Compiled by Sarah Ligocki

 

At CWAM's recent annual meeting in Laramie, Wyoming participants gathered in small groups to discuss modern promises and perils in the museum field.  The following is a compilation of the discussion notes taken by the moderators at each table.
 
What is your biggest challenge/peril in the museum field?
 
-          Quickly growing collections create many challenges.  Some institutions cannot deaccession, and as missions change, previously acquired items no longer fit the mission.  Space is also an issue.  Many new acquisitions cannot be immediately displayed which can cause problems with donors who do not want their items going directly into storage.
 
Possible solutions:   When the information surrounding an object is more important than the object itself, consider accepting it as part of a digital collection only.  Have a case set aside specifically for new acquisitions.  Do an on-line exhibit featuring new donations.
 
-          Contemporary collecting brings new challenges.  For example, how do you store text messages?  Do we attempt to capture modern forms of communication?  How do we ensure that technology used now will be available later to interpret electronic information?
 
-          How do we determine what we should collect in such a diverse and growing world?
 
-          There is an increasing standardization of museums which makes us less memorable to the visitor.
 
Possible solution:  Use this as an opportunity to make yourself standout.  Determine what makes you unique and capitalize on it.
 
-          Perceiving exhibits as a commodity is a peril to good design.
 
-          Regarding museum education, field trip budgets have been cut.
 
Possible solutions:  Take programs to the schools.  Incorporate other distance learning options.
 
-          School testing requirements mean that less time is being spent on social studies.
 
Possible solutions:  Show how your collections are relevant to state education standards.  Understand what teachers are being asked to do and develop programs according to their needs---write your museum into the curriculum.  Offer a multi-disciplinary approach to all educational programming.
 
-          Many museums have a lack of staff/volunteers to help with programming.
 
Possible solutions:  Be proactive by asking people directly to help with programs.  Ask retired teachers to help as consultants.
 
-          As younger staff with new ideas enter the workforce, how do they resist the "we've always done it that way" attitude?
 
Possible solutions:  Provide intergenerational training for all staff.  Utilize CWAM conferences as a way to introduce all staff to new concepts.
 
-          Many museums fell a lack of support from parent organizations.
 
Possible solutions:  Market/promote parent organization activities and ask for the same in return.  Encourage members of the parent organizations to attend the same conferences that your staff attends in order to foster a better professional relationship.
 
-          Those who hold the purse strings are not always educated about your museum.
 
Possible solution:  Be proactive about sharing data such as visitor figures.
 
-          In a quickly changing world, how do museums stay relevant to the community?
 
Possible solutions:  Ask community members what stories they want to hear and then tell them.  Bolster outreach programs.  Keep smaller museums stocked with State Museum artifacts/exhibits.  Use educational programs to address topics which may be outside your museum's focus but which will help address topics being taught in the schools.
 
-          Funding continues to be a major challenge, especially in the current economic times.  How do you demonstrate sustainability to your funders/community stakeholders?  How do you compete with social causes?
 
Possible solutions:  Get involved with the community.  Get the support of local government by proving your value to the community (museums generate tourism, help teachers, provide a service to families/voters, etc.).  Ask for sponsors.  Use volunteers suitably to free up staff and tap into community service programs.  Establish friends organizations to supplement some programs.  Get creative - Laramie Women's Club has a flea market booth with proceeds going toward restoration and preservation of the museum.  Seek out grants.
 
-          How do you market to an increasingly diverse audience?
 
Possible solution:  Create bilingual flyers/marketing material if you are seeking a specific ethnic group.
 
-          How do you broaden the capacity of personnel in museums as new skill sets are needed to keep up with technology?  For example, how many computer people seek out jobs in museums?
 
-          How do you find volunteers with appropriate expertise?
 
Possible solutions:  Communicate with other area museums about your volunteers' skills and be willing to share their services.  Contact colleges/universities to help find knowledgeable interns.  Help volunteers gain expertise by taking advantage of CWAM offerings.
 
-          What is the "perceived" value of free museums?
 
-          How do we deal with the current trend toward having director-level positions filled by individuals without a museum background.  Believing that a museum director's main job is to make money/ensure funding is a move toward being irrelevant.
 
-          Internet accessibility threatens to make museums less necessary in the public's mind.
 
-          In order to secure funding, do we sometimes try to attract audiences that lead us away from our mission?
 
 
What has been your biggest modern opportunity?
 
-          Many museums now use modern technology as a way to help keep people informed, generate a larger audience, enhance exhibits, etc.  Forms of communication discussed include:  e-mail, blogs, websites, Facebook, PowerPoints, cell phone/audio tours, pod casts, geo caching, photo scanning, virtual tours, Twitter, on-line animation of objects, and internet availability in the museum.
 
-          Using students to maintain the museum's Facebook and Twitter feeds is a way to tie in with that age group and create ownership of the museum among a younger demographic.
 
-          Seeking partnerships with community entities is an opportunity that many museums are taking advantage of.
 
-          Museums are also taking advantage of independent experts.
 
-          There are a large variety of modern security systems available for all budgets.
 
-          Museums are finding success using pro-active volunteers to help staff achieve their goals.
 
-          There is a new attitude towards retirement.  Retirees want to remain active and continue learning.
 
-          Economic downturns necessitate a re-evaluation of what we do.  This can move a museum closer to its core mission.  A bad economy can also mean more local visitation as well as more opportunities to partner with other organizations and share resources.
 
 
Success Stories:
 
-          Using public "voting" to curate exhibits has provided insight regarding what the public values about a museum.
 
-          Instituting a junior docent program where tours are led by middle school students has helped students learn about history and how to deal with adults, while staff learns to engage with younger employees/volunteers.
 
-          One museum raised its public awareness by opening and publicizing five new exhibits in one summer!
 
-          Museum funding was increased through a campaign to generate increased membership.
 
-          One museum found newsletters to be a great tool in educating the public about their broader mission.