AAM Convenes Meeting to Address the Needs of Small Museums

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF MUSEUMS - NEWS RELEASE



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press Contact: Jason Hall

Director, Government & Public Affairs

        202/289-9125



AAM Convenes Meeting to Address the Needs of Small Museums

Museum Service Organizations Form New National Coalition

WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 14, 2003) - The American Association of Museums
(AAM) recently brought together representatives of 18 museum service
organizations and funding agencies to discuss the needs of small museums.
During the meeting at AAM's headquarters in Washington, D.C. the National
Coalition for Small Museums was formed and its priorities were outlined.

Among the priorities are researching the needs of small museums and existing
resources to meet those needs; creating an online clearinghouse to help
small museums find products, services, funding, professional education, and
other resources; increasing the capacity of museum service organizations to
address the needs of small museums; and advocating on behalf of small
museums to foundations and government funding agencies.

To support these projects, the Coalition plans to apply for funding from the
Institute of Museum and Library Services.  Input and participation will be
solicited from service providers and funders who assist small museums, as
well as from the small museum community itself.

In addition to AAM, the following national, regional, and state museum
associations, field services agencies, and funding agencies were
represented:

American Association for State and Local History
Association of Midwest Museums
California Association of Museums
Federation of State Humanities Councils
Field Services Alliance
Illinois Heritage Association
Institute of Museum and Library Services
Mountain-Plains Museum Association
Museum Assistance Program (Maryland)
Museum Association of New York
National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Humanities
National Trust for Historic Preservation
Small Museum Administrators Committee (Standing Professional Committee of
AAM)
Small Museum Association
Texas Association of Museums
Virginia Association of Museums

For more information about the Small Museums Coalition, please contact Jeff
Buchheit at 202-289-9119 or [log in to unmask]  For more information
about AAM, please visit www.aam-us.org.

As the national service organization representing the American museum
community, the American Association of Museums addresses the needs of
museums to enhance their ability to serve the public. AAM disseminates
information on current standards and best practices and provides
professional development for staff to ensure that museums contribute to
public education in its broadest sense and protect and preserve our cultural
heritage. Since its founding in 1906, AAM has grown to more than 15,800
members including nearly 3,000 museums, more than 10,000 museum
professionals and trustees, and 2,300 corporate members.

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