Museum Consulting Services

Here’s an astonishing fact: according to the American Alliance of Museums more people visit art museums, science centers, historic sites, zoos and aquariums than all professional sporting events combined.

But since the pandemic ended many museums have been locked in a serious struggle to survive. Well over 65% of museums report attendance numbers are down, revenues nowhere near pre-pandemic levels and experienced staff difficult if not impossible to find. Compounding all these problems, The Art Newspaper stated recently that the majority of Gen X, millennial and Gen Z donors suffer from a “lack of engagement and also simply a lack of awareness of the arts…” And all of this is happening when the operating costs of museums are skyrocketing.

No question about it, museums face a future rife with challenges.

Now more than ever, it’s important for museum administrators and boards of trustees to reach out and find different, fresh perspectives from experienced professionals to tackle the problems their museums now face. With over 25 years experience as a Director of museums located both in the United States and Europe, Dr. Michael DeMarsche is uniquely qualified to engage the range of issues that museums must confront in today’s challenging environment. He works with museums to arrive at practical, common sense solutions to a whole host of problems. He can help your museum to accomplish the following:

Strategic Planning

Development/Fundraising

  • Establish and attain goals for a successful capital campaign

  • Identify, cultivate and solicit patrons for major gifts

  • Develop strategies for approaching a donor and making a successful request for a major gift

  • Understand the importance of special events to successful fundraising

  • Gain familiarity with tax laws that must be communicated to prospective donors

  • Establish management systems to track and cultivate major gifts, insuring that private donors continue to support your museum well into the future

  • Write and design effective publications including Case Statements that introduce major projects and initiatives to your donors

  • Establish or improve your membership program—an essential tool for identifying major donors

  • Understand the power of matching and challenge gifts

  • Recruit and hire effective development professionals

  • Acquire a vision for your institution’s programs and exhibitions centered on your “core” mission.

  • Create excitement for your future and attract private sponsorships to your operations

  • Communicate effectively your organization’s vision and strategic plan for the future

  • Perform a feasibility study that answers important questions surrounding your vision

  • Develop the values within your board that will direct your institution into the future

Governance

  • Organize a recruitment plan that can attract members to your Board of Directors

  • Recruit individuals to your board that are skilled at museum governance and are personally committed to attaining your museum’s vision

  • Develop a clear understanding within your board of its role and fiduciary responsibilities

  • Build consensus within your Board of Directors for any major project your museum might undertake

  • Review and update the bylaws of your museum, providing a comprehensive set of guidelines that can direct all areas of your museum

Staff Development

  • Train the museum staff to become the “face” and “character” of your museum

  • Make certain that every member of your museum’s staff understands their responsibilities and their personal contribution to your museum’s team

  • Discover the mission of the three “E’’s” and the importance of their success

  • Set your staff up for success with every visitor

  • Discover how visitors experience your museum

  • Identify the strengths of your museum personnel

The Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art, Auburn University

The Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center

The Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center

The Cafesjian Center for the Arts, Yerevan, Armenia