The five core documents are the foundation of a well-run museum, shaping its values, operations, and long-term success. They’re not just paperwork—they’re a museum’s playbook for making thoughtful decisions, ensuring stability, and staying true to its mission. With these documents in place, a museum can better educate its visitors, safeguard its collections for future generations, and remain a vital part of its community.

Each core document needs to meet the Core Standards, which outline the key elements every museum should include. Whether you’re drafting new documents or updating existing ones, it’s important to make sure they align with these standards and cover all the essential components.

The five core documents:

• Mission Statement
• Institutional Code of Ethics
• Strategic Institutional Plan
• Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response Plan
• Collections Management Policy

Also, check out the Mastering Your Museum’s Core Documents Toolkit, available for purchase!

Join Julie Hart, Senior Director of Standards & Excellence for AAM, and Kelly Falcone-Hall, President & CEO, of the Western Reserve Historical Society, to learn about how the five core documents can help your museum reflect professional practices.

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Recording and Accessibility:

The live webinar will be Closed Captioned (live participants can turn on CC).

This webinar will be recorded and made available to registrants and AAM members following the event. A transcript will be included with the recording when it is available.

The statements and opinions expressed by panelists, hosts, attendees, or other participants of this event are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of, nor are endorsed by, the American Alliance of Museums.