Directors of Smaller Museums

About us

Leading a small museum or gallery has a unique set of challenges. Often times the director is the only staff member with museum qualifications and experience, so guiding and mentoring a small staff who are often volunteers is a large part of the job.

Many directors are isolated, without peers or support in the community. While we strive for professional standards we are always under-resourced and find ourselves working in every area of the museum. A day can consist of cleaning the toilets, performing maintenance tasks, staffing the front desk, guiding visitors, attending to collection care, writing exhibition briefs, carrying out research, and delivering reports in the council chamber. And that’s just a normal day. Does this sound like you?

What we do

We are a support network for our members. We regularly Zoom hui about topics that are pressing and meet during the Museums Aotearoa Conference. We come from right across Aotearoa – from small towns to large cities – and we have more in common than you would think.

Membership Criteria

• Are you the museum/gallery director with few staff (generally 10 or less)? Then you are DSM eligible
• Are you the only museum professional in a smaller museum, responsible for managing and training volunteers? Then you are DSM eligible

Join our network

We would love you to join our conversations. To join the group email mail@museumsaotearoa.org.nz.

For information email Philip.Howe@timdc.govt.nz or Rowan.Carroll@police.govt.nz

Find us online

We have a group page on LinkedIn