AAM¡¦s Center for the Future of Museums, EmcArts and MetLife Foundation
Launch Innovation Lab for Museums
Proposals Sought for New Program Designed to Foster Innovative Approaches to
Challenges Facing America¡¦s Museums
RFP Released, Proposals will be accepted through October 31, 2011
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sept. 19, 2011) ¢w The American Association of Museums¡¦s
(AAM) Center for the Future of Museums, EmcArts and MetLife Foundation
announce the launch of a major new initiative designed to enable selected
museums to design, research and prototype innovations, testing novel
approaches to field-wide challenges in a laboratory-like setting. The
initiative is entitled the Innovation Lab for Museums, and is now accepting
proposals at www.aam-us.org and www.EmcArts.org. The deadline for proposals
is October 31, 2011. The full RFP can be found here:
http://futureofmuseums.org/upload/Museum-Lab-RFP-FINAL.pdf
The first round of the Innovation Lab for Museums is generously funded by a
$500,000 grant from MetLife Foundation, a long-time supporter of the
nation¡¦s museum community.
The Innovation Lab for Museums will be an 18 to 24-month program for each of
the participating institutions, utilizing the expertise of CFM and the
proven experience of EmcArts in incubating organizational innovations in the
arts field. In this inaugural round of the Lab, three proposals will be
accepted and preference will be given to projects focusing on innovation in
the realms of:
* Youth Education: exploring how museums can play a key role in a rapidly
changing educational landscape
* Demographic Transformation: how museums can close this gap and serve a
broader, more representative sample of American society
* Participatory Experiences: how museums can meet the desire of audiences
for participatory and social activities in museums.
Proposals will be judged on evidence that applicants have clearly defined a
major challenge and begun to develop responses to that challenge, on each
applicant¡¦s readiness for and ability to support innovative change, their
current level of community engagement, the likely value of the innovation to
the organization and the field, and the capacity of the applicant to share
what they learn through participating in the Lab.
¡§The rapid pace of change in the 21st century makes it imperative that
museums experiment with new ways of operating,¡¨ said Elizabeth Merritt,
director of the Center for the Future of Museums. ¡§Historically, the museum
field has encouraged organizations to stick to tried-and-true standards and
best practices. AAM sees the Innovation Lab for Museums as a significant
way to encourage and reward museums that are willing to take risks, try new
things and pursue a new path for the rest of the field.¡¨
The Innovation Lab for Museums has four phases:
Phase 1 ¡V Each museum identifies a dedicated Innovation Team, which then
works with EmcArts to explore new approaches, define project goals and
success measures, and conduct pertinent research over four months.
Phase 2 ¡V Innovation Teams from all participating museums attend a 5-day
Intensive Residential Retreat that serves as a ¡§project accelerator,¡¨ giving
teams time to focus on key decisions about their projects.
Phase 3 ¡V The Lab grants participants $40,000 in seed money to support the
prototyping and evaluation of innovative strategies over six months, before
full launch.
Phase 4 ¡V The Innovation Team and each organization¡¦s leadership works to
leverage lessons learned, embed them in the organization's ongoing approach,
and share learning with the field.
The program will build on EmcArts¡¦ tested framework for fostering nonprofit
innovation. Piloted in 2005 as the New Strategies Lab for Orchestras (funded
by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation), EmcArts¡¦ flagship program grew into the
Innovation Lab for the Performing Arts (supported by the Doris Duke
Charitable Foundation), which has now been in operation for four years.
Reports from participants have confirmed the deep impact of the program, and
external evaluation has established its unique value to the arts field.
CFM and EmcArts foresee similar success for the Innovation Lab for Museums.
¡§The Innovation Lab for Museums will benefit not only the organizations
accepted into the program, but the museum field as a whole,¡¨ notes Richard
Evans, President of EmcArts. ¡§Successful innovations developed by
participants may go mainstream, becoming leading practices of the future.
And the cumulative experience of Lab participants will help museums break
down internal barriers to innovation, creating organizational cultures that
are perpetually ready for adaptive change."
Results from the Innovation Lab for Museums will be documented, summarized
and shared with the museum community, ensuring it can guide museum planning
and inform the development of standards and new practices. The knowledge
derived from this national program will benefit AAM members, the national
museum community of over 17,500 museums, and the international museum
community.
"MetLife Foundation has a longstanding commitment to promoting the vitality
of our national museum community,¡¨ said Dennis White, president and CEO of
MetLife Foundation. ¡§We are proud to partner with these two organizations to
find innovative ways to bring young people and community members from all
different demographics to the rich landscape that is American museums.¡¨
For questions or additional information, contact: Dewey Blanton, American
Association of Museums, (202) 218.7704, [log in to unmask]; or Liz Dreyer,
EmcArts, (212) 362.8541, [log in to unmask]
About EmcArts
Recognized as the leading not-for-profit provider of innovation services to
the arts sector nationwide, EmcArts (www.EmcArts.org
<http://www.EmcArts.org> ) serves as an intermediary partner for arts
funders, and as a re-granting agency and service organization for the arts
field around innovation. Our innovation programs support the development
and implementation of mission-centered new strategies by arts organizations
of all sizes. The programs range from directly incubating specific
innovation projects to introductory programs that enable new thinking and
build a culture of innovation across local arts communities. EmcArts is a
501(c)(3) organization.
About the Center for the Future of Museums
The Center for the Future of Museums (CFM) helps museums explore the
cultural, political and economic challenges facing society and devise
strategies to shape a better tomorrow. CFM is a think-tank and research and
design lab for fostering creativity and helping museums transcend
traditional boundaries to serve society in new ways. For more information,
visit www.futureofmuseums.org <http://www.futureofmuseums.org> .
About AAM
The American Association of Museums has been bringing museums together since
1906, helping to develop standards and best practices, gathering and sharing
knowledge, and providing advocacy on issues of concern to the entire museum
community. With more than 18,000 individual, 3,000 institutional and 300
corporate members, AAM is dedicated to ensuring that museums remain a vital
part of the American landscape, connecting people with the greatest
achievements of the human experience, past, present and future. For more
information, visit www.aam-us.org <http://www.aam-us.org/> .
About MetLife Foundation
MetLife Foundation was established in 1976 to carry on MetLife¡¦s
longstanding tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement.
The Foundation is committed to building a secure future for individuals and
communities worldwide. Through programs focusing on empowering older adults,
preparing young people and building livable communities, MetLife Foundation
increases access and opportunities for people of all ages. Since it was
established, MetLife Foundation has made more than $500 million in grants
and $75 million in program related investments. For more information visit
www.metlife.org <http://www.metlife.org/>
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