There have been several successful collaborations along these lines.  A
number of science museums are part of the Science Learning Network
(www.sln.org).  In addition, there have been consortia formed to address
certain issues or needs such as the Five College Art Museums and Historic
Deerfield (in western Massachusetts) and the PHIDO project in Philadelphia.
I could offer more details off-line about these projects.

Kathy

Katherine Jones-Garmil
Assistant Director
Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology
Harvard University
11 Divinity Avenue
Cambridge, MA  02138

(617) 495-1969
(617) 495-7535 (fax)