Indiana Arts Commission names Lafayette/West Lafayette among state's first cultural districts
The Indiana Arts Commission (IAC) voted recently to designate official cultural districts in three Indiana communities.
"I congratulate the Indiana Arts Commission for bringing to life the vision of House Enrolled Act 1017," said Rep. Eric Koch, R-Bedford. Koch authored the 2008 legislation to establish the state designation.
The official state designation provides significant opportunity for marketing, promotion, and potentially leveraging resources through various partnerships.
"The development of arts and culture is an essential tool for the City of Lafayette in many ways," said Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski. "It is a component of overall economic development and quality of life strategies that are vital to attracting and retaining business and residents. It is also central to our efforts for downtown revitalization. The newly designated Tippecanoe Arts and Culture District will further our goals for downtown as a destination for living, working and entertainment. We expect to work with the IAC to promote our district and leverage its assets for tourism and business development opportunities."
"We are proud to receive this designation from the Indiana Arts Commission," said West Lafayette Mayor John Dennis. "To be recognized as a community that embraces and supports the arts is important to our continued commitment to provide a quality of life that is attractive to our residents."
Communities interested in applying for the 2010 Cultural Districts certification must submit letters of intent by June 30, 2010 and applications are due by August 11, 2010. Click here for details.
Smithsonian Posts Museum Studies Resources
The Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies maintains a website at http://www.museumstudies.si.edu containing resources valuable for the museum studies field. On the website, people can get sources to help answer frequently asked questions like “What are resources that can help me start a new museum?” and “Where can I get information on museum accessibility policies and practices?” Other links list sites where job opportunities in the museum field are posted, professional development opportunities for museum professionals, a Museum Studies Training Programs Directory and a listing of Museum-Related Organizations. In addition, the G. Brown Goode Smithsonian Education Lecture Series from 2006 and 2007 are available for downloading and viewing. This year’s lectures include “From Research Lab to Classroom: Can Cutting Edge Science Influence the Schools?” and “Fostering Critical Thinking in Schools and Museums.”
The Indiana State Museum Foundation Board of Directors and the Indiana State Museum Board of Trustees have appointed Barry Dressel as director of the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites and president and chief executive officer of the Indiana State Museum Foundation.
The current manager of Heritage Communications/Walter P. Chrysler Museum in Auburn Hills, Mich., brings more than 30 years of experience in a variety of museums and historical institutions to the position.
"Barry is an experienced leader who has demonstrated abilities in both fund raising and institutional stewardship," said Gregory Pemberton, chair of the search committee. "His innovative and creative style will help the Indiana State Museum achieve new levels of success."
Dressel is a member of many professional associations, including the American Association for State and Local History, and the American Association of Museums.
He holds a master of arts degree in American history from East Carolina University and a bachelor of arts in history and political science, also from East Carolina.
"Barry is a consummate museum professional with keen analytical skills and we are fortunate to have someone of his caliber head the Indiana State Museum," said Katie Betley, chair of the board of directors.
Dressel's experience leading an institution that operates collaboratively as both a private and public entity played a key role in his appointment.
"Barry's demonstrated success in both the public and private arenas shows that he possesses the leadership and experience necessary to elevate this state treasure to a higher level," said Rob Carter, director of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, of which the State Museum and Historic Sites is a division.
Board Cafe: Five Fast Ways to Recruit New Board Members
- Post your “Great Board Member Wanted” ad on free websites that match people seeking boards to join with nonprofits seeking board members.
- Place a "Help Wanted--Volunteer Board Member" ad on your lobby bulletin board, in your newsletter, in the neighborhood newspaper, or in the alumni newsletter of a local college.
- Our best idea: Form a "One Hour Recruiting Task Force." Draw up a list of twenty well-connected people of the sort you would want on the board but who you suspect wouldn't join, (but who might know someone who would be a good board member.)
- Promote from the ranks: Ask the executive director or the volunteer coordinator if there are two or three hands-on volunteers who would make good board members.
- Board Member Swap: Pick four local organizations where you don't know anyone, but you'd like to (examples: NAACP, Japanese American Citizens League, Accountants for the Public Interest, community hospital.
This summary comes from Board Café:The Newsletter Exclusively for Members of Nonprofit Boards of Directors. Short enough to read over a cup of cappuccino, the Board Cafe™ offers a menu of ideas, news, and resources to help board members give and get the most out of board service. From CompassPoint Nonprofit Services. Sign up at http://www.compasspoint.org/boardcafe/index.php
New Tool for Writing Disaster Plans
The Northeast Document Conservation Center and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners have created dPlan, a free online program to help institutions write comprehensive disaster plans. The dPlan program provides easy-to-use templates that allow museums of all sizes to develop a customized plan with checklists; salvage priorities; preventive maintenance schedules; contact information for personnel, insurance and IT help and a list of emergency supplies and services. Member museums may access this tool and other resources on disaster planning and recovery through AAM’s information center at www.aam-us.org. Log in and follow this path: Museum Resources - Information Center - Facilities & Risk Management - Risk Management.
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