Hi. This is my first entry onto museum-L.
My name is Robin Le Van and I manage a series of museum charettes focusing
on small museum issues for the Missouri Humanities Council. These are
on-site, one day and a half workshops involving brainstorming with museum
consultants around a single challenge of that institution. As we all know,
the issues of small museums are, in fact, the issues of every museum.
Collections management, acquisitions policies, ADA requirements, engaging
the visitor, telling an interesting story...these are the challenges of
museums large and small. The distinction is that small museums do not have
access to expert council.
To participate in our program, which is free of charge, we look for small
museums in rural areas, with budgets under $100,000 and at least one paid
staff member. Most sites are
primarily volunteer managed and have little or no experience with museum
best practices.
Our primary challenge has been to engage consultants willing to a) travel to
remote locations b) accept the tiny stipend we are offering. I welcome any
suggestions on how to best approach this problem.
Thank you.
Robin Le Van
Director of Development
Missouri Humanities Council
voice: 314-621-7705
e-mail: [log in to unmask]


-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
Behalf Of Roger Smith
Sent: Tuesday, December 01, 1998 2:03 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: definition of "small"


Vanessa sought comment on 'small' museums

The 'smallest' museum I have ever encountered was one that existed solely
inside the head of a U.S. conference participant a few years ago!

She had developed the conceptual museum complete with a range of business
cards and merchandise, the latter being ( from memory ) monogrammed
matchboxes.

A truly strange tale but true. I am not sure what happened to her- there is
possibly an institution somewhere where she now resides, and it is probably
NOT a Museum!

Roger

Hundred's of Museum, Art & NFP Titles online
DR DRUM'S NOT-FOR-PROFIT BOOKSHOP
http://members.tripod.com/~DrDrum_2/Bookshop.html

_________________________________________________________________________
-----Original Message-----
From: Die Valkure <[log in to unmask]>
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.museum-l
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Wednesday, 2 December 1998 1:48
Subject: definition of "small"


>Hi all,
>
>I was wondering if there was a standard definition for the term "Small
>Museum," and just how small a "small" collection is.  Thanx in advance for
>your answers,
>
>Vanessa
>
>
>
>
>********************************************************************
>Vanessa L. Ward
>Laurel Intern
>The University of Oregon Museum of Art (UOMA)
>[log in to unmask]
>http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~valkyri
>********************************************************************
>