박물관의 대표적인 역할은 과거에 소장, 전시, 연구, 교육 기능으로부터 교육의 개념이 보다 강조되고 있다. 우리나라의 경우도 최근 많은 박물관에서 교육프로그램을 개발하거나 강화하고 있으며, 문화예술교육진흥원에서 교육관련 전문가를 양성하여 박물관에 지원하는 제도를 구사하는 등 상당한 변화를 겪고 있다. 이러한 점은 평생교육, 노인교육의 필요성이 대두되면서 더욱 욕구가 강화되었고, 학교교육의 체험과 현장학습의 필요성은 두말할 나위가 없다.
In Korea there are over 200 private museums including art museums and archive centers. Excluding the corporate museums, 120 museums are privately governed and operated. Every year these private museums provide educational programs for over 150000 individuals, and the fundamental role of museums is shifting from a modern-era entity to a public educational center with a deeply rooted community connection. IAt this point in time, a systematic and stable implementation of training programs of educators, and the development of teaching materials and facilties has yet to take place. This thesis examines the current situation of the educational activities run by private museums in Korea based on the results of field research and statistics. The case studies of several foreign countries were used as point of reference regarding matters such as the role of educators, examples of government-funded programs, and community networks, for the consideration of alternative ideas of the educational role of Korean private museums. In particular, the use of museum educational resources as a museum revenue booster in the UK, the development of museum educational programs through regional community connection in Australia, the activities of educators and their status as museum staff in the US, all these examples were considered as providing great insight into the private museum operations in Korea. As educational participants in communities, the advancement of museum educational resources not only improves the performance of museum operations but also strengthens their special role in public education with the financial support from government or private sources.