The assumption that a collection HAS to be objects/artefacts obscures
what I had stated: there has to be a collection (i.e. the raison d'être
for the museum). If that reason for being happens to be
objects/artefacts, then than collection does consist of
objects/artefacts; but when one considers that non-material culture also
has equal relevance, one does not have either objects or artefacts or
material. (Does sheet music have the same significance as the sound of
that music when it is played?)

Museums should be educationally-active, interactive with their service
community in programme planning and implementation. In this context, the
collection acts as a resource for the education programming.

Dave Wells
Quinault National Museum Project
821 Kaiser RD NW 6A
Olympia WA 98502-2621

Dwandalyn R. King wrote:
>
> I disagree.  The concept of what a "museum" actually is and could be is
> changing.  I was trained that a collection had to be the fundamental
> basis but am now convinced museum's can be constructed with a different
> philsophy in mind.  this doesn't rule out the role of objcts or a
> collection totally, but opens up new perspectives.
>
> My other question would be: where would you like to start this local
> museum.  Location, the type of music, its social cultural relevance
> would give me a clue as to whether you might find any interest in
> pursuing such a venture.
>
> --Dwan
> On Tue, 14 Jul 1998, Dave wrote:
>
> > I wrote a book in 1993 entitled: Founding a museum: the first steps. In
> > that, I stressed the basics, one of which is that there has to be a
> > collection. Funding a museum can be seen as a constant expense where
> > there is not enough money to cover everything. While there are grants
> > for programming, and some for operations, capital funding is very
> > difficult--and competition for grant monies can be very stiff. Overall,
> > I would ask:
> >      what are you trying to do? (mission statement)
> >      what do you have that will illustrate what you are trying to do?
> > (collections)
> >      who is your audience?
> >      how will you pay for those expenses not covered by admissions?
> >      what will you do with you collections IF the museum fails?
> >      what community-interactive programming will you offer?
> >
> > Starting a new museum can be a tough, discouraging, difficult, lengthy
> > process--but not impossible.
> >
> > Dave Wells
> > Quinault National Museum Project
> > 821 Kaiser RD NW 6A
> > Olympia WA 98502-2621
> >
> > Charlotte Robinson wrote:
> > >
> > > I'm tossing around the idea of starting a local music museum and I was
> > > wondering if anyone can offer any advice on where to find prospective
> > > backers or partners, or any general advice.
> >
>
> Dwandalyn (Dwan) Reece King
> Performance Studies Dept., NYU
> [log in to unmask]
> 914-681-9264