International Partnerships Among Museums 2005 - 2007 Cycle The Museum Mission Statement

Characteristics of an Effective Mission Statement

A mission statement describes the purpose of an organization and its reason for existence. It is the heart and essence of an organization, and it should clearly define the organization’s niche. It should be crafted to provide a distinct focus that strengthens the organization’s unique position in the marketplace.

An effective mission statement reflects the strategic thinking of the organization’s leaders to define an appropriate role for the institution. The mission statement reveals the organization’s understanding of the environment in which it exists, the relevance and appropriateness of the role it has selected for itself, and its relationship to its constituencies and communities. A well-used mission statement is a key governance and management tool.

A good mission statement conveys:

• How the organization relates to its public and its communities
• How it enhances the well-being of others and improves the quality of life
• Who benefits as a result of its work
• What services it provides

A mission statement should always contain two critical elements: why the museum exists and for whom. In addition, it should convey how the museum makes a difference in society, how it transforms others, and how the future will be different as a result of its work.

A mission statement is a living document that reflects the health, relevance, and position of a museum. It should be referred to often, reviewed frequently, and revised when necessary.

Sample Mission Statements

Adler Planetarium
Chicago, IL
The mission of the Adler Planetarium is to be the foremost institution for interpreting the exploration of the universe to the broadest possible audience.

The American Association of Museums
Washington, DC
The American Association of Museums is the national organization representing the museum community and addressing its needs, thereby enhancing the ability of museums to serve the public interest.

The A:shiwi A:wan Museum & Heritage Center
Zuni, NM
The A:shiwi A:wan Museum and Heritage Center is an eco-museum in harmony with the cultural and environmental values of the Zuni People. We are neither a temple nor a storehouse; rather, we are an active community learning center, which links our past with our present to better prepare us for tomorrow.

MISSION STATEMENT: The A:shiwi A:wan Museum and Heritage Center is an eco-museum dedicated to honoring, cultivating, and nurturing the dynamic process of Zuni culture.

Bowdoin College Museum of Art
Brunswick, ME
The primary mission of the Bowdoin College Museum of Art is to inspire and challenge the College community and to be a resource for teaching through the care, display, and interpretation of works of art. The Museum seeks to strengthen the creative and curricular life of the College by deepening understanding of human experience and promoting study of cultural values, and, in so doing, to serve the campus and community beyond.

Detroit Historical Museums
Detroit, MI
The Detroit Historical Museums present the history of our region in ways that recognize and explain our shared past as the foundation for our future.

The Exploratorium
San Francisco, CA
The Exploratorium is dedicated to creating innovative learning environments, programs and tools for exploration that help people of all ages, origins, and geographic locations utilize their natural curiosity to learn about the world around them.

Japanese American National Museum
Los Angeles, CA
To make known the Japanese American experience as an integral part of our Nation’s heritage in order to improve understanding and appreciation of America’s ethnic and cultural diversity.

The Liberty Museum
Philadelphia, PA
The Liberty Museum is dedicated to combating violence and bigotry through an appreciation of the common roots of Liberty. Programs and galleries of the Museum inform, educate, and call to action the best in the hearts of all citizens. The Museum serves as a center for human harmony within a framework of symposia, publishing and teaching initiatives.

Missouri Botanical Garden
St. Louis, MO
To discover and share knowledge about plants and their environment, in order to preserve and enrich life.

Monterey Bay Aquarium
Monterey, CA
The mission of the Monterey Bay Aquarium is to inspire conversation of the oceans.

National Civil Rights Museum
Memphis, TN
The National Civil Rights Museum exists to assist the public to understand the lessons of the Civil Rights Movement and its impact and influence on human rights movements worldwide, through collections, exhibitions, research, and education programs.

The National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution
Washington, DC
The National Museum of the American Indian shall recognize and affirm to Native communities and the non-Native public the historical and contemporary culture and cultural achievements of the natives of the Western Hemisphere by advancing – in consultation, collaboration, and cooperation with Natives – knowledge and understanding of Native cultures, including art, history, and language, and by recognizing the museum’s special responsibility, through innovative public programming, research, and collections, to protect, support, and enhance the development, maintenance, and perpetuation of Native culture and community.

The Pratt Museum
Homer Society of Natural History
Homer, AK
The Pratt Museum is dedicated to the process of education by exploring the natural environment and human experience relative to the Kachemak Bay region of Alaska and its place in the world. The Museums seeks to inspire self-reflection and dialogue in its community and visitors through exhibitions, programs, and collections in the arts, sciences, and humanities.

San Antonio Museum of Art
San Antonio, TX
It is the mission of the San Antonio Museum of Art to educate by collecting, presenting and preserving the significant artistic achievements of the world’s cultures from ancient times to the present, and through aesthetic and educational experiences develop a deeper understanding of human cultures, values, and traditions for visitors of all ages.

The Tech Museums of Innovation
San Jose, CA
To serve as an educational resource to engage people of all ages and backgrounds in exploring and experiencing technologies affecting their lives, and to inspire the young to become innovators in developing technologies of the future.

Text and sample mission statements taken from Museum Mission Statements: Building a Distinct Identity, Gail Anderson, Editor, Roxana Adams, Series Editor, 1998. TIS Professional Practice Series, American Association of Museums.