American Association of Museums Holds Annual Conference

Steven Salisbury of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports on the AAM convention being held at the Philadelphia Convention Center. According to Salisbury, the main topic of conversation will be money. The Association of Children's Museums also is holding its conference in Philadelphia, were it is expected nearly 5,000 museum professionals will gather. The groups will discuss ways of raising funds through museum to museum partnering and shared exhibits to long term awareness programs such as working with local community organizations such as public schools.

Most of what is in the article is already known, how the museum associations plan on solving the fiscal problems will be the key.

Salisbury states But despite the multiplicity of interests and the range of institutional sizes and locations, there will be one thing on everyone's mind.

Money.

"That is topic A, B, C, and D," said Dewey Blanton, spokesman for the American Association of Museums, which holds its annual meeting at the Convention Center from Thursday through next Monday.

Salisbury continues So museums, like other nonprofit groups, are in pain. Budgets have been frozen, staffs cut, and costs reduced wherever possible. At the same time, fiscal angst has forced a relentless rethinking of operations and programming. The isolated, high, and mighty temple of culture is out; the networking community partner is in.

To read the Philadelphia Inquirer article, click HERE.