Description
Book SynopsisPartnership Power situates museum-related partnerships, collaborations, and networks within today’s dynamic, ever-changing environment—with the increased emphasis on museums to demonstrate measurable impact in their communities and in view of exponential technological changes and in addressing such significant societal challenges as civic polarization, demographic change, economic inequity, and global warming. Through perspectives from other, related sectors, including libraries and other nonprofits; current museum case studies from a broad and diverse spectrum of museum types (history, children’s, art, science, and ethnic); and proven tools, tips, and resources, Partnership Power: Essential Museum Strategies for Today’s Networked World serves as an invaluable primer for museums – and museum professionals -- wanting to create and sustain effective partnerships and collaborations. The volume helps solve the partnership puzzle, focusing on the essential attributes of sustainable and relevant collaborations, within communities, states, and nationally, including examples of broader multi-institutional networks that are increasingly important to maintain relevance in this hyper-connected world. It contains words of wisdom from museum leaders, funders, community organizers, and researchers—both industry experts and newcomers--on what authentic partnership means, how partnerships evolve, benefits of partnerships as well the challenges they can present. How does a museum determine and select a viable partner or partners? What happens when a partnership encounters the inevitable pitfalls and barriers? When should you move away from a partnership? How does one evaluate a partnership’s success or failure? The book also looks inside the museum: what are key issues of institutional culture, staff skills and competencies, managing financial resources, marketing the partnership, and working with boards that often emerge in the context of partnership development and management?
Trade ReviewPartnership Power is a fascinating exploration of the history, reality, and potential of relational collaboration and networking for the museum sector. Semmel’s thoughtfully curated set of case studies surface an evolving recognition of the rights and responsibilities museums have always had as elemental pieces of a larger whole. -- Brian J. Carter, Board President, Association of African American Museums, Executive Director, 4Culture
The ability for museums to partner meaningfully and effectively within a network of like-minded stakeholders who are dedicated to positive change is crucial for any organization that wants to be a vital and lasting benefit to its community. This book shows us dynamic case studies to illustrate how authentic partnerships might become ingrained in the very existence of our museums. -- Robert Stein, Executive Vice President, Chief Program Officer, American Alliance of Museums
Finally, a book that offers a dynamic paradigm shift where partnerships are essential for thriving in our 21st century ecosystem - one defined by disruptive change and expanding networks. Provided are numerous examples of cross sector partnerships and strategies inspiring out-of-the-box thinking and a call to action. Thank you Marsha! -- Barbara Henry, Principal, Barbara Henry & Associates, Transforming Museums
Like any marriage, each partnership is unique. This can make finding, let alone compiling, best practices and guidelines for successful partnerships nearly impossible. As usual, Marsha Semmel has proven herself undaunted by the task and has compiled a wonderfully diverse array of case studies, findings, and tips; in short, snackable modules that can be applied and recombined to inform the partnership initiatives of any size museum or project. -- Nancy Proctor, Co-chair, MW Conferences
A great donor and access-focused anthology on the fundamentals of managing digital materials, especially for those working in archives that collect from beyond their own institutions. The technical language is accessible and much of the content is scalable to archives of many sizes. -- Arlene Schmuland, head, University of Alaska Anchorage Archives & Special Collections
Table of ContentsPART I: Partnership Power: Essential Museum Strategies for Today’s Networked World Introduction Marsha L. Semmel PART II: Partnership Perspectives Chapter 1: My Partnership Journey Marsha L. Semmel Chapter 2: From a Museum Basement to a City of Learning: Pittsburgh’s Remake Learning Network Gregg Behr Chapter 3: Partnerships as the Great Good PlaceElyse Eidman-Aadahl Chapter 4: Partnerships, Not Mergers Peter Ellsworth Chapter 5: Us Versus Them: How to Bridge Boundaries to Discover New Partnership Frontiers Chris Ernst Chapter 6: Partnering with the Public John Falk Chapter 7: Meaningful Partnerships and the Eight “Ates” Kate Goodall Chapter 8: Why Museums Must Turn Outward to Find the Right Partners Richard C. Harwood Chapter 9: Mapping Collaborations David La Piana and Melissa Mendes Campos Chapter 10: Growing a Strategic Partnership Mindset within a New Museum Marsha Semmel, based on interviews with Auntaneshia Staveloz, Allison Prabhu, Nicole Bryner, and Marion McGee Chapter 11: Partnerships for STEM Beyond the School Day Ronald L. Ottinger and Cary Sneider Chapter 12: Museums Can Take a Lead in Cultivating Vibrant Learning Ecosystems Katherine Prince Chapter 13: Strategic Partnership as Organizational Practice: The Hive NYC Learning Network Raphael Santo Chapter 14: Creating the People’s University Marshal Semmel, based on interviews with Felton Thomas, Jr. PART III: Partnership Profiles Chapter 15: From “They” to “We”: A Study in Collaboration Balboa Park Cultural Partnership Team under leadership of Peter Comiskey, Edited by Kristen Mihalko Chapter 16: Partnering in Digital Resource Creation Nik Honeysett, Chapter 17: In Pursuit of Freedom: A Partnership Grows in Brooklyn Deborah Schwartz Chapter 18: Habla Espanol? Tammie Kahn Chapter 19: Partnerships in Transforming a Neighborhood and Learning Landscape Jane Werner and Suzanne McCaffrey Chapter 20: A Museum Turns Outward: Listening and Learning Marsha Semmel, based on interviews with Joe Hastings and Kristen Leigh Chapter 21: Growing and Evolving a Network of Small Cultural Organizations Marsha Semmel, based on interviews with Althemese Barnes, Phyllis Ford, and Audrey Davis Chapter 22: Be Our Guest! The GW Model for Programming Museums John Wetenhall Chapter 23: Catalyzing Neighborhood Revitalization Marsha Semmel, based on interviews with Marvin Pinkert and Lindsey Thompson Chapter 24: An Institutional Commitment to a New Model of Community Collaboration Elisabeth Callahan and Karleen Gardner Chapter 25: Partnership 3.0: The Case of OMSI Marsha Semmel, based on interviews with Nancy Stueber, Marcie Benne, Lauren Moreno, and Kyrie Kellett Chapter 26: Growing the “Experiment Station” through New Partnerships Marsha Semmel, based on interviews with Dorothy Kosinski and Suzanne Wrigh PART IV: Tools, Tips, and Resources Chapter 27: Resources for Partnerships and NetworksMarsha L. Semmel
