Managing Resources for Collections Storage Projects: Strategic Planning to Completion

Collection storage project success is determined by alignment with larger strategic goals. Those planned as collections growth, access and preservation projects succeed while those approached as a building project fail. The resources required for each are completely different and impact the project definition in early planning, the internal consensus required and the financial resources needed (for the project and future operations). This session will present an overview of what project criteria and information should be known at each phase (strategic planning to completion) to properly inform the early budgets (which will be remembered by the board). Learn how input from internal stakeholders changes from predesign (problem definition) to design (project solution). This link of goals, scope definition and resource allocation will support a smoother process and the outcomes envisioned during strategic planning.

Presenter

Walt Crimm is a museum facility planner brings over 30 years of experience working with museums and cultural institutions providing expertise that is both visionary and focused on sustainable outcomes: intellectually, fiscally and environmentally. His approach is based on a foundation of 30 years as an architect designing museums around the country, recognizing that a programmatic voice linking ideas and content with experience in implementation of vision will create a plan that can be achieved within resources. For Walt, planning is not an abstract exercise of words or numbers, but a process of engaging stakeholders in approaching experiences through a visitor’s perspective driven by institutional leadership and community needs. Fundamentally, planning is an informed decision making process that allocates staff time, space and fiscal resources that are most clearly aligned with the museum’s capacity to impact visitors. Walt understands the challenges and trends facing museums and is a frequent contributor to publications and conferences and enjoys lecturing at several museum studies programs. Walt has worked with several Smithsonian Museums, The US Holocaust Memorial Museum, Brooklyn Museum, History Colorado, Ohio History Connection, American Museum of Natural History, Denver Museum of Nature and Science, as well as dozens of university museums around the US and Canada. He is the cofounder of the Building Museums Symposium and a contributor to the upcoming AIC publication on collections care. http://waltcrimm.com/