Also, one of my goals is building a Committee that
will be a help to me as I develop exhibitions. I want people I can call upon
for advice, help, etc. As it stands I call old classmates or, as in this
case, Museum-L. :) But I really have no idea how other museums structure
similar Committees, and rather than reinvent the wheel, I hope listers out
there can give me ideas about how their committees work and how I can structure
mine.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday,
March 07, 2005 2:14 PM
Subject: Re:
Crafting a functioning Exhibitions Committee of a Board of Directors
No offense Mr. Garner,
but was it important that you include the detail that the current group is
"six women"? Just wondering…
Shoshanna Lansberg
Exhibit Content Coordinator
Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum
P.O. Box 12874
Austin, TX 78711
Ph. (512) 936-2309
Fx. (512) 936-4699
email: [log in to unmask]
From: Museum discussion
list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of George Garner
Sent: Monday, March 07, 2005 1:08
PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Crafting a functioning
Exhibitions Committee of a Board of Directors
I have an opportunity to reshape the Exhibitions
Committee of my Board of Directors. Currently it consists of six women, only
three or four of whom show up on a relatively regular basis. Their function is
to be informed about the staff's exhibit planning, offer suggestions, and then
a member will report to the board. However, they tend to suggest exhibitions or
components of exhibitions based more on their biases than recognizing the
diverse audiences we serve, the goals of a particular exhibition, or the
direction/vision of the institution. Some have extensive exhibition experience,
but they have not reviewed or added to their skills for decades. As a result,
they do not function as a group in tune with the goals of the institution, the
goals of the department, or serve as good mentors for me.
My director asked me to look into cultivating and
recommending new members. I have an idea of what I would like, but so far in my
career I have never worked with (let alone cultivated) a Committee with this
role. So I thought I would poll the list. What do you believe makes a
functioning Exhibition Committee? What should I be looking for when I search
for new members? How should this group look, i.e., what qualities or
qualifications should they possess? Is the current role of the Committee,
e.g. advisory only, typical of other institutions and if not, what should the
role of the Committee be?
A few things to keep in mind. One, the Committee has
only a few members who serve on the Board of Directors and only one of them has
to be a Board member so s/he can report to the Board. Two, the Committee is
different than my staff committee which has a more active role and is primarily
responsible for planning exhibitions.
I thank anyone and everyone who can offer advice.
George Garner
Director of Exhibitions
Center for History
808 West Washington, South Bend, IN 46601
www.centerforhistory.org // (574)
235-9664
--------
Celebrate Women's History Month in March at the Center for History. Visit
our exhibition about the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, which
was immortalized by the film, A League of Their Own.
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