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Starting an Advisory Council in Museum Owned by Another Organization

  • 1.  Starting an Advisory Council in Museum Owned by Another Organization

    Posted 06-20-2023 03:34 PM
    Edited by Micaela Knox 06-20-2023 03:37 PM

    Hi everyone,

    I work for the Model T Museum, which is owned and operated by another organization, the Model T Ford Club of America (MTFCA), which maintains a 501(c)3 nonprofit status. The Museum's finances and policy are governed by MTFCA's board of directors, whose priorities are first concerned with the international club. Because of this structure, our executive director and I wanted to establish a nonfiduciary advisory council who we can turn to for support and advice focused on the museum and its daily operations.

    I am looking to gain more information about how museums in similar positions have started advisory councils. So far, the most information I have found isfrom art or cultural institutions operated by universities. Are there other examples of niche interest or enthusiast group-run museums? How do other institutions juggle the interests of the community they reside in along with the interests of the members of the broader organization?

    I'm interest in any advice, info, examples, tangents, and starting points. Thanks y'all!



    ------------------------------
    Micaela Knox
    Museum Coordinator
    Model T Museum
    Richmond, IN

    micaela@mtfca.com
    ------------------------------

    AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo, Baltimore, May 16-19, 2024, click to learn more


  • 2.  RE: Starting an Advisory Council in Museum Owned by Another Organization

    Posted 06-21-2023 12:37 PM
    Micaela:

    As the Founding Director of the Peoria PlayHouse Children's Museum I started an advisory council to support that museum. The PlayHouse is a facility of the Peoria Park District, which is its own unit of government, so our governance board was the (elected) Park District Board. 

    Our Advisory Council focused on sharing expertise and advice, community connections, and helping with fundraising. I think the keys were clarity about their role, leveraging their expertise so that they felt useful, and clear communication with our parent organization. I'm happy to talk to you about this further if that would be helpful. I can also put you in touch with some of the advisory committee members if you want to talk to people who have served in this role and hear their perspectives. 

    --
    Rebecca Shulman
    917-771-1374

    Change starts with asking good questions



    Original Message
    AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo, Baltimore, May 16-19, 2024, click to learn more


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