Shelley:
Kansas has used RFP language almost identical to North Dakota. It has
served us well. Kansas is then able to calculate increase in
attendance based on the numbers the hosts provide in their final close
out reports. For example, we just finished the Between Fences
exhibition. All six host communities saw significant increases in
attendance when comparing the attendance numbers for the 6 weeks of the
exhibit with the same time period the year before. In some instances,
the attendance more than doubled. We also were able to determine that
50% of all visitors to the exhibit were from outside the host
communities and 25% of all visitors were schoolchildren. These are
figures that we promote when requesting funds from the State of Kansas,
as well as private donors.
When selecting sites we try to find evidence that there is broad
community support. North Dakota's question below - - the one about
listing 3 potential partner organizations -- has proven to be a good
indicator for Kansas.
And yes, Kansas has hosted a MoMS exhibit in an arts center and it was
wonderful. The arts center, in this particular community, really did
serve as the community center and was well-known and well-used by folks
both in and out-of-town. The companion exhibition was creative and
thoughtful. Kansas provides at least 2 free humanities speakers for
each of our tours so that regardless of the venue there is humanities
content happening. We often create and provide free reading
discussions too.
Julie Mulvihill
On Dec 13, 2007, at 2:33 PM, Janet F. Daley wrote:
>
> Shelley,
>
> We just went through this for the Journey Stories exhibit coming to
> North Dakota in 2009-10. Below is the RFP we used. If I had a
> concern about the capacity of the host institution to summon
> volunteers, I called some of the partners. Asking for three letters
> of support from the city leaders, arts councils, libraries, or schools
> was beneficial to our decision-making. I hope this helps!
>
> To apply as a host organization for Journey Stories, please provide
> the information requested below and submit it to the North Dakota
> Humanities Council by November 15, 2007.
>
>
>
> • Institution Name, Address, City, Zip,
> • Phone, Fax, E-mail, Website
> • Project Director/Title
> • Number of permanent staff (full & part-time)
> ______
> • Number of regular volunteers ______
> • Annual visitation: _______ Hours of operation:
> ________
> • Months regularly open: _______________
> • Hours per week Journey Stories will be open to
> visitors ______
> • Description of the facility where Journey
> Stories will be displayed
> • Names of at least 3 partners and resources in
> your community that will contribute to the success of this project.
> Include letters of support from organizations, such as the Chamber of
> Commerce, to show broad community commitment to the project.
> • Explanation of why your institution and
> community would like to host Journey Stories.
> • A brief description of your initial ideas for
> local programming and the companion exhibition.
>
> The Museum on Main Street program is a great opportunity for rural
> North Dakotans to experience a high-quality exhibition on their own
> main streets. We look forward to hearing from you. To learn more
> about the Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street program, go to
> www.museumonmainstreet.org. More information on Journey Stories will
> be added as the exhibit is completed.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Jan Daley Jury
> Executive Director
> North Dakota Humanities Council
> [log in to unmask]
> (701) 255-3360 or (800) 338-6543
> www.nd-humanities.org
>
> From: Museum on Main Street [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
> Of Shelley Crisp
> Sent: Thursday, December 13, 2007 2:08 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Questions about Audinece Count and Venue
>
> As I begin to put together the RFP for New Harmonies in North
> Carolina, I had a couple of questions to ask of experienced MoMS
> participants:
>
> 1 One of the assumptions is that MoMS will bring in additional
> audience to rural museums. How is this difference in attendance
> tracked: are sites asked to estimate in adavcne what kind of trqaffic
> they have and then those figures compared to MoMS attendance records?
> What kind of MoMS attendance records has anyone found effective?
> 2 What are the keys to identifying rural museums (usually
> under-funded, understaffed, underutilized) and making sure there is
> sufficient, engaged staff on site and volunteers available to pull it
> off?
> 3 Are there ways to try to anticipate these issues ion the RFP
> itself?
>
> Thanks for any help and advice.
>
> Shelley Crisp, Ph.D., M.F.A.
> Executive Director
> North Carolina Humanities Council
> 122 N. Elm St., Suite 601
> Greensboro, N.C. 27401
> (336) 334-5383
> www.nchumanities.org
>
> <unknown.jpg>
> MANY STORIES, ONE PEOPLE
>
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