tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57212831749929723592024-03-13T16:48:11.727-04:00e-Connect: Museum Association of New YorkA forum for New York State's museum community that encourages collegial issues development, problem-solving and networking.Museum Association of New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03502970142366675520noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721283174992972359.post-43385298894297891882010-02-17T16:52:00.000-05:002010-02-18T10:42:35.956-05:00Facebook Friends::Win a Free Individual-level MANY Membership!<span style="font-family:verdana;">We topped 300 Facebook friends this week so in honor of your interest and loyalty, we've cooked up a little contest for free year-long individual memberships!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Just answer these five questions correctly by NEXT WEDNESDAY, February 24th, and the first 5 correct responders will receive a one year membership subscription (that includes a monthly e-news and advocacy alerts, as well as discounts on annual conference registration, our salary survey and other publications).</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong>SUBMIT YOUR ANSWERS TO: </strong></span><a href="mailto:info@manyonline.org"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong>info@manyonline.org</strong></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong>.<br /></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Ready?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">1. This upstate community is home to a modern art gallery, a LEED-certified university museum, a science museum and a zoo, an historic house associated with Teddy Roosevelt, and an historical society that calls the former New York State Building its home. What city is it?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">2. Where will you find Dale Chilhuly's <em>Fern Green Tower</em> dominating the admissions lobby?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">3. What is the oldest museum in New York State?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">4. In what community was the Culper Spy Ring active?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">5. Where in New York City do you go to see the Little Red Lighthouse?</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><strong>SUBMIT YOUR ANSWERS TO: </strong><a href="mailto:info@manyonline.org"><strong>info@manyonline.org</strong></a></span></div>Museum Association of New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03502970142366675520noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721283174992972359.post-32679356653794216952010-01-04T10:59:00.000-05:002010-01-04T11:14:19.226-05:00The Deaccession Discussion Heats Up Again<span style="font-family:verdana;">It's a new year and with it come lots of reviews about how the museum community fared in 2009. We know the answer to that -- not well. The financial outlook for 2010 remains difficult for many museums across New York State.<br /><br />And that turns our attention back to the selling of museum collections to pay debt. You'll want to check out these two recent blog posts:</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.artsjournal.com/realcleararts/2010/01/deaccessioning-op-ed.html"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Real Clear Arts</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> by Judith Dobrzynski</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.artsjournal.com/culturegrrl/2010/01/conflicting_deaccession_op-eds.html"><span style="font-family:verdana;">CultureGrrl</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> by Lee Rosenbaum</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">as well as Dobrzynski's op-ed, <em><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/02/opinion/02dobrzynski.html">The Art of the Deal</a></em>, which appeared in the NY Times (online January 1) and Daniel Grant's Wall Street Journal article, </span><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703514404574588371657534970.html#articleTabs%3Darticle"><em><span style="font-family:verdana;">Portrait of a Challenging Year</span></em></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> (December 29).</span><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family:verdana;">These four articles will help to set the stage for deacessioning discussions in our state this year. </span><br /></p>Museum Association of New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03502970142366675520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721283174992972359.post-25350969936998243592009-11-06T10:39:00.000-05:002009-11-06T10:41:04.439-05:00State Senator Speaks Out About Arts in Education<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">State Senator Jose M. Serrano </span></span><a href="http://www.nysenate.gov/blogs/2009/nov/05/lets-not-gamble-our-childrens-future"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">blogs</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> about the importance of arts in education.</span></span>Museum Association of New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03502970142366675520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721283174992972359.post-51594898457291426412009-10-27T14:15:00.000-04:002009-10-27T14:16:32.963-04:00Who Are the Game Changers?<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Who do you think are *game changers* in the museum biz right now? These are folks who not only mixing up the way museums interpret collections and connect with the public, but they're also the ones figuring out how to sustain new ways of doing business.<br /><br />Nominations?<br /></span></span>Museum Association of New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03502970142366675520noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721283174992972359.post-82692985196245475982009-10-22T11:35:00.000-04:002009-10-22T11:39:41.738-04:00A New Economic Model for Museums?<span style="font-family:verdana;">Andrew Taylor’s blog </span><a href="http://www.artsjournal.com/artfulmanager/main/rethinking-arts-economies-and.php"><span style="font-family:verdana;">post</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">, <em>Rethinking Arts Economies and Arts Exchange</em>, introduces Stolen Chair Theatre's new initiative to support new works. Instead of grants and traditional subscriptions, they propose a community support system modeled on </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community-supported_agriculture"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Community Supported Agriculture</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> (CSA).<br /><br />Like the CSA model, Stolen Chair hopes to build a membership community, a "CST", which would provide 'seed' money for the company's development process and then reap a year's worth of theatrical harvests. The organization has received a grant to create the model as part of The Field's </span><a href="http://www.thefield.org/t-erpa.aspx"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Economic Revitalization for Performing Artists</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> (ERPA) initiative.<br /><br />Writes Taylor, “Is unprofitable theater (or other arts endeavor) a charity, a community resource, an entitlement, a labor of love, or some combination thereof? Whatever we choose as our cluster of definitions, it will be helpful to align our business models and our resource strategies accordingly.”</span>Museum Association of New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03502970142366675520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721283174992972359.post-15171157066860161552009-10-05T13:31:00.000-04:002009-10-05T13:36:09.649-04:00New York State Museums in Conversation Conference: Call for Participation<strong><em><span style="color:#663366;">What Inspires You?</span></em></strong> is the theme for the 2010 Upstate History Alliance/MANY conference, scheduled for April 11-13, at the Albany Marriott, Wolf Road in Albany.<br /><br />We all take inspiration from many ­ sometimes unlikely ­ sources. In continuing the conversation format of last year's conference (the largest gathering of museum professionals in NY State), UHA and MANY seek discussion proposals that focus on what inspires you about the work of others, be they museums, libraries, nature centers or parks, small or big businesses. What have you seen that's been <em><span style="color:#663366;"><strong>so great, so innovative, so enterprising, so adaptable, and so fun</strong></span></em> that you want to talk about it with your colleagues?<br /><br />We welcome proposals from a wide range of institutions and practitioners, within and outside the museum community, to encourage lively discussions that offer new perspectives on our work and create new connections to each other.<br /><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#000000;">Submitting a Proposal</span></em></strong><br />The <span style="color:#663366;"><strong>deadline for submitting a proposal is November 2, 2009</strong></span>. Proposals must be submitted electronically, as an email attachment to <a href="mailto:stephanie@upstatehistory.org">stephanie@upstatehistory.org</a><br />Visit <a href="http://www.upstatehistory.org/services/conferences/conference.html">www.upstatehistory.org/services/conferences/conference.html</a> to download the proposal form and for more information. The program committee will review proposals and decisions will be made by the mid November.<br /><br /><strong><em>Questions?</em></strong><br />If you have any questions or are looking for assistance with developing a proposal, contact UHA Program Coordinator Stephanie Lehner at 800.895.1648 or MANY Director Anne Ackerson at 518.273.3400 or <a href="mailto:info@manyonline.org">info@manyonline.org</a>Museum Association of New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03502970142366675520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721283174992972359.post-86607637700641180122009-08-19T13:16:00.000-04:002009-08-19T13:20:28.322-04:002010 Museums in Conversation Theme: What Say You?<span style="font-family:verdana;">MANY and our conference partner, the Upstate History Alliance, are planning our 2010 Museums in Conversation Conference for April 11-13, at the Albany Marriott (site of the 2008 conference).</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">We're kicking around theme ideas and we need your help. Should the conference theme be practical or aspirational....or both? Will a conference about leveraging resources bring folks out in droves in these tough times?</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Tell us what you think.</span>Museum Association of New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03502970142366675520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721283174992972359.post-11670159688850320732009-08-02T06:55:00.000-04:002009-08-02T07:08:21.394-04:00MANY Director Wins 6-Word Novel Contest!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_No9ZZy8Nb3s/SnVznRjQSwI/AAAAAAAAADA/cNQXR6JqTBs/s1600-h/1140670486_bd82330a33_m.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 174px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_No9ZZy8Nb3s/SnVznRjQSwI/AAAAAAAAADA/cNQXR6JqTBs/s400/1140670486_bd82330a33_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365321649645177602" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">MANY Director Anne Ackerson just received word that she is the co-winner of the 6-Word Novel Contest, sponsored by </span></span><a href="http://www.blueavocado.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Blue Avocado</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, the online resource for nonprofits. The news was announced </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a href="http://www.blueavocado.org/content/6-word-novel-contest-winners">here</a> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">a</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">n</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">d</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">a</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">b</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">o</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">x</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">o</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">f</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">a</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">v</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">o</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">c</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">a</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">d</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">o</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">s</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">i</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">s</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">o</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">n</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">i</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">t</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">s</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">w</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">a</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">y</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">t</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">o</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">T</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">r</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">o</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">y</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Anne's winning entry was chosen from more than 200 flash-fiction novels. Hers: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">My secret discovered. Plane ticket purchased. </span></span></strong></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Judge Janis Lane-Ewart , Executive Director, </span></span><a href="http://www.kfai.org/" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(37, 65, 137); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">KFAI Radio Without Borders</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, Minneapolis, Minnesota, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">noted this novel's "ability to capture my imagination, sense of escapism, and mystery."</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></span></span></strong></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana, -webkit-fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Get ready, MANY readers -- Blue Avocado is sponsoring a 6-Word Mission Statement Contest this fall!!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana, -webkit-fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana, -webkit-fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Photo: <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: bold; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i>White Books</i></span> </span><nobr><small style="color: black; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">by </span><b><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vlashton/" style="color: rgb(0, 99, 220); text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Vicki's Pics</span></a></b></small></nobr></span></span></span></div>Museum Association of New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03502970142366675520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721283174992972359.post-67742465561963404562009-07-24T07:19:00.000-04:002009-07-24T07:27:23.253-04:00Just 8 Days Left....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_No9ZZy8Nb3s/Smmak9Xp3kI/AAAAAAAAAC4/r03MwIblLVs/s1600-h/4757004_69f7ec8fea_m.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 192px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_No9ZZy8Nb3s/Smmak9Xp3kI/AAAAAAAAAC4/r03MwIblLVs/s400/4757004_69f7ec8fea_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361986791101029954" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">...to email us your entry about what inspires you about museums!</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">That's right, we're looking for your <a href="http://www.wordle.net/">wordles</a>, haikus, photos, videos and you need to get them to us by July 31st.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Amazon gift certificates will go to four lucky, lucky people!!!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">AND, your inspirations will help us here at MANY frame our strategic plans for the coming five years.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">We've been posting entries on the homepage of our <a href="http://www.manyonline.org/">website</a>. Oh, yeah, we'll do that for yours, too.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana, -webkit-fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Photo: <b><i> </i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: bold; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">magnetic poetry</span></i> </span><nobr><small style="color: black; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">by </span><b><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/surrealmuse/" style="color: rgb(0, 99, 220); text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">surrealmuse</span></a></b></small></nobr></span></span></span></div>Museum Association of New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03502970142366675520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721283174992972359.post-34368866737118338522009-07-16T11:32:00.000-04:002009-07-16T11:47:36.909-04:00Root Causes - Real SolutionsOn Monday, the Albany Times Union published commentary from MANY regarding the legislation stipulating that collections cannot use proceeds from deaccession to pay operating or capital debt. You can find it <a href="http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=819251&category=OPINION#">here</a>.<br /><br />The legislation does not address the very real issues of how museums should generate revenue. That is not its purpose. Once using proceeds is taken off the table as a revenue generating option, it leaves us to really focus on addressing the creation of safety nets that can stablize museum operations and help these important institutions to flourish.<br /><br />Among the solutions cited in the commentary are:<br /><ul><li>A revolving loan fund that strapped museums could tap into to buy time to restructure and figure out their next steps.</li><li> A check-off box on the state personal income tax that gives residents the opportunity to make a contribution to an arts fund. (That legislation is pending.) </li><li>Access to the state's health insurance program and aggregated energy purchasing to help lower two big chunks of operating costs.</li><li> Comprehensive board and leadership training.</li><li> Let's also look at the state's current grant reimbursement system, which can keep nonprofits waiting months or years to receive project funding, forcing them to borrow funds and take on added debt. </li></ul><p>These are just a few potential solutions -- all of them are achievable and any one of them would go a long way to helping institutions steward their educational and collecting missions.</p>Museum Association of New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03502970142366675520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721283174992972359.post-30402607397474313722009-06-18T12:53:00.000-04:002009-06-18T12:55:03.574-04:00Deaccessioning Bill is Subject of Albany Letter to the EditorAlbany Times Union Letters to the Editor, first published Thursday, June 18, 2009<br /><br />Recently there have been attempts in New York and elsewhere to monetize museum collections and to use that money for purposes other than the protection and expansion of collections. The Troy Public Library is an example ("Troy Public Library sculptures on auction block," June 9.)<br /><br />The economic downturn has increased the financial pressure on these cultural institutions. However, selling pieces of their collections is inconsistent with accepted practice.<br /><br />Without a law, the financial pressure and the bean counters will endanger collections that took centuries to acquire, many of which were donated by people who may not have intended to have their gifts sold. Unless these rules are codified, the integrity and existence of collections handed to us by earlier generations will be endangered.<br /><br />Libraries and museums aren't private businesses. They are the custodians of our common cultural and historical heritage and have always been publicly supported, be it by tax preferences or direct cash. Collections aren't assets, to be tapped when things get genuinely difficult. If you sell sculptures to keep the doors open, soon you'll have open doors and no sculptures.<br /><br />We have worked with the Board of Regents and the Museum Association of New York to craft legislation (A.6959) that incorporates the long-standing policies of most museums that are necessary to protect our cultural heritage in a time of economic stress. We urge you to join us in support.<br /><br />Assemblyman Richard Brodsky<br />92nd Assembly District<br />ElmsfordMuseum Association of New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03502970142366675520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721283174992972359.post-42429690566046980352009-06-18T09:40:00.000-04:002009-06-18T10:18:46.444-04:00How Museums Inspire Me<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_No9ZZy8Nb3s/SjpFf6pCBrI/AAAAAAAAACw/sicKrgle3MQ/s1600-h/HowMuseumsInspire.jpg"></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;">The first of our Wordles and haikus have arrived! We here at MANY look forward to your thoughts about how museums inspire (or challenge) you.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;">A haiku by David Palmquist, Head, Museum Chartering, NY State Museum:<br /></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#336666;"><strong>The deaccessioned</strong></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#336666;"><strong>work of art screams </strong></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#336666;"><strong>but no one hears</strong></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;">From Lisa Delmonico, Director of Development, Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden (NYC):<br /></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#336666;"><strong>Museum tagline:</strong></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#336666;"><strong>"Washington did not sleep here,</strong></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#336666;"><strong>and neither can you."</strong></span></div><br />Visit the <a href="http://www.manyonline.org/">MANY website </a>for more.Museum Association of New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03502970142366675520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721283174992972359.post-78653944610628970232009-06-01T09:56:00.000-04:002009-06-01T10:25:08.768-04:00Get Creative!<span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">What's your vision for the future of the state's museum community? Where are we going as a community of practice and how do we get there? What do you as museum practitioners and museum-goers need to meet your vision? How do we harness our collective power? How can MANY help?</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Get creative and tell us!</span><br /><ul><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">create a wordle image from your written vision by going to </span><a href="http://www.wordle.net/"><span style="font-family:verdana;">www.wordle.net</span></a></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">make a 1-minute (or less) video about your vision and email it to us or post it directly on YouTube</span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">email us photos of what you think museums do best</span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">compose a haiku </span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">post your thoughts on this blog</span></li></ul><span style="font-family:verdana;">and don't forget....</span><br /><ul><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">plan to come to a conversation (see the schedule in the previous post)</span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">take the survey (the address for it is in the previous post, too)</span></li></ul>Museum Association of New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03502970142366675520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721283174992972359.post-15613167155622932652009-05-30T10:31:00.000-04:002009-05-30T10:48:59.103-04:00Strategic Planning at MANY<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_No9ZZy8Nb3s/SiFHK37yDcI/AAAAAAAAACo/CG6s-EZTUaU/s1600-h/Future+Looks+Bright.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341628885177077186" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 160px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_No9ZZy8Nb3s/SiFHK37yDcI/AAAAAAAAACo/CG6s-EZTUaU/s400/Future+Looks+Bright.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">As we work this year to update the MANY strategic plan, we are asking our members and supporters to help us set the course for our future. You have <em><strong>three</strong></em> ways to become involved in this important process: </span><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />· take our Member Survey: </span><a title="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=WhA4HoGq_2frfYG1_2fPWAiytA_3d_3d CTRL + Click to follow link" style="COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; text-underline: single" href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=WhA4HoGq_2frfYG1_2fPWAiytA_3d_3d"><span style="font-family:verdana;">http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=WhA4HoGq_2frfYG1_2fPWAiytA_3d_3d</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></div><br /><div><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">· attend one of the following discussions to ask your questions and offer your insights about advocacy, legislation, standards and trends affecting your work. Here’s the schedule so far: </span><br /></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><blockquote><span style="font-family:verdana;">Monday, June 8: <strong>Holland Land Office<br />Museum</strong>, Batavia; 3-5 pm</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Tuesday, June 9: <strong>Tanglewood Nature<br />Center</strong>, Elmira; 1-3 pm</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Wednesday, June 10: <strong>Oneida Community<br />Mansion House</strong>, Oneida; 10 am – Noon</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Wednesday, June 10: <strong>Shaker Heritage<br />Society</strong>, Albany; 3-5 pm</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Friday, June 26: <strong>Manitoga</strong>,<br />Garrison; 10-Noon</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Thursday, July 9: <strong>Alley Pond<br />Environmental Center</strong>, Douglaston (Nassau County); 1-3<br />pm</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Friday, July 10: <strong>Long Island<br />Museum</strong>, Stony Brook (Suffolk County); 10-Noon<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Dates and locations are being confirmed for NYC. </span></span><br /></blockquote></div><br /><div><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;">AND....use this blog to tell us what your vision is for New York state's museum community</span></strong></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;">To view the current strategic plan, </span><a href="http://www.manyonline.org/Strategic.htm"><span style="font-family:verdana;">click here</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Photo: <em>The Future Looks Bright</em> by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cayusa/">Cayusa</a></span></div>Museum Association of New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03502970142366675520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721283174992972359.post-7116135555224732422009-05-13T10:12:00.001-04:002009-05-13T10:17:49.480-04:00Deliberating Deaccession<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_No9ZZy8Nb3s/SgrVhQVIUCI/AAAAAAAAACg/Q7_nrhhYAew/s1600-h/MET+statue.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335311475869765666" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 180px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_No9ZZy8Nb3s/SgrVhQVIUCI/AAAAAAAAACg/Q7_nrhhYAew/s400/MET+statue.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><em>Posted by Senator José M. Serrano</em><br /><br />Although I am a frequent </span><a href="http://www.r8ny.com/blog/sen_jose_m_serrano"><span style="font-family:verdana;">blogger</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">, this is actually my first time delving into the guest-blog-stratosphere, and I am honored to do so on the MANY website. As the new Chairman of the Senate Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation, I am focused on exploring ways the State Legislature can best support and promote the tremendous cultural and natural assets within the State of New York. </span><br /><div><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Of course, this is not an easy time to be a proponent of arts and culture. On the one hand, the State is facing a massive fiscal crisis with looming budget cuts across the State. On the other hand, we know that New York’s creative sector will play a vital role in our economic recovery. </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;">Cultural institutions, such as museums, make an enormous contribution to the State economy by stimulating tourist activity, creating jobs, utilizing other local businesses and generating tax revenue. In other words, it makes good financial sense to support the arts in New York. Not to mention, the contribution that the arts make to our quality of life and the health of our society which is immeasurable. This isn’t just political rhetoric, if you take a look at my </span><a href="http://www.nysenate.gov/files/pdfs/SerranoLegislativeGrantRecipients2009-2010%5b1%5d.pdf"><span style="font-family:verdana;">legislative grants</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> (AKA member items) you can see how serious I am about supporting the arts. Not only did I provide funding for a variety of art organizations, but I also took the unprecedented step of allocating $250,000 to the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) for grant-making purposes.<br /><br />Museums throughout the state are grappling with enormous financial problems. Unfortunately, Museums are being forced to lay off staff and manage their collections, buildings and programs with fewer resources. In some instances, museums and other cultural institutions have been driven to consider deaccessioning and then sell collection items to raise needed funds. No matter how few times this has happened, I am deeply concerned about the effect this could have on the long-term health of our cultural institutions and what this means for the cultural heritage of our state.<br /><br />I recently convened a </span><a href="http://www.nysenate.gov/video/2009/may/06/serrano-and-experts-discuss-museum-deaccession-meeting-senate-committee-cultural-a"><span style="font-family:verdana;">committee meeting</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> to discuss legislation (</span><a href="http://leginfo.state.ny.us:8080/asmsen/menugetl.cgi"><span style="font-family:verdana;">S.4584/A.6959</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">) related to museum “deaccessioning” that I have introduced (along with co-sponsoring Senators Hassell-Thompson, Little, Montgomery, Morahan, and Schneiderman). To help us understand the intricacies of the bill, the committee was joined by Assembly sponsors, Assembly members Brodsky and Titone. Representatives from the Museum Association of New York, Everson Museum, Hudson River Museum, and the New York State Museum were on hand to offer their perspective on the fiscal crisis facing museums and the proposed legislation. All of our guests did a phenomenal job helping us to hash out the particulars of the bill. As a result, my colleagues and I have identified several flaws in the bill and are diligently working on some necessary revisions.<br /><br />The fiscal crisis may be temporary, but the long term effects of unfettered deaccessioning will be long lasting. This legislation will place some necessary limits on deaccessioning without being overly restrictive. While changes to the bill are in the works, the essential goal of the bill will remain the same---help us maintain the cultural heritage of the State of New York in a time of deep fiscal crisis.<br /><br />Just as I was able to work with the museum community on the issue of deaccessioning, I look forward to working closely with all members of the museum community on future issues. Together we can ensure New York remains the premier cultural destination in the world. </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Photo: <em>Statue sunbathing in the new Greek/Roman room at the Met</em> by ext212, flickr</span></div>Museum Association of New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03502970142366675520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721283174992972359.post-59063403360282321932009-04-02T10:37:00.000-04:002009-04-02T11:28:32.989-04:00Conference Draws 250+ to Tarrytown<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_No9ZZy8Nb3s/SdTSsWXNoII/AAAAAAAAABI/TYJMAc7nvjQ/s1600-h/IMG_7267.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320108719190417538" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_No9ZZy8Nb3s/SdTSsWXNoII/AAAAAAAAABI/TYJMAc7nvjQ/s400/IMG_7267.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Opening Keynoter, Nina Simon</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">This year's Upstate History Alliance/Museum Association of New York conference underwent a major redo that focused plenaries and sessions on conversations. The range of topics was not only timely, but meant to attract museum professionals, board members, volunteers and students from across the wide spectrum of the field. The goal was to be a </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">fresh, issues-oriented, and </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">dynamic gathering of colleagues.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Did we succeed?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">One participant made it a point of seeking me out to tell me that she really enjoyed the conference more than other years. "The discussion format allowed for more issues to be raised that never would have gotten out on the table," she said. Indeed, it's hard to predict where a topic might go when left to a group to manage it, but that was part of the intent...and, hopefully, the joy one gets from discovering something new or different.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Judging from the high buzz among participants in many venues, it seems that we got close. As we continue to refine and practice the conversational method, we will no doubt get better.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">So, let us know your impressions of Tarrytown 2009.</span>Museum Association of New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03502970142366675520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721283174992972359.post-62409703767692166112009-03-18T15:30:00.000-04:002009-03-18T15:34:14.718-04:00Staffing Cutbacks and Hiring Freezes on Rise in NYS' Museum Community<span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong>Pre-Recession Facts</strong><br /><br /><strong>17,000+</strong> the number of people employed in the New York State’s museums and heritage organizations<br /><br /><strong>3.1%</strong> projected employment growth by the New York State Bureau of Labor Statistics for museums until 2016<br /><br /><strong>$1 Billion+</strong> the operating expenditures of New York State museums, the majority of these expenses are returned to the state’s economy in the form of wages, purchases, and sales taxes.<br /><br /><br /><strong>The Labor Situation Now</strong><br /><br />In polling conducted by MANY of its membership in January and March 2009:<br /><br />· institutional <em>operating deficits are significantly on the rise</em> (from 36% of reporting institutions in January to 53% of reporting institutions in March)<br />· staff cuts and/or freezes are now in effect <em>at nearly half of reporting institutions</em><br />Staff reductions are running between 10-20% at institutions across the state. Furloughs and salary cuts are two measures some museums are using to avoid layoffs.<br /><br />The vast majority of museums in New York State are small, historical societies and historic sites. Many of these institutions employ part-time professional staff, such as curators, educators and tour guides. These employees may be the first to be laid off because of their part-time status or they may be forced to leave because they cannot afford to stay in a part-time situation. Wrote one museum director, “I am very afraid that we will lose the talented recent Cooperstown graduate who is our part-time education director. She has mentioned that people who work in low skill jobs such as warehouses earn more than she does.”<br /><br /><br /><strong>The Impact<br /></strong><br />· reductions in museum programming that benefit New York State residents<br />· a “brain drain” of talent from the field to other fields where employment may be more stable, pays more and offers benefits</span>Museum Association of New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03502970142366675520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721283174992972359.post-31881558656498085792009-02-18T14:58:00.000-05:002009-02-18T15:02:19.263-05:00New York's Museums Respond to a Difficult & Changing Market: A Quarterly Report<span style="font-family:verdana;">by Joan Baldwin</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />A lot can happen in three months. Last fall when MANY approached its members about the plunging stock market more than a few said there was belt tightening going on, but maintained a wait and see attitude. All that seems to have changed with the New Year. To monitor changes from rough to dire, MANY has developed an Economic Health Index Survey for New York’s museums, polling 37 member organizations on such areas as visitation, government support, operating deficits and the like. Results from the survey will be reported in MANY’s enewsletter quarterly throughout 2009.<br /><br />The news, based on the January 2009 survey, isn’t good. For 40-percent of the responding organizations school visitation is down, a victim no doubt of dwindling state and local budgets. In line with that 17 or 53.1 percent report that state or federal support has decreased. A quarter of the group (25.8 percent) has also cancelled programs, while 11 of them have experienced staff cuts or freezes. Twelve organizations or 38.7 percent report an increase in their operating deficit, and that same group (38.7 percent) reports a decrease in their number of employees. While 25.8 percent of respondents said they had scaled capital programs back.<br /><br />After a number of articles appeared in the national press about the “death of the gala,” MANY asked specifically what responding organizations were doing in terms of their annual fund-raising events. Roughly 20 percent reported no change in plans. Either they had already held their event and emerged unscathed or they felt confident enough to go forward. A few respondents were more direct. One said, “Our primary focus is insuring all that we do is on mission. We are not cancelling events and programs, just being visibly cost-conscientious while trying to still attain the "wow" factor. It's important to remain the "shining star" in our community, especially during the rough road ahead.” Another quipped, “Galas should die a natural death. They are ineffective, time consuming ways to raise money and virtually all organizations would be better off if they morphed fundraising emphasis to ASKING MAJOR DONORS FOR MONEY FOR MISSION. I call it the "Willie Horton School of Fundraising".<br /><br />The only good news the group reported was that 40.6 percent said that their general visitation had increased, while roughly a third or 10 percent reported their annual appeal contributions were up as well. And on the staff side where many respondents said the cuts will be (or have been) the most difficult, 41.4 percent reported no change in staffing. </span>Museum Association of New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03502970142366675520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721283174992972359.post-2004484509793762622009-02-18T14:48:00.000-05:002009-02-18T14:57:21.071-05:00Salary Survey Reveals Important Human Resource Information<span style="font-family:verdana;"><a title="museum worker #1 by mashkine" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mashkine/31393890/"></a>by Joan Baldwin</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Of the Museum Association's many accomplishments in 2008, one of the most important is the biannual salary survey. The most comprehensive of its type, this year its autumn arrival was dwarfed by a landmark election followed by a roller coaster of financial woe. As autumn turned to winter, many institutions were too busy maintaining the status quo, to think about new hires. Nonetheless, until 2010, MANY's salary survey remains the go-to document for anyone hiring or job hunting in New York's museum world.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Begun in 1972, the survey tracks benefits and compensation for more than 100 of the state's museums and historical organizations with organizational budgets ranging from $80,000 or less per year to those with budgets of $8 million or more. Utilized by job seekers, current employees, and organizations with job vacancies, it tracks individual positions ranging from directors to museum store managers, from curators to archivists, and exhibit designers to volunteer coordinators. Its small size means that especially at the high and low ends where there are only a few museums in a given budget category, positions must be combined to avoid revealing too much information about a given organization. In addition, in a survey this size, the addition or absence of a big-budget organization in any given year changes the results dramatically.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">That said, there was good news and not so good news buried in the 97-page document, confirming some stereotypes and raising some questions. Not surprisingly, salaries are higher in New York City than upstate, but the differences are most acute at the biggest museums--those with budgets in excess of 8 million. In smaller institutions, particularly those with budgets of $800,000 or less, urban and rural salaries were much closer, something for job hunters to consider given the dramatic difference in the cost of living between upstate and New York City.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Another fact that stands out is that relatively speaking development directors--presumably the individuals with the most responsibility for fund raising after the director--do not get paid that much. Again, except in New York City's biggest museums, directors of development make on average 41 to 60 percent of the director's salary and are consistently paid less than say chief curators and heads of education. Since this is one position with a skill set transferable outside the museum world, do the state's museums and historical organizations lose development talent to other non-profits where pay is better?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Then there is the question of gender. It is common knowledge that in a field dominated by women, salaries decline. (Of the 100-plus positions in the 2008 survey, 60 percent are held by women, and nationally, regardless of profession women working full-time earn approximately 77 percent of men working full-time.) The good news is that in New York state's museums, at least in the director's position, there appears to be little difference in pay between men and women. Sadly, for the majority of other positions regardless of location (New York City versus Upstate), men make more than women, sometimes a lot more. While this is by no means true for all positions, it remains a red flag for women changing positions or entering the field for the first time.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Lastly, for those considering investing in a graduate degree, according to the salary survey, the museum field still considers them to be important. And not just the masters degree. According to the survey, the bigger its budget, the more education and experience organizations want. Of 25 museums with budgets over $2.6 million in the 2008/09 survey, 25 percent have directors with a doctorate, and all wanted 10 or more years experience for anyone with aspirations for the corner office. In the states' smaller museums--those with budgets from $260,000 to $2.6 million--more than half of the CEOs have a master's degree, and six have the doctorate or another terminal degree.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">To order MANY's 2008-09 Salary and Benefits Survey, <a href="http://manyonline.org/Publications.htm">click here</a>.</span>Museum Association of New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03502970142366675520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721283174992972359.post-28197064566310674822008-11-11T12:26:00.000-05:002008-11-11T12:36:30.580-05:00MANY Members Weigh in About Handling Investments in the Climate<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_No9ZZy8Nb3s/SRnCaFHB0lI/AAAAAAAAAAw/SU2k09bzk2k/s1600-h/Tang+Camp+Northwoods.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267454992490549842" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_No9ZZy8Nb3s/SRnCaFHB0lI/AAAAAAAAAAw/SU2k09bzk2k/s320/Tang+Camp+Northwoods.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">One of our institutional members recently posed the following question:<br /><br /><span style="color:#990000;">Our museum has a restricted account to be used for acquisition and conservation of the collection. This account is invested with a brokerage firm and due to the current economic crisis this account has been losing money – we are currently down 14%. Are museums riding out the storm or are they moving their funds to “safer” investments (such as cds)?<br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Here’s what the collective wisdom of the MANY membership had to say:<br /><br />1. First of all, an investment policy is a good thing for all organizations to have. This is the document that outlines the "risk tolerance" of the board and staff to help an investment advisory firm.<br /><br />For us, we have split our endowment. We have moved 1/2 of it to an active investment management firm whose goal is to minimize our exposure. We have retained the other 1/2 with a traditional and conservative banking institution. We rely on these institutions to preserve our position. The banking institution has held some of our portfolio in cash.<br /><br />Mark Mortenson, President & CEO<br />Buffalo Museum of Science<br /><br />2. If the account is only down about 14% they are doing better than most people. The middle of the storm is not the best time to be switching. It would have the effect of solidifying their losses.<br /><br />The key going into this and coming out is diversification of assets. No one can really outguess the market for timing, winners and losers. They should have professional advisors help them spread their account into a variety of asset classes.<br /><br />Approaching this year, many organizations moved a greater percentage of assets from equity to fixed income investments. But none of us should be giving advice from afar.<br /><br />They might start by talking to the people who handle their account and get their perspective. Ask for comparisons to other similar size accounts, ask for analysis against the basic indexes.<br /><br />A lot depends on size. The smaller the account the less llikely it can be shaped in any meaningful way. The larger the account, the more likely they will have meaningful options.<br /><br />Michael Botwinick, Director<br />Hudson River Museum<br /><br />3. We’re riding out the storm as taking $$ out of down investments only cements the loss. Given that restricted accounts are there for the long term, our investments are relatively conservative to begin with and we have great faith that they will regain their value.<br /><br />What we’re doing on a day-to-day basis is looking at unnecessary expenditures, not replacing open positions for the immediate future, and behaving cautiously in all spending and budget projections for the next 12-18 months. I don’t know what is happening with the NYS budget but here in Pennsylvania, the public funds via the state arts and humanities councils are being trimmed on average by 5% or so for the FY2008-2009 cycle in terms of grants already announced. What will happen with the 2009-2010 grant cycle is anyone’s guess as those applications are all due in December of this year with the funding to be announced next summer.<br /><br />Cara A. Sutherland, Executive Director<br />Everhart Museum of Natural History, Science & Art<br /><br />4. In the case of our acquisition fund, we invest it in a Money Market fund and have for some years - the reason being we can have access to the funds readily. Not the case with endowment, which is invested diversely, but still taking a hit (!) right now. With endowment we are not allowed to invade the principal --so it is invested and until six months ago was doing fine.<br /><br />Geoffrey Platt, Director<br />Boscobel Restoration, Inc.<br /><br />5. Shaker Heritage Society decided to put all funds from the sale of collections into a series of CDs. These fund are restricted by state law so, we didn't feel that we could risk losing any principle.<br />Personally I think that if the funds are restricted by the board, (and are not derived from the sale of collections) they can invest however they want to. Their decision about how to invest the funds would depend largely on when they might need to access the funds, how large the fund is and what type of investments they hold. Obviously they would want to make a change if they hold a lot of stocks in the financial and automotive industry. Some other sectors might do well over the long run and may be worth holding onto. They will need to research the market a bit to help with their decision. I don't think it's a good idea to just go with whatever their broker says. We went to the Community Foundation in Albany and discussed our restricted funds with one of their board members and staff. It was very helpful. Maybe this museum could seek similar guidance. We ended up placing all of our funds with the Foundation because we simply don't have the resources to manage the fund ourselves. So far, we are pleased with the results.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Starlyn D’Angelo, Executive Director<br />Shaker Heritage Society<br /><br />6. The Suffolk County Historical Society is going to stay put for the time being and keep our eye on our investments. It is certainly painful to sell when your investments have lost so much value. Our broker has told me a number of times that there has never been a period of 20 years when investments have not made money. (I think I have that right.) The point being that stock market investments are not for the short haul, but should be thought of as long-term investments. That being said, we will more than likely be going through a painful “belt-tightening” period.<br /><br />Wally Broege, Director<br />Suffolk County Historical Society<br /><br />7. We haven't sold any part of our invested endowment (a stock portfolio plus Vanguard mutual funds) because we have faith that the markets will recover in the long run, and in the short run our dividends derived therefrom are holding up pretty well even though the paper value of the investments has declined substantially. What we have done because of recent events is to spread out the "cash" (Money Market and CDs) we are saving toward construction of a new Educational Center at our Mabee Farm to maximize FDIC insurance protection, taking advantage of the new limit of $250,000 in any one bank.<br /><br />Edward Reilly, President<br />Schenectady County Historical Society<br /><br />8. We have an endowment fund (with several restricted smaller funds) that is down by about 30% from its high in January this year. We pay an investment management firm to manage our endowment fund. The managers are generally putting a bit more into "safer" investments like govt. bonds, and increasing the cash holdings within the endowment fund. Otherwise, they manage the fund pretty much the same. [Now's the time to buy high yielding stocks at bargain prices.] The museum takes 5% of a rolling 12 quarter average of our endowment each year for use as operating dollars in our budget. Since the worst investment quarter was only recently, we still have a pretty healthy amount that we can budget from our endowment for 2009, more than we did for 2008.<br /><br />The annual gift appeal from the membership and local foundation grants are a different story altogether! Those will all be down considerably in 2009's budget.<br /><br />Amy Wilson, Director<br />Chemung County Historical Society </span></div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><div> </div><div>Photo: Tang Teaching Museum, Skidmore College<br /></div></span>Museum Association of New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03502970142366675520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721283174992972359.post-73792572601292587012008-10-23T19:22:00.000-04:002008-10-24T09:17:11.052-04:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_No9ZZy8Nb3s/SQHH6bv67eI/AAAAAAAAAAo/NqF7sydN-S4/s1600-h/47380038_f8c48e6ff0_m.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_No9ZZy8Nb3s/SQHH6bv67eI/AAAAAAAAAAo/NqF7sydN-S4/s320/47380038_f8c48e6ff0_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260705646440541666" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">It’s been a tough autumn for New York’s museums. Wall Street’s September roller coaster ride sent CEO’s, finance committees, and staff leaders back to the drawing board to prepare for what may be lean times in the museum world.<br /><br />Asked to describe how the state’s 1,500+ museums react to major economic downturns, Anne Ackerson, Museum Association of New York (MANY) director, said “They’re like a bellweather.” In surveying MANY’s member institutions, Ackerson reports belt-tightening going on across the state. And while most organizations are holding their own, they predict that what’s happened so far is the tip of a very big iceberg. Several directors said, “Talk to me in a month.” Others felt they could ride out 2008, it’s next year they are worried about.<br /><br />Of the two-dozen organizations questioned this week by MANY, six reported their visitation was up, although several attributed it to the popularity of a single exhibit. And several urban museums reported that they are still benefitting from the weak dollar and European travelers. That was the good news. For small to mid-size organizations—some with budgets under $250,000—it doesn’t take much to slip from bad to untenable. Several of MANY’s constituents in Erie and Monroe counties as well as in Manhattan reported delays or possible cuts in funding from state or local sources—in one case by a year. One director who did not want to be identified, wrote, “I received your email as I was composing yet another letter to our county legislature urging their support for our highest recommended funding level in the 2009 budget. I am imagining I’m not alone in this effort.” Another reported that county funding was already down by 5-percent while two New York City organizations suggested that while they were currently protected by multi-year general operating funding from the Department of Cultural Affairs, they could not predict whether (and by how much) those funds might be cut.<br /><br />In larger institutions that are supported by endowments, the belt-tightening started months ago. One director of a medium sized art museum said his finance committee reduced the museum’s budget by 10 percent last January. Even so, he suspects government and foundation support will be down significantly. His institution isn’t alone. At a number of medium to large museums across the state, finance committees trimmed sails in advance of the storm. One Hudson Valley historic house reports that it’s established 2009 budgets anticipating a 15-percent decline, a 25-percent decline, and a worst-case-40-percent decline. At the moment they are betting on the 15-percent loss.<br /><br />Museums are also feeling the pinch in personnel. One state site reported that its seasonal budget has been cut in half while a major Long Island museum is about to slash its budget for the second time in less than six months. The director reports that the upcoming reductions will mean layoffs. Upstate an Otsego County organization needs to close a 10-percent gap caused by loss in endowment and the early fall’s spike in heating oil. It reports that closing the gap isn’t likely without affecting staff salaries. Several directors in Manhattan and Upstate report that hiring freezes are already in place while others said they would enact salary reductions in order to save jobs.<br /><br />Many institutions, large and small, have already felt the loss of patrons’ discretionary income. Only one museum in Albany County reported that sales in its gift shop were up while several said that spending at fund raising events was way down and patrons had to be coaxed to spend like they did only a year ago. A Brooklyn historic site director said, “Our annual gala takes place in November. If we don’t make our revised goal, that will tell us a lot. There are only so many things you can cut at a small institution.” In a few cases on Long Island and in the Lower Hudson Valley directors reported fund raising events themselves were cancelled. And no one is looking forward to annual appeals—letters asking for end-of-year-gifts—which traditionally go out during the last quarter. As one director quipped, “2008 will be a picnic compared to 2009. Our donors will hold on to the end, but last out is also last in.”</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Photo: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">V</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">isitors at the Guggenheim Museum, NYC</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><nobr><small style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: black; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">by </span></span><b><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/deirmaho/" style="color: rgb(0, 99, 220); text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">charmante</span></span></a></b></small></nobr></span></div>Museum Association of New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03502970142366675520noreply@blogger.com0