Partnership Power : Essential Museum Strategies for Today’s Networked World

This volume makes the case for the “why” and the “how” of museum partnerships in today’s hyper-connected and networked world.  It features candid interviews with national museum, philanthropic, and nonprofit leaders and case studies of effective partnerships from museums of different disciplines and sizes.

Partnership Power situates museum-related partnerships, collaborations, and networks within today’s dynamic, ever-changing environment—with the increased emphasis on museums to demonstrate measurable impact in their communities and in view of exponential technological changes and in addressing such significant societal challenges as civic polarization, demographic change, economic inequity, and global warming.Through perspectives from other, related sectors, including libraries and other nonprofits; current museum case studies from a broad and diverse spectrum of museum types (history, children’s, art, science, and ethnic); and proven tools, tips, and resources, Partnership Power: Essential Museum Strategies for Today’s Networked World serves as an invaluable primer for museums – and museum professionals -- wanting to create and sustain effective partnerships and collaborations. The volume helps solve the partnership puzzle, focusing on the essential attributes of sustainable and relevant collaborations, within communities, states, and nationally, including examples of broader multi-institutional networks that are increasingly important to maintain relevance in this hyper-connected world. It contains words of wisdom from museum leaders, funders, community organizers, and researchers—both industry experts and newcomers--on what authentic partnership means, how partnerships evolve, benefits of partnerships as well the challenges they can present. How does a museum determine and select a viable partner or partners? What happens when a partnership encounters the inevitable pitfalls and barriers? When should you move away from a partnership? How does one evaluate a partnership’s success or failure?The book also looks inside the museum: what are key issues of institutional culture, staff skills and competencies, managing financial resources, marketing the partnership, and working with boards that often emerge in the context of partnership development and management?