Step 1: Learn About Museums
Before starting a new museum, take time to learn about museums and the museum community. As the national organization representing museums of all kinds, the Alliance shares data about museums, as well as ethical guidelines, standards and best practices that help museums operate.
Museums serve their communities in a variety of ways. Learn about the value of museums.
This code provides a framework for ethical museum practices and reflects current, generally-understood museum standards.
These are the core field-wide standards that all museums should strive for and can achieve.
This book is an essential reference work for every museum. A free PDF copy is available to all Alliance museum members.
There are also numerous discipline-specific, regional and state museum associations that issue standards and resources to help your institution professionalize.
The Alliance conducts research to inform the public and our field about museums. These efforts include salary surveys and our Annual Condition of Museums and the Economy reports.