I too am eager to hear AAM's response to John Handley's question.  But
mostly I'm grateful for his clear, eloquent, and about-high-time response.

Kersti Krug


At 12:46 PM 7/29/98 -0800, JHANDLEY wrote:
>In response:
>
>Granted, but the fact of the matter is that a museum is not a "business" in
>the traditional sense of the word, so traditional business practices don't
>always apply.
>
>     Which practices don't apply? Long range planning? A general business
>     plan? Cash flow charting? Financial analysis? I think all of these
>     certainly apply to "museum business."
>
>     If museums aren't traditional businesses, than what are they? At last
>     look, the museums I know of run like traditional businesses--they have
>     expenses: rent, utilities, salaries, payroll taxes, office supplies,
>     insurance expense, etc. And these are offset by revenues raised
>     through admissions, gift shop sales, membership dues, special events,
>     grants, corporate sponsorship, etc. Businsess is business. Museums are
>     traditional businesses, just not product based/sales driven
>     businesses.
>
>Many museums have found that when one puts fiscal responsibility above
>responsibility to the audience and the collections, the result can be lost
>staff and closed galleries.  We should not try to swat flies with
>sledgehammers, but try to find a balance (as another museum-Ler has
>suggested) between good museums and good businesses.
>
>     True, however, as public trusts, fiscal responsibility is public
>     responsibility--the two are not separate issues.
>
>     I am still mystified as to why the AAM will accredit a museum based
>     soley on its programs and collections care, and completely disregard
>     how that institution treats its employees. We are told by the AAM (and
>     I believe that this is true) that museums must be sensitive to the
>     needs of people and the local community it serves. Still, many museums
>     justify paying below subsistance wages and no benefits as serving the
>     community--this simply is not the case because employees of a museum
>     are part of its community, too.
>
>     I applaud those of you who believe that change can come about.  True,
>     it will take time, but it is in the best interest of all who have
>     chosen this career path to continue to dialog about this issue and
>     also to look at ways to problem solve. Many of the ideas expressed in
>     this ongoing dialog have been really good, sound ideas.
>
>     I would be most interested in hearing from AAM as to just why they are
>     silent on this issue? Perhaps an AAM forum/session could help
>     facilitate problem solving and idea sharing on this ongoing concern?
>
>     John Handley
>     San Francisco
>
>
>American Academy of Ophthalmology
>http://www.eyenet.org
>