AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM OUTREACH STRATEGY (2008/9 - 2012/13)
Reaching a wide and diverse audience
This strategy guides the Australian Museum’s involvement with local and regional
NSW as well as interstate and international programs or services.
Outreach is defined as programs or services provided by the Museum outside its
College Street site and includes online and web based activities.
In pursuing outreach activities, the Australian Museum will strive to:
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increase support for the Museum’s purpose of inspiring the exploration of
nature and culture
increase access to the Museum's collection
work towards more collaborative cross-sector development
share Museum programs either physically or on-line with regional
communities
improve standards of care for the cultural heritage of NSW by providing
appropriate advice, training and services
increase interaction between the Museum and cultural/historical/heritage
bodies at all levels both in NSW and internationally
strengthen connections between the Museum and local, regional, interstate
and international communities
develop partnerships for undertaking specific programs and projects in
greater Sydney, regional NSW and interstate or international as appropriate.
And will
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continue consultations with local communities, groups, and individuals
through Museums and Galleries NSW and other organisations
develop and manage strategic partnerships (including memorandum of
understandings) with individuals and organisations
value local expectations and needs
regularly review and evaluate outreach activities to ensure both the
Museum's and the communities or organisations objectives are being
achieved.
Background
The Museum’s Corporate Plan 2006 – 2007 has strategic objectives in respect of
outreach which place emphasis on services to greater Sydney, regional NSW and
beyond. The Museum’s Corporate Strategic Plan includes specific goals to:
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Unlock and share the knowledge in our natural and cultural collections
Implement a Museum-wide approach to engagement with NSW
This emphasis reflects the Government's commitment to provide access and equity
to the State's major cultural institutions for the people of NSW. The Australian
Museum contributes to the State Plan Priorities through its outreach program that
support rural and regional communities, offering them quality services and
opportunities to explore nature and culture. Specifically the Outreach Strategy
supports several goals in the State Plan Priorities:
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Building Harmonious Communities – by increased awareness of nature and
cultures
Improved Urban Environments – by offering off-site exhibitions and programs
The Outreach Strategy also recognises the following major factors that will have an
impact on the delivery of outreach.
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The continued growth of visitors to our web site
Increased partnership opportunities through MGnsw as well as formal
memorandum of understanding with international organisations and
museums
The increase in the number of diaspora especially from the Pacific region.
The Museum currently offers a range of services which were outlined in the
submission to the Executive as a report for CSP 5.1 (see attachment). The key
strategies listed below evaluated the current activities and suggested new ones
based on the following internal and external drivers.
External drivers
 NSW State Plan
 Museums and Galleries NSW
 Equity of access to State Government cultural institutions’ programs and
services
 Project-based government funding for specific areas such as repatriation and
science communication
 Strategic memorandum of understandings with national and international
organisations
 Decline in government funding
 High cost of exhibition development and transportation
Internal drivers
 The priority to offer access to the Museum’s natural history and cultural
heritage
 Recognition that communities are key stakeholders in cultural collections
 Results and Services Plan
 Development and rebuild of the museum’s website
 Reduced staff resources
 Increased expertise in specific areas
 Increased provision of programs and services online
Key strategies for outreach
Collection Management
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Continue repatriation of secret/sacred objects as identified in the
“Repatriation Policy for Australian Aboriginal Secret/Sacred and Aboriginal
Ancestral Remains Collections
Provide ongoing loans as identified in its “Collections Management” and
“Charges to other Cultural Institutions” Policies
Provide collection management and conservation advice and assistance to
NSW regional museums and cultural centres in line with the “Charges to
Other Cultural Institutions Policy”
Develop programs and initiatives to “Unlock Collections” in both natural and
cultural heritage
Public Programs
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Prepare a business case for each regional travelling exhibition and proceed
based on financial viability or in response to the Australian Museum’s
priorities.
Assess the viability of offering small successful community-based exhibitions
online. Develop Upclose and Spineless photographic competition online in
2008/2009 and use as a model for future projects.
Explore the possibility of having a Museum wide policy to assess and
administer all travelling exhibitions.
Offer an opportunity each year to a regional professional to work at the
Australian Museum as part of the Museums and Galleries NSW mentorship
program.
Develop collaborations between Learning Services (including Museum in a
Box), Science Communications and the Web Unit in order to streamline our
efforts with outreach programs.
Develop outreach and online educational programs on the Museum’s web
site.
Encourage greater participation in the Museum by increasing involvement
with regional/rural communities through collaborative e-learning
opportunities.
Provide educational programs to local and regional schools through
innovative services such as Museum in a Box.
Administer the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes as an internationally unique
program of national science awareness raising and the Museum’s largest
collaborative outreach program.
Investigate the viability of touring the New Scientist photographic exhibition
in 2008 following the Eureka Prizes presentation.
Explore the possibility of planning a lecture/seminar to coincide with the time
of the Eureka dinner which could be promoted to raise the profile of the
Australian Museum’s connection with the Eureka prizes.
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Encourage collaborative partnerships with regional and rural communities to
increase participation in science based programs.
Expand the already successful Science in the Suburbs and Science in the Bush
programs and use them as a blueprint for future regional programs.