Museum Studio, a cultural one-stop-shop that develops, designs and produces world-class cultural assets, has announced that with a 51% stake, it is now a majority shareholder in Lord Cultural Resources, the global cultural professional practice.
This marks a significant milestone for Museum Studio, strengthening its foothold in major international markets and accelerating its goal of becoming the leading global platform for cultural and educational innovation.
Integrating Lord, a leading cultural planning consultancy and trusted partner for over forty years, accelerates a shared mission: expanding culture’s role as a transformative force in society.
Lord Cultural Resources was founded in 1981 by Gail and Barry Lord, based on their vision to improve the world through culture. With 2,900 projects across six continents, 57 countries, and 450 cities, Lord is a leader in cultural master planning, guiding institutions and communities in achieving their cultural aspirations.
Today, although the number of museums around the world is growing rapidly, Lord’s leadership continues to be prominent in the cultural planning sector. Celebrated as an industry thought leader, Lord breathes life into transformative projects through strategic insight and creative, inclusive thinking.
The company’s values – equity, diversity, and creativity – are integrated into every cultural experience it helps shape, ranging from museums and art galleries to larger cultural institutions.
A shared purpose
By adding Lord Cultural Resources to its portfolio, Museum Studio reinforces its ability to scale the global reach of iconic cultural brands, amplifying their influence and resonance across generations and geographies.
The global platform seeks to generate a significant cultural impact worldwide by uniting Lord’s strategic expertise with its various entities. This approach is designed to be more agile and to support a future where cultural institutions are empowered to educate, inspire, and engage meaningfully and sustainably.
This acquisition signifies a shared purpose. Culture transforms lives and societies, driving progress, healing, learning, and connection. Museums and cultural institutions continue to evolve – not by diminishing their ambitions but by broadening their audiences, relevance, and resilience.
Museum Studio has a distinctive role in championing creativity, memory, and meaning. By protecting collective identity, encouraging dialogue across generations, and providing venues for creativity and expression, this new alliance seeks to promote culture as a vital force in society – one that enhances human connection, social unity, and economic vitality.
The combination of Museum Studio services and global presence, along with Lord’s leadership in the Masterplan segment, will enable clients- museums, public or private cultural institutions, and government entities- to access a unique provider that meets all their needs with the highest quality from the project’s inception to final delivery.
Sharing knowledge, experience & talent
As part of the Chargeurs Group, Museum Studio is a global cultural one-stop shop that develops, designs, and produces world-class cultural assets through a comprehensive range of services.
With operations throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, Museum Studio has delivered numerous iconic projects globally. Lord’s strong leadership in North America (which represents 80% of its activity), Europe, and India enhances its international presence.
Together, the unified entity will benefit from five new global offices and teams functioning across significant cultural hubs worldwide. This strengthened global network will be crucial for Chargeurs Museum Studio to spearhead the next cultural renaissance, delivering transformative projects that resonate across generations and continents.
“We are incredibly proud to welcome Lord to the Museum Studio ecosystem,” says Delphine de Canecaude, CEO of Museum Studio. “This new chapter began with a powerful encounter — a series of meaningful conversations and shared visions between with Gail Lord and her associates, Joy Bailey Bryant, Dov Goldstein and Javier Jimenez and ours.
“Today marks the beginning of a new journey together, one that brings extraordinary talent and strategic insight into our universe. At a time when Museum Studio is expanding its ambitions in culture and education, Lord’s vision and expertise are invaluable. Their presence will be essential in shaping the next chapter of our story — and we couldn’t be more excited.”
Gail Lord, founder of Lord Cultural Resources, adds:
“At this time of dynamic change and growth for the sector – especially in the global south – we are thrilled to join with Museum Studio to provide greater access to our services and educational resources through Museum Studio historic networks – and to continue to share knowledge, experience and talent in a direct and personal way that ensures the development of human capacity for understanding.”
Last year, Lord Cultural Resources announced the release of a new edition of the Manual of Museum Management for Museums in Dynamic Change by Gail Lord. In this updated volume, she has applied her international experience to create a comprehensive guide to the tools and strategies needed to successfully address today’s challenges and opportunities.
