Dear Museums - Don't Suffer in Silence

2020 was a tough year.  For everyone. Everywhere.  In the business world museum were among the smaller organizations that have been hit hard.  Our is a model that relies heavily on community engagement and few museums, especially small museums, were equipped to reimagine themselves in a completely digital world.   Every day I hear about another small cultural organization on the verge of collapse.  It is unprecedented, unimaginable, unacceptable, uncanny, . . . “unprecedented” has been overused ad nauseum in the last year – but is there another word that fits so perfectly?

So yes, it was an unprecedented year for museums and 2021 forecasts are less than promising.  Museum Pros has been fortunate to have continued work during the public health emergency, as some museums are using the public closure to reimagine their galleries.  Others are seizing the opportunity for board development and strategic planning, and some are going back to the drawing board with education programs that can be delivered electronically and reach a wider audience than ever before.  Most museums, however, are facing serious challenges with how and when to open, how and if to rehire staff, and how to keep up with the additional financial challenges of ensuring the safety of visitors. 

Despite the overwhelming obstacles, the museum community remains strong, and collaborative, and willing to lift each other up in times of need.  We are fortunate to have excellent professional development resources and guides at our disposal – so please don’t suffer in silence!  State museum associations, national organizations, and consultants are poised to help.  Rarely a day goes by that I don’t refer to one of more of the resources offered by these groups; many of which provide step-by-step guides and technical papers on how to manage a small nonprofit museum.  With over 35,000 museums across the nation, surely some other group has faced and overcome the challenges you are now tackling.  There is no need to forge a new path. 

Last, but not least, don’t hesitate to call a consultant.  Your state museum association can make a referral, and it is free to reach out.  When I was an executive director of a small museum, I was overly cautious about contractors because I felt the cost would be overwhelming.  Not so!  Consultants often work within the organization’s budget and offer much more value than just what is listed in the contracted scope of work.  Most museum professionals, including the entire team at Museum Pros, has been in your shoes and will use their combined experience and extensive networks to move your organization to the next level – even if the next level is as simple as staying afloat through this difficult storm.