COLLABORATIVE PROJECT TO EXAMINE ROLE OF MUSEUMS IN COMMUNITIES


Contact:  Deanna J. Kerrigan  615/255-2971


The Missouri Historical Society and Institute of Museum and Library
Services (IMLS) are collaborating on a national conference on the role of
museums in communities.  The conference, "Museums Partnering with
Communities," will be held April 17-18, 1998 in St. Louis, Missouri, and
will include hands-on training sessions for working with community groups
and access to successful community-based models.

According to Missouri Historical Society President Robert R. Archibald, "To
be successful, institutions must work within their communities and respond
to the real needs of community constituencies.  Meeting community needs
often requires finding common ground and building strong partnerships
between institutions with missions that may be quite different from one
another.  Although well worth the effort, strong mutually beneficial
partnerships are often difficult to achieve.  All organizations involved
must engage in new thinking about the way they operate both internally and
with others."

The Missouri Historical Society is working with a national steering
committee to develop this program and a related publication.  Committee
members include Robert Archibald and Marsha Bray, Missouri Historical
Society; DeAnna Beane, YouthAlive!; Maggie Daley, Chicago Cultural Center;
Michael Fox, Museum of Northern Arizona; Diane Frankel, IMLS; Steven Hamp,
and Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village; Michael Herschensohn, Museum of
History and Industry; Mary Estelle Kennelly, IMLS; Deanna Kerrigan, AASLH;
Robert McNulty, Partners for Liveable Communities; Robert Moreau, Parks
Canada.

Deanna J. Kerrigan

1933 Capers Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
615/327-0624