Value & Museums in Transition: Confronting Change [VRC Foundations 1]

After spending 16 months interviewing museum leaders from around the world, I noticed a pattern: When asked about their institution's unique value, leaders offered rich, passionate expositions on the wonderful things their museums are doing for their communities. Yet beneath these well-crafted statements lies a troubling reality: very few could specifically describe who they serve and what measurable value they create for these constituencies. This isn't a criticism – it's a reflection of how our sector has evolved. We've inherited frameworks and metrics that made sense for 20th-century institutions but fall short in today's reality. While museums remain popular leisure education destinations, most are still searching for how to actualize their commitment to users. In this first session of the Foundations series, we'll discuss my examination of this challenge through two foundational chapters, exploring why even thoughtfully developed mission statements and strategic plans often lack the necessary completeness and specificity about who, exactly, the museum is serving and why. Session Focus & Required ReadingOur 80-minute discussion centers on two foundational chapters from my book, Leaning into Value: Becoming a User-Focused Museum: Chapter 1: Value: Building on themes from my previous work, this chapter clarifies key aspects of the "problem space" museums face when attempting to define their value. I make the case that becoming truly value-focused requires becoming genuinely user-focused, raising crucial questions about how museum leaders currently envision their impact. Chapter 2: Museums in Transition: Here I share findings from my 16-month investigation into how leading museum professionals think about their institutions' worth. While the responses were often inspiring, they revealed a field in transition – struggling to fully actualize its commitment to users and frequently underselling the real value created every day. Come prepared to discuss passages you found particularly relevant or challenging for your institution. -John Falk  Session Structure1. Opening Reflection (10 minutes) 2. Small Group Discussion (15 minutes) 3. Challenge Synthesis (5 minutes) 4. Facilitated Discussion with Dr. Falk (45 minutes) 5. Closing (5 minutes) Participation & RegistrationParticipation is open to: • Learning Leaders from institutions enrolled in The Value Realization Collaborative • Staff from institutions enrolled as Organizational Members Not Yet Enrolled? Registration for the Value Realization Collaborative closes January 31, 2025. Institutions can choose: • Full Program (includes membership, events, coursework for learning leaders, and implementation support through November) or the Foundations Program (includes membership, February events, and coursework) — Registration • Organizational Members (event participation only for your staff)  — Registration About John FalkDr. John Falk is the Founder and CEO of the Institute for Learning Innovation and Emeritus Sea Grant Professor of Free-Choice Learning at Oregon State University. His research focuses on how cultural institutions support public wellbeing and learning. Dr. Falk's work is transforming how museums understand and validate their impact. How to Participate1. Complete the assigned reading before the session (If your copy of the book doesn’t arrive in time, let us know and we’ll send you a scan of the introduction and first two chapters.) 2. Join via the link in your calendar invitation 3. Come prepared to engage in focused discussion 4. Consider bringing specific examples from your institution This session will be recorded and edited to protect participant privacy. The recording will be made available in the MaP Insights space. Questions?Leave a comment below or email [email protected]