Powerpoint of presentation by Tamara Lavrencic prepared for Building Together:Tools for cultral places presented by M&G NSW in association with ACHAA in Sept 2014

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

3. 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.

4. 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

5. • 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

6. • 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

8. • 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.

9. 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

10. • 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

11. STANDARDS PROGRAM
for sustainable community museums

12. Bunker Cartoon Gallery
2014 Standards Participants
What is the Standards Program?
A year long program of self evaluation for museums, galleries and Aboriginal
Cultural Centres run by M&G NSW
Began in 2003; since then over 100 museums from NSW have participated.

13. Brewarinna Aboriginal Cultural Museum
2010 Standards Participant
What is the Standards Program?
A process to gauge what the museum has achieved in the past and identify
what can be achieved 5 activities during the yine athr,e b fruietufirneg and practical workshops, and external peer
review

14. 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 tool
Is not a requirement for funding
Looks at museum operations as a whole
Holbrook Submarine Museum
Standards 2013 Participant

15. Previous participating regions
2002-3 Hunter
2004 Western Sydney
2005 Central West
2006 Northern Rivers
2007 Illawarra & Southern Tablelands
2008 New England & North West
2009 Metropolitan Sydney
2010 Orana
2011 South East
2012 Eastern Riverina
2013 Western Riverina/Murray
2014 Mid North Coast

17. 2014 Standards Program
participants
Mid 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

18. “To get an ‘outside’
perspective on what we’re
doing.”
“To gain valuable information in how to operate
our museum to it’s optimum capacity”
“To move forward and
make the most of what
we have”.
“To enhance ability to win
grants”
“To increase our knowledge and
confidence”
“To ensure that we are
following best Museum
Practice…and attract and
retain more volunteers”
Reasons why this year’s group signed up

19. Benefits
Shear Outback
Standards 2013 Participant
Promotion of the museum
Access to expert knowledge and
Advice from museum professionals
Access to resources
Reports and planning documents
from the Standards Review
Committee

20. Benefits
Assistance with developing plans
for the future and sustainability of
the museum
Increased profile and stronger
networks developed in the
local community
Green’s Gunyah Museum
2012 Standards Participant

21. Benefits
Networking opportunities
Strengthen relationship with the
local council
Up-To-Date Store Museum,
Standards Enthusiastic and energised volunteers Participants 2012

22. What’s involved?
Working together in a group within your
organisation
Completion of Self-Review Survey and 4
other activities
Being available for 2 site visits
Evaluation of the Program
Support from M&G NSW
McCrossin’s Mill Museum
Standards 2008 participants

23. Program activities
Activity 1. Participant information
Activity 2. Museum profile
Activity 3. Self-review survey
Activity 4. Stakeholder list
Activity 5. Significant objects

24. Activity 1. Participant Information
To determine the desired
outcomes of each participating organisation,
and their reasons for participating

25. Activity 2. Museum Profile
To successfully promote each
organisation in order to make
an impact on the local
community
M&G NSW website
Standards Community Directory
Stakeholder communication

26. Activity 3. Self Review Survey
A process of self
assessment to highlight
achievements and identify
areas requiring future
development

27. Activity 4. Identifying stakeholders
To assist in
strengthening
relationships with
stakeholders and
museum supporters

28. Activity 5. Identifying significant objects
Museums 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

29. Site visits
A half day field visit in August
Introduction to the museum, and a discussion of the outcomes of the
Standards Review Survey and following report

30. On-site review
A full day visit in October
to address specific issues
that have come from the
self review
Development of an action
plan for future
development
Reviewers complete a
Final Report Reviewer Jo Nicholas & volunteers from Griffith Pioneer
Park Museum
On-Site Review 2008

31. Feel free to contact me:
Tamara Lavrencic,
Manager,
Museum Programs & Collections
Ph: 02 9339 9908
Free call 1800 114 311
E: tamaral@mgnsw.org.au