IAM Blogs

Museums are the caretakers of our cultural heritage, providing engaging exhibitions and programs that help tell stories of our past. Behind the scenes, an often-underappreciated group plays a crucial role in helping institutions fulfill these tasks: interns. 

These young, enthusiastic individuals bring fresh perspectives, energy, and creativity to the museum environment, making them invaluable assets to the institution. In this blog post, we will explore the importance of interns in museums and how their contributions shape the future of these cultural institutions.

1. Bridging the Generation Gap

Interns, often students or recent graduates, bridge the gap between generations in museums. Their youthful energy and innovative thinking inject a new life into the traditional museum setting. By embracing modern technologies and contemporary trends, interns help museums stay relevant and appealing to younger audiences, ensuring the institution's longevity.

(Featured Lombard Historical Society Interns Abby Remaine and Joe Noce) 

2. Diverse Perspectives and Inclusivity

Interns come from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and academic disciplines. This diversity enriches the museum's perspectives, leading to a more inclusive representation of history and art. Interns challenge existing narratives and offer alternative viewpoints, encouraging museums to be more open-minded and accommodating to various interpretations of their collections.

3. Skill Development and Mentorship

Internships provide aspiring museum professionals with hands-on experience and a chance to develop essential skills in curation, conservation, education, and public outreach. Through mentorship programs, interns learn from seasoned professionals, gaining valuable insights into the intricacies of museum work. This mentorship not only benefits the interns but also ensures the transfer of knowledge and expertise to the next generation of museum curators and educators.

4. Community Engagement

Interns play a pivotal role in community engagement initiatives. They often assist in organizing events, workshops, and educational programs that connect the museum with the local community. By fostering these relationships, museums become more accessible and inviting, breaking down barriers between the institution and the public. Interns contribute significantly to creating a sense of belonging and pride within the community.

5. Research and Innovation

Interns bring fresh perspectives to research projects within museums. Their curiosity and academic backgrounds enable them to explore new avenues of study, leading to innovative exhibitions and programs. Their contributions push the boundaries of traditional museum practices, encouraging museums to embrace experimentation and creativity.

6. Cost-Effective Labor

Museums often operate with limited budgets, and interns provide a cost-effective labor force. They can assist with various tasks, reducing the workload of permanent staff and allowing the museum to allocate its resources more efficiently.

7. Career Development:

Internships serve as a valuable steppingstone for aspiring museum professionals. Many former interns go on to build successful careers in the field, becoming curators, educators, conservators, or museum directors. Museums often provide mentorship, training, and networking opportunities to help interns further their careers.

Lastly, interns are the lifeblood of museums and breathing innovation into our institutions. Their diverse perspectives, energy, and commitment to learning enrich museums, making them more engaging and accessible to the public. As museums continue to evolve in response to societal changes, interns will remain instrumental in shaping the future of these cultural institutions. It is essential to recognize and appreciate the invaluable contributions of interns, as they play a vital role in preserving our past and inspiring future generations in the field.

Article By Alison Costanzo, IAM Board Member and Executive Director of the Lombard Historical Society.

In today's digital age, the role of museums extends beyond their physical walls, thanks to the power of social media. Whether large or small, museums are finding that social media is an indispensable tool that allows them to connect with audiences, enhance their impact, and remain relevant in an ever-changing world. In this blog post, we'll explore why social media is a crucial asset for museums, no matter the size of their institution.

Why is social media important?

Large museums might have established reputations, but smaller institutions can struggle to gain recognition. Social media levels the playing field. It offers museums of all sizes a platform to reach a global audience. The power of a well-crafted post can catapult a small museum into the spotlight, attracting visitors and supporters from near and far.

Cost-Effective Marketing

Social media is a cost-effective means of marketing exhibitions, events, and programs. Even museums with limited budgets can use these platforms to showcase their offerings and engage with their communities. This affordability allows smaller museums to allocate their resources to other critical needs, such as collections care and preservation.

Community Engagement

Museums, regardless of size, rely on the support of their communities. Social media facilitates direct interaction with local residents and museum enthusiasts worldwide. It creates a sense of community around the museum, fostering loyalty and increasing the likelihood of repeat visits.

Educational Outreach

Museums are educational institutions, and social media extends their reach as educational resources. Through informative posts, videos, and live streams, museums can disseminate knowledge and spark curiosity among their followers. These platforms enable museums to fulfill their educational missions in innovative ways.

Advocacy

No matter their size, museums can use social media to advocate for cultural preservation, diversity, and inclusion. Their messages can resonate with a broad audience, and their influence can extend beyond their physical confines to raise awareness about important cultural and societal issues.

Sharing Your Collection

Museums, large or small, house remarkable collections. Social media allows them to share these treasures with the world. High-quality images and engaging stories create virtual access to collections, democratizing art and culture and making them accessible to all.

Real-Time Updates

Timely communication is essential for museums of all sizes. Social media ensures that museums can inform their audience about changing exhibitions, special events, and other critical updates instantly. This real-time connection keeps visitors informed and engaged.

User-Generated Content

Visitors can become ambassadors for museums by sharing their experiences on social media. Whether it's a selfie with a famous artwork or a heartfelt testimonial, user-generated content is a powerful testament to the museum's impact and can attract new audiences.

Data-Driven Insights

Social media platforms offer valuable insights through analytics tools. Museums can analyze data to understand their audience, adjust their strategies, and deliver content that resonates with their followers, regardless of the institution's size.

Also, regular posting allows you to maintain a consistent message and brand image. Whether you're focusing on art, history, science, or a combination of these, a steady stream of content reinforces your museum's identity.

Why is it important to post regularly?

Many social media platforms use algorithms to determine what content appears in users' feeds. Consistent posting can positively impact how these algorithms prioritize your content, ensuring that more of your posts are seen by your followers.

By posting on a regularly  this can lead to audience growth. Engaging content encourages followers to share and recommend your museum to their networks, increasing your reach and potential for more followers.

Key Takeaways...

Social media is an essential tool for museums, notwithstanding of their size. It empowers museums to reach wider audiences, engage with their communities, and fulfill their educational and cultural missions. Whether you're a large, well-established institution or a small, community-focused museum, harnessing the power of social media is a vital step in remaining relevant, increasing your impact, and ensuring your place in the digital age. Embrace social media, and watch your museum's influence grow, no matter its size.

Article written by: Alison Costanzo IAM Board Member and Executive Director of the Lombard Historical Society. 

By: Dave Oberg, Executive Director

Elmhurst History Museum

Private sector investment in your museum through corporate sponsorships not only helps your institution find critical underwriting for expensive exhibits, events and programs, but also provides a valuable tool to broaden exposure, amplify your message and build relationships with businesses that can pay big dividends in the future. Creating a well-crafted, sponsor pitch, with an escalating ladder of sponsor recognition tools, can position your organization to attract and grow support over time. Following up that pitch with an opportunity to engage the business community at your museum can further grow your base of support in the business community. Below, please find a recent example of how the Elmhurst Heritage Foundation, the non-profit fundraising arm of the Elmhurst History Museum, significantly grew sponsorships through an organized campaign.

In 2018, members of the Elmhurst Heritage Foundation’s Membership and Development Committee worked to overhaul their approach to seeking exhibit sponsorships at the suggestion of committee member Ken Bartels. Bartels worked with us to create an organized campaign, with a ladder of sponsor recognition levels, in an effort to jumpstart our efforts after a long plateau. Key to this approach was establishing a top or “platinum” level for a single sponsor at a significant funding level, which would ensure that our lead sponsor received marquee attention for all five of our exhibits in the 2019 season. The combination of a sole sponsorship at the highest level, combined with exposure for our lead business on all exhibit banners, posters, calendars of events and other promotional materials, made this an attractive opportunity for a local business. Below the “platinum” level were two “gold” level sponsorships, with significant attention for up to three exhibits, followed by a “silver” level reserved for four businesses, that offered enhanced attention for an exhibition of their choice. Lower level “bronze” and “friend” level recognition packages were also included, to allow smaller institutions a chance to buy in and support the museum at a level comfortable for them.

To pitch this approach, the committee created a double-sided flyer, outlining upcoming exhibits on one side, and donor levels, with commensurate recognition, on the reverse. A friendly cover letter accompanied the flyer, along with a return card and envelope. (Please see attached example). As members of the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Elmhurst Heritage Foundation purchased for a minimal fee, a mailing list of local businesses. Key committee members then reviewed the list, honing it to roughly 300 businesses to receive solicitations by mail.

As a follow up, the Foundation hosted a Chamber After Hours event roughly a month after the sponsorship mailing went out, providing refreshments and an opportunity to visit the museum’s current exhibition. Foundation members, armed with fresh packets, developed a “divide and conquer” strategy for the evening, following up on the mailing with personal discussions with business leaders in attendance. The result was an immediate success. In the first year, the campaign quadrupled sponsor investments in exhibits. The following year, we doubled our 2019 investment, and the program continues to grow each year. The combination of a well-thought out sponsor recognition system, an organized mailing campaign, and a personal follow-up at a museum event has proven a successful model for the museum.