and operating cost, as well as improve the reputation through social media and advertisement. It is essential for nonprofit art museums to know that the collaboration can be achieved through different ways including financial-sponsorship and creative partnership, as long as there is a common goal between the museum and the companies.

Four case studies help to illustrate the findings which are San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Whitney Museum of American Art and Bank of America. From the studies, museums should also see some potential risks that will happen when building a cross-sector relationship, such as losing their artistic identity or cannot find the perfect partner. Nonprofit art museums should always be aware of the different trend in different industries in order serve the target community in the most efficient way.