A good point -- attracting the dollar as the single most important goal of
the museum.  With the dollar, the museum pays its bills.  But perhaps as a
pretense, we avoid thinking that way.  Most of our dollars should be coming
from those who believe in what we are doing -- governments, foundations,
philanthropists, members.  I'd say these sources have great trust in us to
make ends meet.  Depending on location, etc., the income from our
visitors -- attracted by sizzling exhibits -- may just be that "last dollar"
we need.
-----Original Message-----
From: DearmasA <[log in to unmask]>
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.museum-l
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Friday, April 10, 1998 5:22 PM
Subject: Re: goals of the museum


>In a message dated 98-04-08 12:32:32 EDT, [log in to unmask]
writes:
>
>>   I was wondering what everyone thought was the single most important
>>  goal of museums: to educate, to preserve objects, or to have great
>>  displays?
>
>I'd say the single most important goal is to stay in business. Not meaning
to
>sound cynical, but if you don't bring in $, you cannot do any of the things
>above. In our small historical house museum, we need to bring the people in
to
>get the $ to pay for exhibits, education programs and
>conservation/maintenance. We can no longer afford to be intellectuals
>practicing our art/trade/whatever in a vacuum. As Curator, every exhibit I
>think of, every chance I get must be about bringing in the people, and
making
>$ so I can buy Hollinger boxes, pay the LoC for using their photographs in
an
>exhibit, etc.
>
>- Adrienne