Sounds to me like the first priority might be to hire a fundraiser!  $60,000
don't go very far these days.  And before I started collecting things, I'd
get the building renovated and develop at least a rudimentary collections
policy and development plan (otherwise you'll end up with a lot of "stuff"
that you'll have to try to get rid of later--a real nightmare).  The
renovation--planning, capital campaign, and execution--could very well take
care of those first three years, or more!  And unless I could increase my
operating budget, I don't think hiring anyone else would be possible; I'd
just have to take care of the collections myself.  (Or as some have
suggested, don't have collections--just to borrowed or rented exhibits.)

At 09:43 PM 2/13/96 -0600, you wrote:
>Here is a hypothetical situation:
>You are hired to open a new museum in an old vacant bank builing.  You
>need to develop a three year plan for the museum to present to the  board
>of directors.  In the first year, your budget is $80,000 from which you
>take $20,000 for your salary.  My question:
>Who else would be wise to hire to help get the museum up and running?  I
>think maybe a collections manager.
>Where might a new museum obtain collections especially considering the
>low budget?  I think it would be wise to advertise the opening of the
>museum in the newspaper and hope people would bring thier old things to
>it to donate or obtain a loan as the first exhibit.
>What percentage of the budget might be used for such functions as
>maintenance and operation?  I have no idea how much it might cost to
>renevate a building or what electric might cost.
>If anyone can offer any suggestions and maybe a little direction, please
>help.
>Thanks
>Heidi
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>
Janis Beth Wilkens
Curator of Collections/Interim Assoc. Director
Museum of York County
4621 Mt. Gallant Road
Rock Hill, SC  29732
803-329-2121  Fax: 803-329-5249
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