INSTITUTIONAL GOALS AND STRATEGIES
        

 
        

Cover Page

Introduction

Goals and Principles

Institutional Self Study

Institutional Goals and Strategies

Tools for Surveying Diversity

Case Studies

Glossary

Appendix A: Community Resources

Appendix B: Hiring Practices

Appendix C: Bibliography

Acknowledgements

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INTRODUCTION

Upon completion of the self study, institutions can begin to identify areas targeted for change. The following goals and objectives are provided as examples for institutions to consider. Like the self study, these examples can be modified to meet the specific needs of the institution. To ensure ease of use, the goals and objectives have been written to mirror the self study. We encourage full participation by board, staff, volunteers, and community members.

 

PART I. THE COMMUNITY

Goal: To have a clear understanding of the community in which the institution is located.

Strategies:

  • Obtain demographic information from community resources concerning a breakdown of the community's cultural groups by population, neighborhoods, schools, etc. [Please refer to Appendix A for more information.]
  • Conduct a visitor survey which will provide demographic information about the institution's audience by cultural groups, age, interests, number of visits, etc.
  • Conduct a community survey and/or focus group to gain information about how the community perceives the institution and its role in the community.
  • Establish a position to act as community liaison. A clear job description for this position should be provided.

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    PART II. GOVERNANCE

    Goal: To ensure that bylaws, policies, and mission statements which guide the governance process are based on a philosophy which values multiculturalism.

    Strategies:

  • Review and, if necessary, update the bylaws, policies, and mission statement to reflect inclusion.
  • Delineate paths of communications both horizontally and vertically within the staff and board to ensure that all parties embrace the institutional mission.

    • PART III. HUMAN RESOURCES

    Goal: To create a board, staff, and volunteers corps that is sensitive to the issues of multiculturalism and whose members represent the different cultural groups of their communities.

    Strategies:

  • Allocate funds to establish consistent board and staff development in the areas of cultural sensitivity and awareness.
  • Allocate funds to address recruitment and training of individuals who represent the different cultural groups of the community to be members of the board, staff, and volunteer corps.
  • Recruit and train these same individuals.
  • Use non-traditional resources and methods in the recruitment process demonstrating a genuine effort to accomplish this task. See Appendix B for suggestions and sample forms.
  • Establish a community advisory group to participate in and advise on all aspects of this multicultural action plan.

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    PART IV. COLLECTIONS, EXHIBITIONS, PROGRAMS, AND PUBLICATIONS

    Goal: To review collecting policies and planning strategies which will cultivate a sensitivity toward diversity, leading to a more inclusive approach to collecting, exhibition development, educational programming, and publications.

    Strategies:

  • Establish policies that indicate how the collection is to be used to acknowledge cultural differences
  • Enhance existing collections through resource sharing.
  • Include members of the community to participate in the planning process of future programs.
  • Develop ways of reinterpreting already existing collections to reflect the interests of the community.

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    PART V. DEVELOPMENT, MARKETING, AND PUBLIC RELATIONS

    Goal: To establish strategies that demonstrate a philosophy of inclusion in the areas of development, marketing, and public relations.

    Strategies:

  • Designate and allocate funds for a staff position to address development, marketing, and public relations concerns.
  • Use demographic reports to establish an audience development campaign that will target the different cultural groups of the community.
  • Create opportunities for community input and involvement in the development process.
  • Develop and implement a system to facilitate internal communication concerning these strategies between and within departments.

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    PART VI. REASSESSMENT

    Goal: To assess the institution's process of becoming inclusive.

    Strategies:

  • Designate a chairperson responsible for the ongoing self-study.
  • Establish a committee inclusive of board, staff, volunteers, and the community to implement the plan.
  • Develop the role that multiculturalism plays in the exchange between the museum and the community.
  • Create short-term objectives and long-term goals, using the self-study as a guide.
  • Develop a timeline for the implementation of these objectives and goals.
  • Establish an audit of diversity within the workplace. Use the reassessment section of the self-study and the sensitivity tools as a guide for this audit.
  • Modify the plan as needed.
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