The CRCS Build-a-Museum Team Newsletter

Newsletter Number 02 - May 12, 2004 :

Report of the Louisiana Association of Museums Spring Summit 2004, New Orleans

On morning of May 6th approximately 175 LAM members and guests participated in their Spring Summit held in the historic Old US Mint located in the lower French Quarter on Esplanade Avenue at the Mississippi River. The meeting was schedule to precede the opening of the American Association of Museums Convention, which began that afternoon at the Morial Convention Center.

After a welcoming statement by Diane Losavio, Executive Director of LAM, Kenneth Hoffman, VP of LAM and Director of Education at the National D-Day Museum, introduced the Honorable Mitch Landrieu, Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana. Mr. Landrieu presented a very up-lifting talk on how important museums are to him personally, being the father of five children and wanting to see that the state provides a stimulating educational environment for their development. For him, museums play a very important role in education and quality of life factors for the citizens of our state. He is a great friend of the museums in the state and will support all of them to the best of his ability. Landrieu stated that there is a definite connection between our state's economy with all other aspects associated with the wellbeing of our citizenry. Without a doubt, Louisiana is the number one tourist destination in the USA. Tourism is a $9.1 billion dollar per year industry and we must strive to make it even better for our visitors. According to Landrieu, Louisiana is a place of unrealized potential and we need to focus on creative industries. Louisiana is competing at a world-wide level for tourists and world-class museums, such as the National D-Day Museum and the recently opened Ogden Museum of Southern Art, are making a difference in the international competition. In closing, Landrieu recommended that museum staff find natural allies for prospects to build on their current successes.

Next, Caroline Kennedy, LAM President and Director of the West Baton Rouge Museum, presented a talk outlining the successes of LAM's 25 years of service to Louisiana Museums. A few of the more outstanding facts she presented are: There are 15,000 museums in the USA, with 400 museums and historic sites in Louisiana. Eleven of the Louisiana museums are accredited. In the USA, 865,000,000 people per day visit a museum or historic site. This is more than the combined total attendance at football, baseball games and other athletic events, including attendance at movies. One person in twenty-eight is a member of a museum. 88% of museums have K-12 educational programs. 83% of science museums offer educational workshops. Ms. Kennedy asked the audience to visit the LAM Web site regularly at www.LouisianaMuseums.org. She especially asked those with children to encourage them to visit the section entitled  "The Louisiana Treasure Trail". In closing she reminded all of the upcoming LAM annual meeting to be held in Lafayette, September 8-10, 2004.

During the Buffet Lunch, Tamra Carboni, Interim Deputy Director of the Louisiana State Museum, introduced guest speaker Ed Able. Mr. Able is the current President and CEO of the American Association of Museums, headquartered in Washington, DC. Initially reflecting on the AAM convention, he stated that registrants are from all 50 states and 30 foreign countries; and that approximately 5,500 are registered for the meeting. Secondly, he stated that after the 9/11 event, these have been tough times for resources; however, a rebound is expected in the near term. Thirdly, Able noted that the Louisiana Association of Museums is one of the best and best organized associations of state museums in the country. He then moved into a discussion on the true role of museums. First, is that the museum in a community needs to help build civil societies. There exists the potential for museums to involve civic leaders to build a public trust in what the museum does. In essence, it becomes the collective memory of the community. A recent public opinion poll showed that folks who attend museums placed a level of 87% trust on information presented in a museum. The second major point stressed by Mr. Able is on the issue of relevance of the museum to the community. He used as an example an art museum in West Palm Beach where a street policeman became the catalyst in bringing about the creation of a youth education program focused on at risk youths. The program was a huge success and brought accolades from local government officials, as well as by the citizens of the community. Able closed by stating that the more museums can do to become focused on the community issues and problems, the better they will be supported by the community.

After a brief business meeting of the LAM conducted by Caroline Kennedy, the summit adjourned.