American Federation of Arts March 14, 2000 Dear Colleague: As you know, significant changes in the definition and function of art museums are reshaping the traditional role of curators. Cultural influences and economic demands have changed the way exhibitions are interpreted and marketed. While the profession assumes greater administrative responsibilities, the challenge to balance curatorial, institutional, and personal priorities has inevitably become more difficult. The American Federation of Arts recently convened a steering committee of distinguished art museum curators to evaluate a proposal for an annual, national conference to address some of these issues. After much discussion, the committee strongly endorsed the idea, suggested a format, and encouraged us to proceed. The Curators Forum was born. The fundamental goals of the Curators Forum are to provide an opportunity for discussion and exchange; disseminate knowledge and experience within the field, and facilitate a dialogue that will continue beyond the conference. The first annual Curators Forum is tentatively scheduled for a spring 2001 debut in New York City, as a two-and-a-half-day conference. A program including a combination of panel discussions, workshops, and breakout groups was recommended. The rest is up to you. We are seeking the advice of curators across the nation as a vital part of our planning process. Let your voice be heard. Please take a moment to request a copy of the proposed program and survey. You must include your name, title, institution, and address to receive a copy. Many thanks for your time and consideration of our request. Sincerely, John W. Nichols Director of Museum Services American Federation of Arts 41 East 65 Street New York, NY 10010-6594 E-mail [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> Phone 800-232-0270 Fax 212-861-2487 Web www.afaweb.org <http://www.afaweb.org> ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).