Museum Mission Statements

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Museum Mission Statements
David Teniers, 1647, Archduke Leopold Wilhelm
Hapsburg, Prado

• Pamela L. Myers
• Executive Director
• Asheville Art Museum
• POB 1717
• Asheville, NC 28802 USA
• www.ashevilleart.org
• September 2006 Romania

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A museum is a non-profit making, permanent
institution in the service of society and of its
development, and open to the public, which
acquires, conserves, researches, communicates and
exhibits, for purposes of study, education and
enjoyment, material evidence of people and their
environment.
ICOM, 2001
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Mission Statements

• An effective mission statement reflects the
  strategic thinking of the organizations leaders
  to define an appropriate role for the institution
• The mission statement reveals the museums
• understanding of the environment in which it
  exists
• The relevance of the role it has selected for
  itself
• And its relationships to its constituencies
• It is a governance and management tool

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Mission Statements should inspire and convey
passion and communicate the essence of why the
museum exists

• Why do we do what we do
• ie how do we make a difference in society
• For whom do we do these things and how
• ie in partnership with the people of
• What do we do
• ie stimulate creative thinking, promote
  openness
• Missions are abstract statements of purpose that
  look outward

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Mission Statement samples

• Toledo Museum of Art We believe in the power of
  art to ignite the imagination, stimulate thought
  and provide enjoyment. Through our collections
  and programs we strive to integrate art into the
  lives of people.

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Mission statement samples

• Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village provides
  unique educational experiences based on authentic
  objects, stories and lives from American
  traditions of ingenuity, resourcefulness and
  innovation. Our purpose is to inspire people to
  learn from those traditions to help shape a
  better future.

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Mission statement samples

• The mission of the Monterey Bay Aquarium is to
  inspire conservation of the oceans.

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Mission statement samples

• The Lindsay Wildlife Museum fosters a living
  connection between people and wildlife in order
  to create a deeper commitment to the welfare of
  the natural world. Through education programs,
  wildlife rehabilitation, non releasable wild
  animals and exhibits the Museum strives to
  involve individuals of all ages from every
  cultural and economic background in learning to
  care for the earth.

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Mission Statement Sample Before

• El Museo Del Barrio 1990. To establish a forum
  that will preserve and project the dynamic
  cultural heritage of Puerto Ricans and all Latin
  Americans in the United States.

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Revised Mission Statement

• El Museo Del Barrio (1996)
• (What) The mission of El Museum Del Barrio is to
  collect, preserve, exhibit, interpret and promote
  the artistic heritage of all Latin Americans,
  primarily in the United States.
• (How) Through its extensive collection, varied
  exhibitions, and bilingual public programs,
  publications, educational activities and special
  events, El Museo educates its varied publics in
  the richness of Latin American art and culture.
• (For Whom) By introducing your Latin Americans to
  their artistic heritage, El Museo is creating the
  next generation of museum goers, while satisfying
  the growing interest in Latin American art of a
  broad national and international audience

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Mission Statement Sample Before

• The Newark Museum maintains and manages
  facilities in the City of Newark for the
  acquisition, preservation, exhibition and
  interpretation of articles of art, culture,
  science and technology. The Museum strives to be
  an accessible resource, actively encouraging the
  study, appreciation, understanding and enjoyment
  of the subjects represented by its collections by
  a broad and diverse audience. The Museum
  accomplishes this through the presentation of
  exhibitions, educational and public programs,
  publications, an Educational Loan Collection, and
  a reference library related to the Museums
  purposes. This objective is further fulfilled
  through cooperative programs with governmental
  units and other public and private educational,
  social or cultural institutions. (pre- 2000)

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Revised Mission Statement

• The Newark Museum operates, as it has since its
  founding, in the public trust as a museum of
  service, a leader in connecting objects and ideas
  to the needs and wishes of its constituencies.
  We believe that our art and science collections
  have the power to educate, inspire and transform
  individuals of all ages, and the local, regional,
  national and international communities that we
  serve.
• In the words of founding Director John Cotton
  Dana, A good museum attracts, entertains,
  arouses curiosity, leads to questioning-and thus
  promotes learning. (post 2000)

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Vision

• A Conceptualization of a future
• Explores how the entire community will benefit if
  the museum succeeds in implementing its mission
  and promulgating its values
• Critical leadership tool
• Vision is concrete- what we will become

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Mission and vision

• National Museum of Australia
• Mission To promote an understanding of
  Australia's history and an awareness of future
  possibilities by
• developing, preserving and exhibiting a
  significant collection
• taking a leadership role in research and
  scholarship
• engaging and providing access for audiences
  nationally and internationally
• delivering innovative programs.
• Vision To be a recognized world-class museum
  exploring Australia's past, illuminating the
  present, imagining the future.

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Values

• How do we want to act, consistent with our
  Mission along the path toward achieving our
  vision
• ie integrity, honesty, openness creativity,
  excellence, cooperation

Strategies/goals

• Expand on the principles of the mission.
• ie collect, preserve, interpret, scholarship,
  programs .

Assumptions
Statements that outline the principles or
definitions implied in the mission
statement. ie History as used includes human
history before written records
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Mission Statements Write down your museums
existing mission statement, or if you dont have
one what you think it would say.

• Remember it should reflect
• How do we relate to our publics?
• How do we enhance the well being of others and
  improve the quality of life?
• Who benefits as a result of our work?
• What services do we provide?

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A Great Resource

• Museum Mission Statements Building a Distinct
  Identity, Resource Report (Paperback) by
  American Association of Museums (Author), Gail
  Anderson (Editor)