I have to jump into this discussion even though I don't have lots of
concrete suggestions. First, the dinners, weddings, etc. mean more volunteer
time and more staff time. Plus, food is bad for museums anyway. I run a
small Civil War/Western Outlaw museum and historic home and jail that is
always looking for new ways to bring in revenue, but it is only spinning its
wheels most of the time. I believe that a museum somehow has to find
supporters who see value in what the museum is doing and therefore
financially support it. Think about these questions: how much profit would a
museum have to make a year if it was to pay for preservation at the needed
level (this applies to the historic house situation); how much more than a
forty hour week can staff keep up with over time (I work over 50 for an
average throughout the year, and I am dog tired constantly); how much time
will preparing for retail oriented events take away from exhibits, grants,
etc; and, simply, is this best for the historic structure. It is a serious
delimma.  It is sometimes a question of whether we want to make our museums
more interesting and engaging through special events, exhibits, programs,
etc. or whether we want the historic structures to remain, even if they
don't have much to excite visitors with, preserved for the future. With the
staff sizes and revenue streams of most historic homes, balancing such
issues sometimes isn't possible.

Joe Kelley, 1859 Jail Museum
----- Original Message -----
From: Patricia L. Miller <[log in to unmask]>
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.museum-l
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, September 04, 1999 5:00 PM
Subject: Re: income sources


> We have had inquiries from two different museums about two types of earned
> income sources for museums. One museum, a historic house, is considering
> renting the facility for special events (dinners, weddings, meetings).
> Would anyone with experience (good or bad) comment on the pros and cons?
If
> you have a policy, would you be willing to share it?
>
> The second museum currently charges an admission, but is evaluating
several
> options - a free day, a suggested "donation," etc. I'm especially
> interested in the experience of someone who did charge an admission, but
no
> longer does.
>
> Thanks very much. Respond off the list if you wish. (I have checked the
> museum-l archives on both topics, but the pickings are slim.)
>
> Pat Miller
> Patricia L. Miller, Executive Director
> Illinois Heritage Association
> 602 1/2 E. Green St., Champaign, IL 61820
> phone: 217-359-5600; email: [log in to unmask]
>
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