Help is on the Way! Choosing an Assistance Program for Your Museum

Click to edit Master text styles Lauren Silberman, Program Officer, Museum Assessment Program, American Alliance of Museums Melanie Zucker, Program Assistant, Conservation Assessment Program, Heritage Preservation Help is on the Way! Choosing an Assistance Program for Your Museum

Click to edit Master text styles The Continuum of Excellence StEPs CAP

Click to edit Master text styles Pledge of Excellence: A Commitment to the Field National, public list of museums who have pledged to strive to operate according to field-wide standards and best practices.

developed with funding from:

What is StEPs?

How Does StEPS Work?

StEPs website: Cherie Cook, AASLH Senior Program Manager: or

Click to edit Master text styles Museum Assessment Program A Customized Roadmap for Improvement December 1 and July 1 deadlines!

Click to edit Master text styles Snapshot of a MAP Museum: Godwin – Ternbach Museum Before Assessments (2004)After Assessments (2011) 2 FT, 1 PT Staff2 FT, 3 PT Staff Old Strategic PlanNew Strategic Plan No Collections ManagementNew Collections Policy Old HVAC, lighting, security systemMajor renovation to all systems 2 Federal Grants Received4 IMLS Grants Received Budget - $125,000Budget - $374,000

Click to edit Master text styles Assessment Types Organizational: All areas of museum operation reviewed Collections Stewardship: Focus on collections policies, planning, access, documentation and collections care Community Engagement: Assesses the relationship between the museum and community

Click to edit Master text styles MAP Costs Annual Operating Participant Fees $125K or less FREE Between $125,001 and $400K $350 Between $400,001 and $1 Million $550 Greater than $1 Million $750

Click to edit Master text styles Participation in MAP includes over $4000 worth of materials and benefits!

Click to edit Master text styles 1 1 Summer: Apply and get started 2 2 Fall: Work on Self-Study; get matched with Peer Reviewer 3 3 Spring: Complete Self-Study; Host Site Visit with Peer Reviewer 4 4 Summer: Receive Report and Implement Recommendations

Click to edit Master text styles An eligible museum (from art to zoo): is maintained by at least one professional staff member or the full-time equivalent is open for at least 90 days a year had a previous IMLS awarded for the same type of MAP assessment 7 or more years ago.

CONSERVATION ASSESSMENT PROGRAM Helping small and mid-sized museums since 1990.

WHAT IS CAP? CAP is a non-competitive technical assistance program that provides general assessments for small and mid- sized museums of all types, including those with living collections.

What Does All Of That Mean? Technical Assistance means: The museum does not receive the funds directly But we will walk with you throughout the entire process! A General Assessment is: A broad study of museum conditions, policies, and procedures that relate to and affect collections care

ASSESSMENTS A two-day site visit conducted by a professional conservator who examines collections, environmental conditions, and sites. A report with prioritized recommendations for improving collections care and preventive conservation practices. CAP assessments include: Organizations located in an historic building (50 years old or older) qualify for an assessment by a historic structures assessor as well. Institutions with living collections may qualify to have those collections assessed by a zoologist or horticulturalist.

WHY CAP Assessors Wendy Jessup and Michael Henry at the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, VA - Mary L. Chrastil, President, North Manchester Historical Society, IN We applied to CAP because we were running out of exhibit and storage space … and we needed professional advice as we face out next years of operations. I cannot express how valuable the CAP assessment has been to us at this particular stage in our existence! We received solid practical advice from our architect assessor on options for expanding into our 125-year-old building. The report from the collections assessor was outstanding; it reads like an introductory course on collections management. It’s been a wonderful tool for teaching our board and volunteers about the highest standards for collections management.”

WHO? Is organized as a nonprofit or is an entity of state, local, or tribal government for educational or aesthetic purposes Cares for and owns or uses tangible objects for exhibition Is maintained by at least one full-time (or equivalent) professional staff member Is located in the United States or a US territory Is open to the general public at least 90 days a year An eligible museum:

WHAT IS RECAP? Has your museum gone through CAP before? If your museum went through CAP at least 7 years ago, you may be eligible for a new CAP assessment through ReCAP! Has your museum completed all of the recommendations from your original CAP report? Or has your institution changed so much that the recommendations are no longer applicable? Make sure you have a copy of your original CAP report—you’ll need it to fill out the ReCAP supplement at the end of the CAP application!

How Much Does CAP COST? No required match!

ACHIEVEMENTS AFTER CAP…

One Year Out: Total Private Funding $3.7 million Averaging $22, per institution Total Local Funding $2.4 million Averaging $27, per institution

The Adams Museum & House, Inc.  Participated in CAP in 1998, and ReCAP in 2006  Received a National Endowment for the Humanities funded Preservation Assistance Grant  Received a Museums for America Grant used to purchase PastPerfect software Deadwood, SD

HOW TO APPLY 2015 will be available October 1, 2014 The application will be available as a PDF on the CAP website and as an online application. A sample application will be available on Tuesday on the website at: If you would like to be reminded when the application draws near, please or leave us your info on the sign-in

Questions can be directed to