Meeting of the Board of Regents | August 2010

Summary

Issue for Discussion

              Should the Regents establish a Regents Advisory Committee on Museums?

Reason for Consideration

              The process of amending Regents Regulations for museums involved a great deal of consultation and collaboration with the museum community. The museum community has expressed an interest in establishing a mechanism that provides a regular conduit for input and advice regarding the regulation, support and status of New York’s museums.

Proposed Handling

The concept will be presented to the Cultural Education Committee for discussion at the September 2010 Regents meeting. 

Procedural History

This is the first formal discussion of the proposed Committee.

Background Information

New York State has more museums than any other state in the nation. These museums serve as vital educational institutions that serve the needs of life long learners while providing stewardship for the cultural treasures of New York. The Regents have attempted to support the museum community by amending their regulations and by introducing the Cultural and Museum Education Act.

Previous efforts to address the needs of the museum community include the 1962 Commissioner’s Committee on Museums. This committee was commissioned to “ascertain the needs and resources of the museums of (New York State) and the contributions they are making to the educational and cultural welfare of the people of (New York State).”

The Commissioner’s Task Force on Museums met in 1994 to update the findings of the 1962 Commissioner’s Committee on Museums. The reports from each of these committees emphasized the importance of the museum community and advocated for funding via USNY.

Recommendation

              It is recommended that the Cultural Education Committee of the Board of Regents take the following action: Direct staff to draft a charge for a new Committee on Museums and make recommendations for appointments to a Regents Advisory Committee on Museums at the October meeting of the Board.

Timetable for Implementation

              Staff will provide recommendations at the October 2010 meeting of the Board of Regents.