Best practice baseline

Presentation by Tamara Lavrencic for Building Together: Tools for Cultural places - M&G NSW / ACHAA Workshop , Sept 2014

M&G NSW’s goal with Standards…

…is to ensure that galleries, museums and Aboriginal cultural centres are able to reflect, involve and support their communities in a

variety of ways.

Guiding principles for museums• The museum has a sound legal and

management framework that follows recognised museum ethics and protocols.

• The museum is effectively managed, sustainable and publicly accountable.

• The museum manages its workers to make the best use of their skills and knowledge, and to achieve the museum’s purpose.

• The museum is a secure, well-managed facility that presents a positive public image.

National Standards for Australian Museums & Galleries

• The museum is used, supported and valued by diverse communities as a worthwhile place where people can express, share and discover significant stories, ideas and objects.

• The museum presents its most significant collection items, stories and themes through engaging exhibitions and programs.

• The museum is committed to its current and potential audiences, and caters for their needs and interests through its communications, programs and services.

National Standards for Australian Museums & Galleries

• The museum’s collection represents the significant stories and interests of its diverse and changing communities.

• The museum preserves its significant collections for future generations.

National Standards for Australian Museums & Galleries

• A Benchmark is a point of reference used to demonstrate that the organisation is working towards meeting specified standards.

• Best practices are commendable actions and philosophies that demonstrate an awareness of standards, solve problems and can be replicated.

• Best practices are usually based on self-assessment or benchmarking. 

National standards can be used to

• Understand principles and standards of vital importance to museum development and management

• Identify what can be done towards meeting specific Standards

• Review the museum• Advocate for resources to meet

Standards• Gain leverage to enhance access to

funding

• Help make the museum more sustainable• Identify areas for improvement• Promote achievements within the museum• Raise the museum’s profile with local,

state/territory or federal government• Enhance the museum’s credibility,

recognition and status within its local community

• Increase community confidence in the capacity of the museum

STANDARDS PROGRAM for sustainable community museums

What is the Standards Program?Bunker Cartoon Gallery 2014 Standards Participants

A year long program of self evaluation for museums, galleries and

Aboriginal Cultural Centres run by M&G NSWBegan in 2003; since then over 100 museums from NSW have

participated.

What is the Standards Program?

Brewarinna Aboriginal Cultural Museum

2010 Standards Participant

A process to gauge what the museum has achieved in the past and identify what can be achieved in the future5 activities during the year, briefing and practical workshops, and external peer review

The Standards program Is not an Accreditation Program (i.e. not pass or fail)Is not a regulatory mechanism – no rules imposed, rather a

developmental toolIs not a requirement for fundingLooks at museum operations as a whole

Holbrook Submarine Museum

Standards 2013 Participant

2002-3 Hunter2004 Western Sydney 2005 Central West2006 Northern Rivers2007 Illawarra & Southern Tablelands2008 New England & North West2009 Metropolitan Sydney2010 Orana 2011 South East2012 Eastern Riverina2013 Western Riverina/Murray2014 Mid North Coast

Previous participating regions

2014 Standards Program participantsMid North Coast

• Bowraville Folk Museum• Bunker Cartoon Gallery• Coffs Harbour Museum• Don Dorrigo & Guy Fawkes

Museum• Kempsey Museum• Mary Boulton Cottage & Museum• Nambucca Headlands Museum

Kempsey Museum

Reasons why this year’s group signed up

“To get an ‘outside’

perspective on what

we’re doing.”

“To move forward and make the most of

what we have”.

“To gain valuable information in how to

operate our museum to it’s optimum

capacity”

“To increase our knowledge and

confidence”

“To ensure that we are

following best Museum

Practice…and attract

and retain more

volunteers”

“To enhance ability to

win grants”

Benefits

Shear OutbackStandards 2013

Participant

Promotion of the museum

Access to expert knowledge and

Advice from museum professionalsAccess to resources

Reports and planning documents

from the Standards Review

Committee

Benefits

Assistance with developing

plans

for the future and

sustainability of the museumIncreased profile and stronger

networks developed in the

local community

Green’s Gunyah Museum

2012 Standards Participant

Benefits

Networking opportunities

Strengthen relationship with

the

local council

Up-To-Date Store Museum,

Standards Participants 2012Enthusiastic and energised

volunteers

What’s involved?

Working together in a group within your

organisationCompletion of Self-Review Survey

and 4other activities Being available for 2 site visitsEvaluation of the Program Support from M&G NSW McCrossin’s Mill Museum

Standards 2008

participants

Program activitiesActivity 1. Participant informationActivity 2. Museum profileActivity 3. Self-review surveyActivity 4. Stakeholder listActivity 5. Significant objects

Activity 1. Participant Information

To determine the desiredoutcomes of each participating

organisation,and their reasons for participating

Activity 2. Museum Profile

To successfully promote each organisation in order to make an impact on the local community

M&G NSW websiteStandards Community DirectoryStakeholder communication

Activity 3. Self Review Survey

A process of self assessment to highlight achievements and identify areas requiring future development

Activity 4. Identifying stakeholders

To assist in strengthening relationships with stakeholders and museum supporters

Activity 5. Identifying significant objectsMuseums identify their

most interesting and significant collection items.This list is incorporated into the Museum Profile, focusing on the significance of your organisation and its collection

Hussif, Pioneer Women’s Hut

Site visitsA half day field visit in August

Introduction to the museum, and a discussion of the outcomes of

the Standards Review Survey and following report

Reviewers complete the Field Visit Report

On-site review

A full day visit in Octoberto address specific issues that have come from the self reviewDevelopment of an action plan for future developmentReviewers complete a Final Report

Reviewer Jo Nicholas & volunteers from Griffith

Pioneer Park Museum

On-Site Review 2008

Tamara Lavrencic, Manager, Museum Programs & CollectionsPh: 02 9339 9908Free call 1800 114 311 E: tamaral@mgnsw.org.au

Feel free to contact me: