Marketing museum assignment

Tailor the program to specific curriculum subject areas that are depicted by the museum theme or collection. When marketing the program, not only focus on schools within your community, but other schools within the district and in adjoining districts. Offer an altered admission plan for a scheduled duration. For instance, if a museum currently charges a fee for admission, advertise that admission will be by donation only for a specified time period. The intent here is to create awareness and interest by generating a sense of value and to develop new audiences.

The effect is intended to be an increase in attendance and a resulting increase in revenue. Secure travelling exhibits as a means of attracting local visitors. As smaller museums tend to display static, unchanging exhibits and artifacts, it is difficult to get locals to attend a museum on a regular basis. If special exhibitions can be brought in, with local marketing museums may be able to increase their revenues gained from the resident market. {draw: rect} 0 ?? British Columbia Museums Association, 2007 Suite 204, 26 Bastion Square, Victoria, B. C. V8W 1H9 www. museumsassn. bc. ca BCMA / Best Practices Modules Page 6. Generating Earned Revenue*, cont’d… Providing a source for visitors to obtain food or beverages while visiting the museum may also contribute to revenue. Caution is advised, as running a restaurant is a difficult task, and providing this service through a concessionaire may be advisable. Another option is to use vending machines for snack foods and drinks. Providing research services for a fee can provide additional revenue. If a museum has a product or collection that the public may have interest in learning more about, there may be an opportunity to charge a fee to conduct the research.

A professional may offer insights and suggestions that museum managers may not have considered. *Increase the museum*’s profile in the community through communication and promotion. Examples of this tactic include entering the museum in trade, cultural, or home show. Although this may not directly increase revenues, it is intended to increase awareness and attendance and thereby increase admissions revenue. {draw: rect} 0 ?? British Columbia Museums Association, 2007 Suite 204, 26 Bastion Square, Victoria, B. C. V8W 1H9 www. museumsassn. bc. ca BCMA / Best Practices Modules Page 8. Generating Unearned Revenue* – Fundraising *There are a number of different types of fundraising approaches that a museum* can utilize to increase revenues. For a more complete discussion of fundraising, the reader is referred to another module in this series entitled Grantsmanship_ and Fundraising. _However, to complete the techniques is provided: Finding sponsors to help increase revenue is an attractive fundraising technique. Individuals or corporations can be encouraged to donate to institutions that provide needed community services, and for which exposure within the community can be gained for the sponsor.

Developing partnerships with businesses or other attractions can provide a win-win situation. Creating partnerships is a strategy that can be successful if both parties involved receive a benefit. A well-planned partnership can lead to both parties seeing an increase in revenues, as well as generating greater consumer exposure. Hosting special events that are not part of a museum’s daily operations can be beneficial for garage sale or auction not only brings in revenues at the special event, but can raise awareness of Foundations could be contacted to provide funding.

The Museums Assistance Program (MAP) is a Federal government program that provides financial assistance to Canadian museums and related institutions for activities that: facilitate Canadians’ access to their heritage; foster professionalism in musicological activities and operations; and foster the preservation, protection, and management of representative collections of Aboriginal cultures. The Canadian Arts and Heritage Sustainability Program is a federal government program that aims to strengthen organizational effectiveness and build capacity of arts and heritage organizations.

It is comprised of four program components: Stabilization Projects, Capacity The BC Arts Renaissance Fund, administered by the Vancouver Foundation, is an endowment and development fund established by a grant of $25 million from the Province of British Columbia to support arts and culture organizations across the province. The BC Arts Renaissance Fund’s endowment program will assist British Columbia’s non-profit arts and culture organizations to build permanent endowment funds by providing matching grants.

Fundamental keys to generating earned revenue are increasing the number of persons visiting the facility (and generating increased admission fees), plus increasing the revenue per visitor (through gift shop and food sales). Periodically re-assessing admission fees to ensure a museum visit remains an appealing option for the public, is important. In addition to bolstering its membership base, museum management needs to be creative and analyze other revenue generating techniques.

As well as increasing attendance and per capita spending, it may be that implementing one or two small creative techniques could add significantly to the museum’s earned revenues. While focussing on improving earned revenues, management is advised that although funding has decreased in the past, there are still numerous ways to generate unearned revenue. Conducting fundraising and applying for grants will remain an essential process in museum operations. {draw: rect} 0 ?? British Columbia Museums Association, 2007 Suite 204, 26 Bastion Square, Victoria, B. C. V8W 1H9 www. museumsassn. bc. ca BCMA / Best Practices Modules Page 12.