COLLECTION STEWARDSHIP [refer to Standards Regarding Collections, in AAM s National Standards & Best Practices for U.S. Museums, 2008, pp. 44-58.] GOAL i: Improve the quality, focus, interpretation, and security of the Museum s permanent collection. A. Objective: Improve the care of the permanent collection and related documents Timetable 1. Inventory collections with intent to identify obvious conservation needs and other collection care deficiencies, including framing needs Curator and Registrar Staff time Annually Inventory completed; conservation needs prioritized 2. Engage a conservator(s) as necessary to prepare conservation treatment reports for items in need of conservation Curator and Registrar Cost of treatment reports; $TBD On-going Treatment reports and cost of treatments in hand 1
3. Building expansion plans should be reviewed to make certain they include adequate storage accommodations for the collections, based on current needs and future growth Director; Registrar Staff time By end of 2014 Space requirements calculated 4. will advocate for the improved storage of the collections and their return to an expanded main Museum facility; embrace and support the expansion project Chair, Collection Board and volunteer time Ongoing until project is completed & collections transferred Collections returned to Museum 5. Encourage endowment gifts to support conservation and acquisitions; list on website, part of funding opportunities Director; Director of External Affairs Staff time Ongoing Endowment gifts made 6. Order and install Optium glazing on selected paintings Director; Curator; Registrar Staff time; $ TBD Ongoing Optium glazing installed 7. Identify archival material at Sabbath Day, destroy documents as required Director; Director of Security and Building Services Time Ongoing Archival material identified and culled 2
8. Transfer archives from Sabbath Day facility to other storage areas Director of Security and Building Services Staff time; purchase of shelving as needed ca. $1,000 End of 2014 Archival material relocated 9. Scan primary documents in object files (previous #9 out: van acquisition removed) Registrar Staff time End of 2016 then ongoing Documents scanned B. Objective: Improve the quality of the permanent collection Timetable 1. Develop solicitation strategies for one hundred gifts for the 100 th Anniversary of the Museum in 2020 Collections Trustee, staff, volunteer time June 2015 in place 2.Begin implementation of solicitations for one hundred gifts Collections Trustee, staff, volunteer time By end of 2015 Solicitation strategies put in place 3. Strategic deaccessioning of objects, with an eye on quality and collection focus Collections Trustee, staff, volunteer time By end of 2014 and ongoing Objects deaccessioned 3
C. Objective: Improve scholarship on the permanent collection. Timetable 1.Publish collection specific catalogues, handouts, and brochures based on permanent collection exhibitions Director, Curator Staff Cost TBD Ongoing Printed materials 2. Develop plans for a new collections catalogue for the Museum s 100 th anniversary in 2020, featuring 100 of the finest works in the collection ( 100 at 100 ) consider online catalogue format Director, Curator Staff time By end of 2014 Plan presented to the Board of Trustees 3. Gather and direct printed matter, emails, documents, and ephemera related to specific items in the permanent collection to the object files Curator Staff time Ongoing Flow of information directed to Department of Registrar for filing D. Objective: Improve Board oversight of collections and their care Timeline 4
1. Recruit Board talent appropriate for the s responsibilities. Board Chair; Director; Chair, Governance Staff and Board time Ongoing Collection populated with appropriate Board representation E. Objective: Raise an additional $500,000 in restricted purpose funds by end of 2016 in support for conservation and acquisitions Timeline s 1.Identify works in the collection that can appropriately be deaccessioned and sold at public auction to generate acquisition funds. Director; Curator; Registrar Staff time Ongoing Deaccessioning list presented to Board for its action 2. Begin to sell culled works at public auction Director; Curator Staff time By end of 2014 Works sold at auction, proceeds received 3. List conservation and acquisition endowment opportunities on Museum website; include in fundraising materials; share same with principal donors Director; Director of External Affairs Staff time Ongoing Endowments listed and included among solicitation materials 4. Collection members will advocate for endowment support Chair, Collection Board & volunteer time Ongoing Endowments in place 5
5. Seek and cultivate collectors/donors willing to give important works to the Museum and support their care with an endowment gift. Director; Chair, Collection ; Curator Board & staff time Ongoing Gifts secured 6.Place deaccessioning policy on website Director; Curator Staff time In advance of the sale of deaccessione d any art Policy placed on website 7.List items being deaccessioned on website Curator Staff time As above Items listed on website E. Objective: Increase public awareness and exposure of Permanent Collection Timetable 1. Investigate and develop list of licensing opportunities for collection items Registrar Staff time Ongoing Items licensed 2. Alert press and museum industry outlets about major art acquisitions Director of External Affairs Staff time Ongoing Alerts sent; coverage received 6
3. Advocate for the Museum expansion for increased gallery space, as the number of galleries has not increased in more than 90 years. Chair, Collection Board time Ongoing Until expansion is built 4.Stay current with recent acquisitions on website Curator; Registrar Time Ongoing Recent acquisition posted on website in a timely fashion. 5. Bring high-res photography of the permanent collection up to date 7. Bring collection items on website database up to date Curator; Registrar $4800/yr. By end of 2016 and ongoing Curator; Registrar Time By end of 2016 and ongoing Photography brought up to date Website data base updated 8.Update Collections Management System; migrate an input data as required; associated licenses, and hardware Curator; Registrar Staff time; %ca. $15,000 By June 2015 New CMS up and running 9.Hire new Registrar, as incumbent is retiring as of July 1, 2015 Director; Curator Staff time; 9 month salary, taxes and benefits: $63,100 By April 1, 2015 New Registrar recruited and employed 7
GOAL II: Maintain the artistic, scholarly, and educational contributions of the Museum s exhibitions A. Objective: Develop resources to support exhibition endeavors Timeline 1. Include exhibition endowment among giving opportunities; list on website and include in fundraising materials Director; Director of External Affairs Staff time Ongoing Endowment listings in place 2. Develop and distribute to Board members a list of upcoming exhibitions having sponsorship possibilities Director of External Affairs Staff time Ongoing List distributed and sponsorships secured 3. Monitor exhibition schedules at other regional museums to seek out collaborative opportunities Curator Staff time Ongoing List of collaborations over time 4. Push schedule of principal exhibitions out a minimum of three years to give sufficient lead time to secure sponsorship funding Curator Staff time Ongoing Schedule in place and shared with Board and development committee 8
B. Objective: Evaluate the public dimension of the Heckscher exhibitions Timeline 1. Develop questionnaires/surveys that solicit feedback on the types of exhibitions desired by visitors and members Curator; Director of Education Staff time Ongoing Survey data received and compiled 2. The Curator and Director of Education will meet regularly to discuss educational aspects of upcoming special exhibitions before the exhibitions have been placed on the public schedule, including label copy, tours, brochures, catalogues, audio-visual components, lectures, etc. Curator; Director of Education Staff time Ongoing Meetings held; educational components agreed upon 3. Make an impact assessment/outcome evaluation of principal exhibitions Curator; Director of Education Time; minor printing/supplies Ongoing Evidence gathered HSP COLLECTION SECTION 29 April 2014 9