[MassHistPres] Historical Commissions and municipally owned museums
Today’s Topics:
Re: Historical Commissions and municipally owned museums
Re: Historical Commissions and municipally-owned museums
(Stephen Litchfield)
Hello!
I am a consultant working with the Sudbury Historical Commission on a project related to Hosmer House – an historic house bequeathed to the Town of Sudbury in 1978.
I am looking for examples of operational arrangements for this kind of situation:
The structure is owned by the municipality
The Historical Commission has oversight of the structure
The structure is used as a museum (or similar function)
In Sudbury, the Historical Commission directly operates Hosmer House. This means that SHC members are the volunteers that run programs, care for the collection, etc. The Town maintains the building and grounds.
Does your municipality:
Partner with another organization to operate a museum/similar (museum management agreement)
Lease the structure to another organization (a historical society, for example) for a long period of time and retain maintenance responsibilities and oversight of the structure
Directly employ a staff person with reporting responsibility to the historical Commission (or related municipal staff) to operate the museum/similar?
I am looking for similar operating examples, as well as other ways this might be accomplished. Successful or unsuccessful.
You can respond to the list or email me directly – regular phone calls are good too!
Thanks!
Erin
1154 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02215
Erin Richardson, Ph.D.
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