ISS 25 (1995).pdf - The International Council of Museums

The Finances
The flow of money is a detenninant in most human endeavour and is cenainly a major
parameter in shaping the purpose and structure of museums. Most museums are dependent
upon tax dollars and as such these institutions feel obligated to serve the broadest tax pacing
public that is possible. With nations that have a strong cultural identity, this identity would be
fostered by a national museum giving purpose to the existence of a national type and that form
of visual and tangible history that museum collections offer. Where nations have old defined
national cultural attributes, the expenditure of tax dollars can be easily justified in promoting
those national cultures through heritage collections. It is the case, however, that special
interest groups assemble their own private money and spend it promoting the materials which
give meaning to their causes. In the same vein, private collectors who have amassed dollars and
collections which reflect their personal tastes have opened museums to exhibit their treasures
and these have obvious credentials for their existence. The flow of money is a strong
determinant in the organization and life of museums and with the pressures to sustain a variety
of collection perspectives, to serve a variety of publics, and to acquire funds which have
realized an increase in demand, it is not surprising that many museums are looking towards
user-defined operations. A user-defined institution sets its objectives as a common goal for a
known public and is supported by the public through donations and admissions. It therefore
gratifies the user-public with information and meaning with the objective of ensuring its
financial stability.
Responsive to community needs
It is a relatively new phenomenon where museums undertake to test the public's wants and
needs with surveys and market analysis to discover what an institution's relation with its
community is and/or should be. This phenomenon, most probably, is an offshoot of institution's
desires to become financially independent and to set their foundations on a user-defined basis.
Many museums are spending money and time to conduct studies to gauge public reactions,
sentiment and desire, to chart future courses under the heading of being responsive to
community needs. In fact, businesses have sprung up in response to this need to locate and
secure a permanent financial footing and to be perceived as being community-responsive, thus
creating a class of museum consultants whose expertise is sought after on these professional
matters ..
Charging and Value
Museums are responding to a heightened social notion that value is equated with cost and that
therefore if you pay little for an item or for admission or for the use of a service, then it could
have little value. Hence, those items which have the greatest cost have the greatest value and
museums are increasingly becoming caught up in this entrepreneurial spiral and are charging
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