Friends of the Museum
One way of generating ongoing support for the museum is to establish a Friends Program. Associations of Friends are voluntary charitable organisations which are formed specifically to support their adopted institution. There is usually a membership fee for joining these associations.
Friends groups can do almost anything, provided that they bear in mind their main purpose of providing support and assistance to their museum or gallery. Their activities usually fall into four categories:
Generating income
- for special projects such as restoration/conservation work
- for the ongoing work such as the exhibition development
- for publications
Public relations
- developing publicity campaigns
- organising and running special events
- liaising with local newspaper and radio
- lobbying for government support
Recruiting members
- word of mouth recruitment
- organising visits to other museums, galleries
- publish news letter
- hold previews
- hold social events for members of the Friends group
Provide volunteer workers for
- catering
- researching
- collecting admission fees
- specialist tasks, such as accounting or developing education kits
- helping plan the market garden
- gathering props for exhibitions
You may also like
World Federation of Friends of Museums, How to Start a Friends’ Group
https://media.wix.com/ugd/66364e_293965ab05004938bd973b6cb2a19e5e.pdf
