We are passionate about supporting positive change and creating a more equitable, inclusive, and supportive environment. We support meaningful and ongoing change, leading toward personal and professional growth that will advance the organization’s mission-driven work.
Museum Questions can provide impact-focused, capacity-building support in the following areas:
ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE
How can museums be as wonderful to work in as they are to visit? What does it mean for a museum to take on the challenge of creating a place where work can be done innovatively and effectively? Here are three ways you can work with us to grow your ability to create a place where your employees thrive:
- Group or individual coaching. For information on group coaching, learn about Culture Shift.
- Management training focused on helping new and seasoned managers supervise and communicate. This is offered in conjunction with consultants Rachel Ropeik and David Bowles. For more information see SEED:Management.
- Culture Audit: Let us help you assess what is working and what is challenging in your museum’s organizational culture.
If you are interested in learning more about organizational culture in museums, download our report. You can also read blog posts on this topic.
Institutional Planning
Planning is most useful when the process is open, collaborative, and generates new ideas. A written plan is strongest when there are clear tools and implementation strategies. Museum Questions can guide in the creation of any of the following, and leave you with a suite of tools to help bring the plan to life:
- Strategic planning
- Exhibit planning (Learn about our work integrating play into exhibits)
- Interpretive planning
I have participated in numerous strategic planning sessions facilitated by highly recommended consultants in the field. If I were to list them, Rebecca would be among the top group of experts. Her exceptional knowledge, planning, organization, presentation style, and determination to ensure the success of clients’ aspirations are truly commendable.
— Karen Newsome, Executive Director, Purpose Parenting
Program Design and Evaluation
A good program exists for a reason and resonates with the intended audience. It has clear goals while leaving room for unexpected individual impact. But designing a program is insufficient; program evaluation, conducted and reviewed iteratively, leads to ongoing program improvement. Knowing the impact of your programs helps you and your organization grow and excel — progress that will be of great interest to funders and other stakeholders. One often overlooked benefit of this iterative practice is the creation of a collaborative, safe environment for experimentation and risk-taking. Museum Questions can support your organization’s programmatic work through:
- Interpretive Planning
- Educational program design
- Professional development for gallery educators and educational administrators. Learn more about SEED, an annual workshop for managers of gallery education.
- Developing evaluation tools for internal, ongoing use
- Training in evaluation and how to use evaluation to support program improvement
- Training in and strategies for creating and implementing a cycle of reflective practice that leads to ongoing improvement and a culture of experimentation
We loved working with Rebecca to work on growing a diverse docent program. Rebecca thinks outside the box and was great to brainstorm with! I highly recommend working with Rebecca!
–Beka Plum, Director of Education, American Visionary Art Museum
Writing
Language is a critical tool used by organizations to convey what they do and why they do it. Organizations rely on written documents to reach many different audiences, including funders, visitors or audiences, community members, board and staff, to name a few. Museum Questions can write anything for you, including:
- Interpretive, strategic, and impact plans
- Exhibition interpretive text
- Audio-guide scripts
- Family guides
- Educator guides
- Appeal letters
- Grant proposals
You can read samples of my writing here.
Museum Questions 