rose museum & gardens

T RADESCANT rose museum & gardens a peer review site simulation Welcome to the Peer Review Simulation Program. AAM developed this program to provide a safe area for peer reviewers, new and veteran, to bring his or her knowledge and experience to bear upon a simulated site visit. This program will allow you to develop your skills, experience the issues involved in a site visit, and explore the type and depth of information often available for an assignment. Click to Enter Help

Simulation Navigation Map 003 Tradescant Rose Museum and Gardens Staff Interviews Sample Report Community Research Self Study Disclaimer AAM Resources Contact AAM Click on a Section of the Garden Map to explore that area of the simulation Home Exit Next Back

Community Research Simulation 005 Community Research Simulation “Museums are places where people are encouraged to make connections, to seek common ground. As collaborators and partners, they are institutions that make common cause with others…” From Robert Archibald, President, Missouri Historical Society, and Chair, Museums and Community National Task Force Click NEXT to Continue Next Back Home Exit

Lesson Overview 015 Lesson Overview To complete this lesson you will learn: • The rationale for Community Research • The five major categories of community research and corresponding critical issues • How to identify the appropriate resources for conducting community research • How to apply and incorporate community research to museum goals • To complete this lesson you will need: • To enable your computer’s Internet Connection • A copy of the Critical Issues Checklist* and Sample Narrative Report* • Scratch paper • This lesson will take approximately 30 minutes to complete • *You may either print a copy of this document or open the file and minimize it on your taskbar at the bottom of your screen for quick reference. Click NEXT to Continue Home Next Back Exit

Community Research Defined 020 Community Research Defined Community Research is a process whereby the peer reviewer identifies and interprets existing and potential museum-community relationships as they apply to a given museum’s operations. Click NEXT to Continue Exit Home Next Back

Simulation Entry screen 021 Community Research Defined The are five major areas of Community Research. Researching these areas as they relate to a museum’s goals will assist you in completing the Critical Issues Checklist and Assessment Report. They are: • Potential Partners/Peer Groups • Museums Website/Communications • Demographics/Audience Characteristics • Community Planning Efforts • Opportunities Click on the major area of research to view the corresponding Critical Issue. Once you are finished, click Next to continue Click NEXT to Continue Exit Home Next Back

Community Research Main Menu 025 Community Research The remainder of this lesson will explore resources and community research application as they relate to the Tradescant Rose Museum & Gardens (TRM&G) Peer Review Simulation. Click NEXT to Continue Exit Home Next Back

Community Research Main Menu 026 Community Research Main Menu Before you continue please take a few minutes to review the TRM&G Assessment Application and the main objectives of the TRM&G museum for this assessment. • Potential Partners/Peer Groups • Museums Website/Communications • Demographics/Audience Characteristics • Community Planning Efforts • Opportunities After reviewing the the TRM&G Assessment Application and TRM&G objectives click on the area of research that you wish to learn about. Home Next Help Back Exit Toolshed

Potential Partners/Peers 030 Community Research Potential Partners and Peers are businesses, nonprofit organizations, interest groups, governmental agencies, and other museums within the community that can be approached to participate in the museum’s efforts to meet its mission and serve its audiences and community. Click NEXT to Continue CR Menu Home Next Back Exit

Potential Partners/Peers 031 Community Research Building strong win-win partnerships and developing positive relationships with peer organizations and professionals are a component of identifying and serving target audiences, developing the museum’s community role, ensuring community participation in the development, communication, evaluation of programs and exhibits, and exploring avenues of funding and support. Most resources may be found on the Internet or you may wish to contact the local businesses or institutions and have materials sent to you for review. As we begin the research this area as it relates to the TRM&G it is important to keep the museum’s goals in mind. Click NEXT to Continue CR Menu Home Next Back Exit

Potential Partners/Peers 035 Resources for Community Research For the Tradescant Rose Museum and Garden, the potential resources for partners and peers fell into a few categories. Click on any one of the specific names under each heading to visit the web site of the potential partner or peer listed below. When doing so, consider how each might address the TRM&G’s main concerns or any of the questions on the Critical Issues Checklist. • Entrepreneurs and Businesses • Museums and other Cultural Groups • Schools and Academic Resources • Interest Groups and Social Organizations Click NEXT to Continue CR Menu Home Next Back Exit

Potential Partners/Peers 040 Application of Community Research The key to applying Community Research is to identify the links between the community and the museum’s goals. Click NEXT to Continue CR Menu Home Next Back Exit

Potential Partners/Peers 041 Application of Community Research Consider the objectives of TRM&G. Which potential partners in the community will support the museum’s goals? Please take the next 5 minutes to brainstorm potential partner relationships to meet the museum’s needs. Use scratch paper if necessary. Once you have finished Click Hereto view our ideas Click NEXT to Continue CR Menu Home Next Back Exit

Potential Partners/Peers Entrepreneurs and Businesses Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce Otto and Sons Nursery Museums and other Cultural Groups Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve Filoli Estate Guadalupe River Park & Gardens The Historic Rodgers House Schools and Academic Resources California Writing Project Watsonville High School Career Center Interest Groups and Social Organizations Heritage Roses Group The Rose Hybridizers Association American Rose Society, California Rose Garden Neighborhood Preservation Association 042 Application of Community Research Click BACK to return to the lesson CR Menu Home Next Back Exit

Our Ideas 043 Application of Community Research Click BACK to return to the lesson CR Menu Home Next Back Exit

Potential Partners/Peers 045 Community Research & the Assessment Once the site visit has been completed and the links have been identified you are ready to provide recommendations in the final assessment report. We recommend that you consult the Critical Issues Checklist when writing the assessment report to verify that all Critical Issue questions affecting the museum have been addressed appropriately. Click NEXT to Continue CR Menu Home Next Back Exit

Potential Partners/Peers 046 Community Research & the Assessment Critical Issues questions are divided into five (5) Main Areas. Click on the Main Area below to view its description. • Mission and Planning • Interpretation • Collections Stewardship • Administration and Finance • Governance Click NEXT to Continue CR Menu Home Next Back Exit

Potential Partners/Peers 047 Community Research & the Assessment Below are some of the Critical Issue questions that may be addressed using the results of potential partners community research. Questions below are from the main area of Interpretation. Go to the bookmark file in parentheses in the TRM&G Narrative Sample Report PDF to reveal how it was answered. • Does the museum have a clear understanding of its role in the community? (pg. 5) • Is the museum making good use of its resources to promote its goods and services? (pg. 11) • Does the museum have a process for exhibit selection and development that meets audience needs? (pg. 8) • Does the quality and extent of research fulfill the potential of the collections? (pg. 9) Click NEXT to Continue CR Menu Home Next Back Exit

Peer Group Lesson Review 048 Potential Partnerships Lesson Review: • Review the Critical Issues, especially in the areas of Interpretation and Administration and Finance • State the museum’s goals • Identify the resources through an effective search of the Internet • Identify the connections between the goals and the resources within the community Click NEXT to explore the area of Museum’s website/Communications Click EXIT to return to the Community Research Simulation Click HOME to return to the TRM&G Homepage CR Menu Home Next Help Help Back Exit Toolshed

Museum’s Website/Communications 050 Community Research Each year more and more tourists and visitors in general are using the Internet to determine destinations and to obtain information. (e.g. admission costs, features and directions). The museum’s own website offers not only this fundamental information, but also a window into its goals, atmosphere and approach to its audience. Click NEXT to Continue CR Menu Home Next Back Exit

Museum’s Website/Communications 051 Community Research Consider evaluating the website as you would an exhibition or a publication on paper - it communicates to a wide range of people without the presence of an interpreter and needs to reflect the message, mission, and information of the museum as effectively as any other medium. As we begin to research this area relating to the TRM&G, it is important to keep the museum’s goals in mind. Click NEXT to Continue CR Menu Home Next Back Exit

Museum’s Website/Communications 055 Resources for Community Research The Tradescant Rose Museum and Garden’s website is located at: http://gwis2.circ.gwu.edu/~ktmuse/TRGhome.htm Please take a few minutes to visit the websites and consider how it promotes TRM&G’s goals by asking yourself the following questions: • What types of information does it give the visitor? • How does the website support the museum’s mission? • What information, if any, could be posted to better support the museum’s goals? Click NEXT to Continue CR Menu Home Next Back Exit

Museum’s Website/Communications 060 Application of Community Research The key to applying Community Research is to identify the links between the community and the museum’s goals. Click NEXT to Continue CR Menu Home Next Back Exit

Museum’s Website/Communications 061 Application of Community Research Consider the following objectives of TRM&G. How might the TRM&G change or enhance its website to support its objectives? Please take the next 5 minutes to brainstorm your ideas. Use scratch paper if necessary. Once you have finished Click Here to view our ideas. Click NEXT to Continue CR Menu Home Next Back Exit

Museum’s Website/Communications 062 Application of Community Research Click NEXT to Continue CR Menu Home Next Back Exit

Museum’s Website/Communications 063 Community Research and the Assessment Once the site visit has been completed and the connections have been identified you are ready to provide recommendations in the final assessment report. We recommend that you consult the Critical Issues Checklist when writing the assessment report to verify that all Critical Issue questions have been addressed appropriately. Click NEXT to Continue CR Menu Home Next Back Exit

Museum’s Website/Communications 064 Community Research and the Assessment Critical Issue questions are divided into 4 Main Areas. Click on the Main Area below to view its description on the right hand side of the screen. • Mission and Planning • Interpretation • Collections Stewardship • Administration and Finance • Governance Click NEXT to Continue CR Menu Home Next Back Exit

Museum’s Website/Communications 065 Community Research and the Assessment Below is an example of a Critical Issue question that may be addressed using the results of Museum Website/Communications community research. The question below is from the main area of Interpretation. Go to the bookmark file in parentheses in the TRM&G Narrative Sample Report PDF to reveal how it was answered. • Do the publications have appropriate goals for communicating with the museum’s audiences and community, and do they achieve these goals? (pg. 10) Click NEXT to Continue CR Menu Home Next Back Exit

Museum’s Website/Communications 066 Community Research and the Assessment Lesson Review: • Review the Critical Issues, especially in the areas of Interpretation • State the museum’s goals • Identify the resources through an effective search of the Internet for the museum’s website or other community websites that have a page on the museum • Identify the connections between museum goals and community research Click NEXT to explore Audience Characteristics/Demographics Click EXIT to return to the Community Research Simulation Click HOME to return to the TRM&G Homepage CR Menu Home Next Help Back Exit Toolshed

Demographics 070 Audience Characteristics In order to address any questions or concerns related to how well the museum is meeting the needs of their audiences and community, it is helpful to develop a sense of the potential audiences prior to arriving on the visit. Click NEXT to Continue CR Menu Home Exit Next Back

Demographics 071 Audience Characteristics Identifying the characteristics of target audiences allows you to shape questions to ask staff during the visit and develop an initial interpretation of the connection or disconnect between the needs of the target audience and the museum’s efforts. Much of this information can be found on the Internet. As we begin the research this as it relates to the TRM&G it is important to keep the museum’s goal in mind. Click NEXT to Continue CR Menu Home Exit Next Back

Audience Characteristics/Demographics 075 Resources for Community Research For the Tradescant Rose Museum and Gardens, the potential resources for audience characteristics/demographics fell into two categories. Click on either of the main categories to view the names of government agencies and search engines that will assist you in this area of community research. Take a few minutes to view the websites and conduct the sample searches suggested, when doing so, consider how the community characteristics might relate to the TRM&G’s main concerns or any of the questions on the Critical Issues Checklist. • Geographic • Census Click NEXT to Continue CR Menu Home Exit Next Back

Demographics 080 Audience Characteristics The key to applying Community Research is to identify the connections between the community and the museum’s goals. Click NEXT to Continue CR Menu Next Home Back Exit

Demographics 081 Audience Characteristics Consider the objectives of TRM&G. What did the results of your audience characteristics/demographics reveal of the TRM&G community? Please take the next 5 minutes to jot down your thoughts on how the results impact museum goals. Once you have finished Click Here to view our ideas. Click NEXT to Continue CR Menu Home Back Exit Next

Our Ideas 082 Application of Community Research Click NEXT to Continue CR Menu Home Exit Next Back

Demographics 085 Community Research and the Assessment Once the site visit has been completed and the connections have been identified you are ready to provide recommendations in the final assessment report. We recommend that you consult the Critical Issues Checklist when writing the assessment report to verify that all Critical Issues questions affecting the museum have been addressed appropriately. Click NEXT to Continue CR Menu Home Exit Next Back

Demographics 086 Community Research and the Assessment Critical Issue questions are divided into five (5) Main Areas. Click on the Main Area below to view its description. • Mission and Planning • Interpretation • Collections Stewardship • Administration and Finance • Governance Click NEXT to Continue CR Menu Home Exit Next Back

Demographics 087 Community Research and the Assessment Below are the Critical Issue questions that may be addressed using the results of potential partners community research. Question below are from the main areas of Interpretation and Community Planning. Go to the bookmark file in parentheses in the TRM&G Narrative Sample Report PDF to reveal how it was answered. • Does the museum have a clear understanding of its role in the community? (pg. 8) • Is the community active in and supportive of the museum? (pg. 5) • Do the museum’s programs meet the needs of its audiences? (pg. 8) • Does the museum have a process for exhibit selection and development that meets audience needs? (pg. 8) Click NEXT to Continue CR Menu Home Exit Next Back

Demographics 088 Community Research and the Assessment Lesson Review: • Review the Critical Issues, especially in the areas of Interpretation and Community Planning • State the museum’s goals • Identify the resources through an effective search of the Internet, specifically local Chambers of Commerce and most recent census data • Identify the connections between museum goals and community research Click NEXT to explore the area of Community Planning Click EXIT to return to the Community Research Simulation Click HOME to return to the TRM&G Homepage CR Menu Home Help Exit Next Back Toolshed

Community Planning 090 Community Research Participating in the planning efforts of the city, county, and region the museum exists within can open doors to financial opportunities, create a stronger connection between the health of the museum and the economic development of an area, which will in turn create connections that lead to productive partnerships. Click NEXT to Continue CR Menu Home Next Back Exit

Community Planning 091 Community Research While not every community is undergoing active planning, or publishing that information on the Internet for you to find, the potential benefits to a museum getting involved in that process makes it worth looking. As we begin researching this area, as it relates to the TRM&G, it is important to keep the museum’s goals in mind. Click NEXT to Continue CR Menu Home Next Back Exit

Community Planning 095 Resources for Community Research Click on any of the main categories below to view the names of community planning resources for the TRM&G. Take a few minutes to view their websites and conduct the sample searches on the search engines listed, when doing so, consider how each might address the TRM&G’s main concerns or any of the questions on the Critical Issues Checklist. • Sample Searches • Places conducting community planning Click NEXT to Continue CR Menu Home Next Back Exit

Community Planning 100 Application of Community Research The key to applying Community Research is to identify the connections between the community and the museum’s goals. Click NEXT to Continue CR Menu Home Next Back Exit

Community Planning 101 Application of Community Research Consider the following objectives of TRM&G. How might the TRM&G change or enhance its website to support its objectives? Please take the next 5 minutes to brainstorm your ideas. Use scratch paper if necessary. Click NEXT to Continue CR Menu Home Next Back Exit

Community Planning 105 Community Research and the Assessment Once the site visit has been completed and the connections have been identified you are ready to provide recommendations in the final assessments report. We recommend that you consult the Critical Issues Checklist when writing the assessment report to verify that all Critical Issue questions affecting the museum have been addressed appropriately. Click NEXT to Continue CR Menu Home Next Back Exit

Community Planning 106 Community Research and the Assessment Critical Issue questions are divided into 5 Main Areas. Click on the Main Area below to view its description on the right hands side of the screen. • Mission and Planning • Interpretation • Collections Stewardship • Administration and Finance • Governance Click NEXT to Continue CR Menu Home Next Back Exit

Community Planning 107 Community Research and the Assessment Below are some of the Critical Issue questions that may be addressed using the results of community planning research. Questions below are from the main area of Interpretation and Administration and Finance. Go to the bookmark file in parentheses in the TRM&G Narrative Sample Report PDF to reveal how it was answered. • Does the museum have a clear understanding of its role in the community? (pg. 5) • Is the community active in and supportive of the museum? (pg. 5) • Is the governing authority appropriately involved in the museum’s financial management and fundraising? (pg. 4) Click NEXT to Continue CR Menu Home Next Back Exit

Community Planning 108 Community Research and the Assessment Lesson Review: • Review the Critical Issues, especially in the areas of Interpretation and Administration and Finance • State the museum’s goals • Identify the resources through an effective search of the Internet • Identify the connections between museum goals and community research Click NEXT to explore the area of Opportunities Click EXIT to return to the Community Research Simulation Click HOME to return to the TRM&G Homepage CR Menu Home Next Help Back Exit Toolshed

Opportunities 110 Community Research Identifying opportunities for increasing public awareness of the museum, its mission, and its offerings are part of helping the museum grow, reach new audiences, connect with ‘old friends’, and maintain relationships with various aspects of the community. The fresh perspective of the peer reviewer may open opportunities in places the museum staff and board may have overlooked or discarded. Click NEXT to Continue CR Menu Home Next Back Exit

Opportunities 111 Community Research This section is wide open, so put your creativity to work! Opportunities can be anywhere, and often overlap with potential partners and peers. Opportunities may local festivities, open public spaces needing temporary exhibits, or even sponsorships opportunities (imagine your museum’s own little league team!). As we begin to research this area as it relates to the TRM&G, it is important to keep the museum’s goals in mind. Click NEXT to Continue CR Menu Home Next Back Exit

rose museum & gardens