Open Forum

We are trying to put together a proposal for a panel at AAM 2016's annual meeting about museums and economic development and are looking for panelists. Examining case studies of museums both in the US and abroad, we'd look at the role museums do and can play in the economic development of the communities in which they are located.

Does anyone have suggestions of panelists or museums that could be used as case studies either in the US or abroad for this panel?

Best,

Alicia

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Alicia Akins
Interpretive Programs Specialist
Department of Public and Scholarly Engagement
Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
Smithsonian Institution
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You might look at the museums that have received funding through the "Our Town" grant program funded by the National Endowment for the Arts. The premise is to strengthen "creative placemaking" and encourage economic development by linking artists, designers, art organizations (including museums), and local governments. One such example is Eastport, Maine, where the museum in that mix is the Tides Institute & Museum of Art.

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Deborah Smith
Development Director
Eastport Arts Center
Eastport ME
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Alicia:

You might want to contact Douglas Worts in Toronto.  He is focusing his work on museums and sustainability.  He is working on a project in Alberta that might be of interest.  You can contact him via his website.  

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Barbara Franco
Gettysburg PA
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Hi Alicia - 

The recent, ongoing renaissance of downtown Florence, South Carolina, is an incredible example of cultural institutions driving community revitalization.

The relocation of the Florence County Museum to a new building downtown would be a great case study for AAM--as a small museum having significant impact on a formerly abandoned historic downtown and a small city investing in culture as as a revitalization strategy. Andrew Stout (astout@flocomuseum.org), the Museum's Director, would be a dynamic panelist.

http://www.flocomuseum.org/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence,_South_Carolina (scroll down to "Downtown Revitalization" section)

Our office designed the new building, and--if you are interested in an architectural and urban design perspective--Scott Newman, who led the project, would also be a great addition.

http://www.cooperrobertson.com/work/florence_county_museum 

I look forward to your panel!

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Abigail M. Carlen, LEED AP BD+C
Cooper Robertson 
New York NY
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Kia ora Alicia,

Here in Aotearoa New Zealand we are putting together some compelling arguments for museums in both economic and social development terms. Museums Aotearoa (the NZ museums association) is working on this with other national and local agencies. I have also been liaising with Museums Galleries New South Wales in Australia, who are doing solid work on museums and regional economic impact. We are hosting a joint NZ-Australia conference a few weeks before the AAM Annual Meeting and expect the 'value proposition' - in every sense - will be one of the conference themes. I would be very happy to speak in a panel about this work in NZ and Australia - I am hoping to get to the 2016 meeting and this would be a great opportunity!

Another possibility is Umberto (Bert) Crenca who is one of the founders of AS220 in Providence, Rhode Island. We invited Bert to our national conference in 2012 and he spoke about the revitalisation of downtown Providence since the 1980s through the community arts and culture work that AS220 has driven. Its a great story, and Bert is an enthusiastic advocate and wonderfully dynamic speaker - you can find him and AS220 on Youtube.

Nga mihi ki a koutou,
Phillipa

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Phillipa Tocker
Executive Director
Museums Aotearoa
Wellington, New Zealand

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Hi Alicia,

I think the museum I work with may be just the thing you are looking for. We are situated in a town of 8,000 people and an hour and a half away from an urban centre but yet attract over 400,000 visitors from 150 countries a year. When the museum was built, 30 years ago, it was to stimulate economic development in a dying coal town. I can go into details about what our economic impact is and our work with the community later if you're interested.

Lisa
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Lisa Making
Director, Exhibits & Communications
Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology
Drumheller AB
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