On 25 Feb. 95, Susan Pointe raised the following good questions:
 
>Should museums address social issues?
>Can they?
>How?
 
Here's a shot at some museum-neutral answers:
 
Q#1 A: Yes, if...the museum welcomes and is capable of handling the
challenges.                  (In other words, is the musem willing to hold
out its
                 institutional arms and is its reach and its grasp well
matched)
       Yes, if...the museum pursues social activism as an absolute
                 responsibility rather than a relative one. (In other words,
                 is the museum willing to develop a constant institutional
voice                  on issues or will it speak only when the words come
easy                        through an exhibition or program.)
       Yes, if...the museum is well-suited to be a proactive lightning rod
on                    deeply held convictions and is able to stay the course
if the                   going gets tough. (In other words, is the museum
willing to                     stay in the kitchen if the heat's turned up
by the thoughts and                  ideas of vocal supporters and
constituents that hold very                       different views on issues
or about the role the museum is                       playing.)
 
Q#2 A: Yes, if...the museum can clearly identify and define the social
issue(s)                  it is best suited to handle.  (Take aim with a
rifle, not a                     shotgun.)
       Yes, if...the museum can express its intentions clearly and concisely
                    within the limitless bounds of a spirited mission
statement.                    (Remember, if it was supposed to be more than
one sentence, it
                 would have been referred to as a mission paragraph...Ok,
use a                  semicolon if necessary.)
       Yes, if...the museum's mission can be easily translated into
discrete,                    and measurable goals and objectives. (Good
intentions are only                  good for paving certain roads.)
       Yes, if...the museum is committed from the top, down. (There's
nothing                    quite like a board tossing out a grenade then
walking away with                  the pin.)
 
Q#3 A:      By...a museum being truly and steadfastly mission driven.
            By...a museum using its cardinal strength as a tool (preferably
                    non-hammer-type).
            By...a museum remembering that institutional excellence is
                    the spring board from which it can best project itself
into                     other areas.
            By...a museum also remembering that being a very good museum is
                 often just what a community needs most, exactly.
 
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Rich Jones                              Governing Board For:
Development Director                    Carter House Natural Science Museum
Shasta Natural Science Association      Redding Arboretum By The River
[log in to unmask]              SNSA Environmental Resources Center