View
217
Download
0
Category
Tags:
Preview:
Citation preview
DONNA ANN HARRISHERITAGE CONSULTING INC.
New Solutions for House Museums
Agenda
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
2
Discuss why the professional history community is concerned about house museums
Why understanding options now can help create a more sustainable future for your site
8 solutions in US and CanadaExpanding existing partnershipsGroup exerciseQ & A
Research findings
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
3
Mid-Career Fellowship from the James Marston Fitch Charitable Foundation, NYC
New Solutions for House Museums, AltaMira Press, April 2007
Living Legacy ProjectKykuit II conference28 Speaking
engagements nationwide
Why are house museums in trouble?
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
4
Few nonprofit owned houses have endowments
Volunteers and Board members are “retiring” and few young people are taking their places
Houses have a backlog of deferred maintenance problems
Attendance at historic house museums has been falling for 20 years
Historic Adams House
Deadwood SD
Source: Adams House
Why are house museums in trouble?
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
5
Fundraising skills of current board cannot keep pace with building/collection needs
More competitionHouse museums still
are the “default” useDoes it HAVE to be a
house museum?Elfreth’s Alley, Phila PA
HHMs sold closed or under threat
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
6
Carters Grove, Williamsburg VAThe Mount, Lenox MAMark Twain House, Hartford CTSamuel May Williams House, Galveston TXMagevney House Museum, Memphis TNState owned historic sites in IL, GA, OH,
CA, FL, PAAnd others
Research findings
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
7
Two fundamental choices for historic sites seeking alternatives to traditional house museum model
Non-house museum use 8 alternatives
House museum use
8 alternatives
Casa Amesti, Monterey CA
New solutions
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
8
8 solutions presented16 case studies8 case studies have a
non-house museum use
8 case studies have a house museum use
Hazelwood, Upper Marlboro MD
A. Non-house museum uses
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
9
1. Program for mission-based use
2. Long term leases any use resident curator
3. Short term lease caretaker4. Sell the house to a
private owner with easements
5. Donate the site to a governmental or other non-profit entity.
Margaret Mitchell House, Atlanta GA
1. Program the site for a non-house museum use
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
10
Program the site for a mission based use, but not a static house museum use Educational programming Mixed use
Still retains nonprofit ownershipRehab for this use can be costlyStill have maintenance and ownership
obligations
Case study: 1800 House
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
11
Nantucket Historical AssociationEducational facility to teach traditional
Nantucket arts and craftsAdult and children’s workshop settingCost $880,000 to restore and insert new
useOpened Spring 2005Great success
1800 House, Nantucket MA
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
12
Case Study: Alice Paul Foundation
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
13
Paulsdale, birthplace of Alice Paul, author of Equal Rights Amendment
Farmhouse in suburban NJ, 6 acres, surrounded by subdivisions
Dedicated to the ideals of Alice PaulDeliberate decision NOT to be a house museumA long slog to raise funds to buy and rehab $2MSuccessful programming, on-going mission Leadership center for women and girls
Alice Paul Foundation, Mt. Laurel NJ
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
14
Other options: mission based use
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
15
Retreat facility/guest houseMuseum shop, staff offices, collections
storageOther uses consistent to the ideals of the
person being honoredOther uses needed by the community
surrounding the building
2. Lease for a non-house museum use
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
16
House museum seeks a new user for the property from the private marketplace
Long term lease may permit financing for repairs (depending on lease terms)
Could be a mixed use Could be partially income producing use
Case study: Resident Curator
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
17
Historic site owner solicits for a “resident curator”
Curator leases the site for 40 years Curator restores, maintains and lives rent
freeHistoric site owner manages the
lease, gets no rentOther state park dept with this
program: MD, MA, DE
Hazelwood, Upper Marlboro MD
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
18
3. Short term lease-non house museum use
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
19
Written lease, usual provisionsAssumes lease holder is making no
improvementsCan charge rent or not if duties are
includedCaretakers are typical usersSome require that the caretaker open the
house for tours
Case Study: Meadows Foundation
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
20
Meadows Foundation founded 30 years ago to save one house
Now leases five houses on long term master lease from Township of Franklin
Broad range of events for the public at these sites
The caretaker is an ambassador to the public
The property is open to the public monthly and for special events throughout the year.
Meadows Foundation, Somerset NJ
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
21
3. Sell to a private person with easements
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
22
Sell former house museum to a private owner
Market rate sale, not a bargain saleDecide who will hold easement Place easement on property to assure
preservation forever before listing with broker (often will diminish value of property)
Place proceeds from sale into endowment or spend for mission related purposes
Case Study: Elfreth’s Alley Association
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
23
6 properties acquired in the 60’s to prevent demolition
All rented out, none thoroughly restoredOrganization eventually used 2 as house
museumsTook 40 years to decide to sell other 4
properties to private ownersSale proceeds into endowment Façade, interior and open space easements Self policing easement, troublesome
Elfreth’s Alley Association, Philadelphia PA
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
24
Case Study: Germantown Historical Society
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
25
Historical society acquired 6 properties through purchase and gifts over many years
All located within a blockLibrary, storage and museum uses in 4
properties Small endowment, no money to restoreDecided to consolidate into one buildingSold 4 properties with easements to a
developer to restore as apartments
Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia PA
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
26
4. Sell or donate to government or nonprofit
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
27
Donate outright or bargain sale to a nonprofit or government that has the means to restore and maintain
The last resortMost entities request endowment funds to
operateBuildings in excellent condition have more
optionsBuilding must have a champion or be exceptional
example of its style or typeLobbying is essential for this transfer
Case Study: Adel Historical Museum
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
28
Local Historical Society could not afford repairs
Municipality accepted offer to donate property to it with conditions for fundraising campaign
Local Main Street organization managed fundraising campaign to raise 60K to restore with volunteers
Main Street office in buildingOne room dedicated to archives
Adel Historical Society, Adel IA
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
29
Source: Adel Historical Society
Case Study: Historic Ambassador House
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
30
Threatened with demolition, moved in 1996 to Heritage Park
Restored with City of Fischer Bond fundsCommunity organization must help repay
bonds, furnish and outfit the spaceCreate exhibitions and maintain propertyUsed as conference, meeting
space/community meeting space, museum to Fischer history
Completely restored, difficult raising money
Historic Ambassador House, Fischers IN
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
31
B. House Museum Uses
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
32
1. Study House2. Leases, short/long3. Co-stewardship
agreement 4. Merger5. Sell to a non-profit
stewardship organization
6. Donate to a nonprofit Lee Boyhood Home, Alexandria VA
1. Study House
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
33
Continue daily management of the historic house museum, but use it as a study house with limited visitation
Open by appointment onlyFully restored and maintainedPrevents wear and tear on siteLimited income is generated from tours
Case study: Historic New England
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
34
Owns 35 historic houses14 Open year round 8 “Private Heritage Tours” first Sunday of
month in season and by appointment13 Study Houses—open by appointment onlyStudy houses are fragile properties in remote
locations with limited visitor interestCommitment to long term stewardship
Arnold House, Lincoln RI
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
35
Source: Historic New England
2. Lease for a house museum use—short term
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
36
House museum seeks a new user for the property from the private marketplace
A new use or retains a house museum useShort term lease does not permit financing
of repairs
Case study: Emily Carr House Victoria BC
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
37
Provincial government sought to “devolve” all 30 historic sites
3 phase procurement process15 year license to operate as seasonal
house museumFor profit, nonprofits, individuals, tribes
were successful applicantsMixed success
Emily Carr House, Victoria BC
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
38
Long term lease for house museum use
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
39
Long term lease between owner and nonprofit
Long lease term allows investment to be amortized
Inspections and performance provisions common
Case Study: Robie House
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
40
Owned by the University of ChicagoLeased for 36 years to Frank Lloyd Wright
Preservation Trust Inc.Took 2 years to negotiate leaseManaged and operated by FLW
Preservation TrustRaising 10M to restore, performance
provisions in leaseUsed as a house museum
Robie House, Chicago IL
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
41
3. Co-stewardship agreements
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
42
Formal agreement to cooperate Both parties must benefit Usually for a short period of time, a test Short of a merger Great way to learn about a merger partner
before launching these discussions
Case Study: Historic Adams House
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
43
City of Deadwood owns the houseAdams Museum and House owns the
collections and manages the siteEach entity responsible for their role and
half the cost to operateYearly budget and “management
agreement”Very diversified revenue sources
Historic Adams House, Deadwood SD
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
44
Source: Adams House
4. Merger
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
45
Formal merger of two organizations, creating successor organization
One board dissolvesEconomies of scale often drive these Cost cutting and staff realignments occurLocation issues paramountFunders often press for these
Case Study: Cliveden & Upsala
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
46
Across the street from each otherHistoric Upsala Foundation started in 1944;
Cliveden in 1972, donated to NTHP with local stewardship organization
Upsala had no endowment, viability concernsDiscussions occurred over 4 yearsUpsala use changed to meeting, events,
officesCliveden house museum use
Cliveden and Upsala, Philadelphia, PA
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
47
Case Study: Mitchell House & Atlanta History Center
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
48
Gone with the Wind novelist’s apartment in 1932
Purchased in 1987Center for Southern Literature created: book
signing events, literacy training, Pen/Faulkner Writers in the Schools program
Break even venture; wanted access to larger Atlanta History Center
Closed by AHC in 2005- as part of realignment
Margaret Mitchell House, Atlanta GA
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
49
5. Sell to another stewardship organization
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
50
Sale to a new stewardship organization better able to manage the site as a house museum
Can use an existing or create a new entity to hold title/manage site
Sale would be for a nominal sumNeed for an endowment
Case study: Casa Amesti
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
51
Willed to NTHP in 1953, no endowmentTwo, 20 year occupancy agreements with
Old Capital Club, a private eating club Concern about perception of public access
per Federal grant requirementsTook 15 years to craft new stewardship
arrangement; endowment and easement agreement prior to transfer
Casa Amesti Foundation, great success
Casa Amesti, Monterey CA
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
52
5. Donate to a nonprofit or government
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
53
Donate outright or bargain sale to a nonprofit or government that has the means to restore and maintain
The last resortMost entities request endowment funds to
operateBuildings in excellent condition have more
optionsBuilding must have a champion or be exceptional
example of its style or typeLobbying is essential for this transfer
Case Study: Irwin Miller House
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
54
Owned by Miller family who wanted to preserve house but not adequately endow it (5M, needs 10M)
Eero Saarinen architect, Alexander Girard interiors, Dan Kiley landscape, perfect condition
Indianapolis Museum of Art decided to accept donation
Little art or furniture came with propertyFundraising happening now
Irwin Miller House, Columbus IN
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
55
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
56
Thinking about your options
Building ownership drives use options
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
57
Do you own the real estate?
Do you have a lease?Is there any formal
agreement ? Do own a collection
related to the site?Do you provide
programming at the site?
Point Ellice House, Vancouver BC
Building and site size drive use options
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
58
A use that fits the size of the house
Do you have grounds?Ancillary buildings?Urban setting?Programming &
Partnerships
Paulsdale, Mt. Laurel NJ
Building condition drives use options
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
59
Buildings in excellent condition have more choices
Buildings in poor condition have few choices
See chart p. 100 Carr House, Victoria BC Canada
Old models
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
60
House museum model is not working like the past
May not be appropriate for many
Some are questioning Heritage Tourism as a motivator for preservation
Fragile nature of non profits today
Lee Boyhood Home, Alexandria VA
New models
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
61
More options=more potential for success
Create partnerships: both informal or formal
Unique solutions for unique properties and stories
Loudon, Philadelphia PA
Community centered/membership based
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
62
John and Anita Durel, “A Golden Age for Historic Properties”
Meadows Foundation, Somerset NJ
Partnerships
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
63
Partnerships are a good option to pursueBoth partners must feel there is a real benefit Formal vs. informal partnerships
Formal: ownership, management, staffing, collections care
Informal: joint programming, referrals, exhibitions, tours
One time or longer term projects Some informal partnerships could lead to
more formal partnerships later
Relationship building for joint projects
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
64
Joint projects take more time and work than expected
May be the only way to get your goals met
May involve considerable compromise
Complexity may hamper initial discussions
Subject to personnel and board changes
Mill Grove, Audubon PA
Making partnerships work better
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
65
Get it in writing: leases, agreements, work plans
Have clear goals/objectives/standards/time lines
Insist on regular communicationLearn about each otherSet time limits, renegotiate, do bigger
projects togetherJoint decision making (if appropriate)
Exercise
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
66
Groups of 5 or 6 people, preferably people you do not already know
Discuss the case Please print your ideas!Identify a spokesperson Make a 2 minute
presentation for your group
I will type up & circulate
Mill Grove, Audubon PA
What do these solutions say?
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
67
“Are there too many house museums?”
Many optionsPartnerships with
Government Education Other nonprofits
Elfreth’s Alley, Philadelphia PA
Recap
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
68
Why are current house museums in trouble?
Research findingsOverview of 8
solutions16 case studies Understanding
your options PartnershipsQ and A
Miller Irwin House Columbus IN
Q and A
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
69
Hazelwood, Upper Marlboro MD
Book signing
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
70
Where to get more information
Copyright 2010 Donna Ann Harris all rights reserved
71
Donna Ann HarrisPrincipalHeritage Consulting Inc.422 South Camac StreetPhiladelphia, PA 19147215 546 1988 phonedonna@heritageconsultinginc.comwww.heritageconsultinginc.com
Recommended