to: museum-l
 
Judy Prosser-Armstrong asked for citations
regarding museum funding. The best and most
recent source of statistics is:
Rebecca W. Danvers, NATIONAL NEEDS ASSESSMENT
OF SMALL, EMERGING, MINORITY AND RURAL
MUSEUMS IN THE UNITED STATES (Washington:
Institute of Museum Services, 1992). Despite
the title, this includes results of a survey
of a representative sample off all U.S. non-
profit museums, not just small, emerging,
etc. The report is available free from IMS
(202) 606-8539.
 
You can also pull statistics from:
American Association of Museums, MUSEUMS
COUNT (Washington: American Association of
Museums, 1994). But don't use this source if
you think your opponents might actually check
the validity of your statistics, because the
survey this is based on had very serious
methodological flaws. AAM (202) 289-9127
sells the report to members for $25 plus $6
shipping, but I think non-profit museums
should insist in receiving it free, since AAM
has already been paid quite well to conduct
the study and print the book, by the Federal
Government, foundations, and a cigarette
company, on the pretense that they were
helping museums.
 
You also mention pressure to increase
admission fees and your fears of higher fees
discouraging the local population from
attending. There are strategies you can use
to extract more admission income without
discouraging attendance. For an introduction,
see:
David S. Reed, "Admission Charges: U.S.
Practice and Economic Strategies", CURATOR,
vol. 36, no. 4, December 1993, pages 248-251.
 
You're welcome to contact me directly if you
want to discuss further.
 
David S. Reed
Reed Public Policy, Inc.
3509 Connecticut Av NW #210
Washington, DC  20008
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fax (202) 986-2495