Museumwise and MANY move forward with consolidation

2011 Museums in Conversation

Our investigation for the best service model for the New York State Museum community culminated with a joint board meeting held on

November 28th where the boards of

Museumwise and MANY unanimously developed a resolution for consolidation which was ratified by both boards at their year-end meetings.

MANY and Museumwise have been discussing the potential for consolidation since late 2010. Deliberations were informed by a member survey to which nearly 20% of the organizations' memberships responded, one-on-one phone interviews with 20 stakeholders that included funders, program partners, graduate program directors and association leaders, and informal conversations. The outpouring of interest from the field was a key factor in the boards' decision to join forces to provide more robust programs and services to the field. "Input from the field really raised our comfort level for this decision," said MANY Board President John Haworth.

Please find the summary of findings from the member survey here.

MMW will use 2012 to develop a business plan for consolidation that will be implemented in 2013. We anticipate that legal consolidation will be completed by the end of 2012. While this planning takes place, the two organizations will continue to operate independently, with each providing its standard menu of programs and services as you have come to expect. Memberships, grants, the annual conference, the Museum Institute at Sagamore, and advocacy activities will continue in 2012 as they have before.

Planning the consolidation will be overseen by a Steering Committee made up board representatives and staff from both organizations. Museumwise Board President Michele Philips said, "Consolidation not only strengthens what each organization already does well, but gives both organizations many more opportunities we couldn't have envisioned on our own."

A "Frequently Asked Questions" about the consolidation process and what it means for members will soon be available on the MANY and Museumwise websites.