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.
# # #