The Circuit Riders program provides a half-day site visit from a curator and an archivist who look at the basic collections care and management needs of the museum. The site visit is followed by a brief report that includes suggestions for site-specific actions along with resources to help the museum practicably accomplish them. The atmosphere is informal, with questions and interchange throughout the visit.
Targeted for very small museums, especially those with small or all-volunteer staffs, the Circuit Riders is proving to be an effective way for them to get a lot of individualized help from a small investment (VAM funds the Circuit Rider visits, which are free to VAM museums). Sites get valuable feedback and suggestions for improving basic collections care and management at their own particular institution. Sometimes they need help with where to begin to get their collections on track, often they just need help deciding what steps to take in what order. They have the opportunity to discuss their own specific issues in a one-on-one collegial setting. As an outside consultation by experts in the museum field, Circuit Riders has also served as a means to engage board members and to help support grant applications.
It’s been really gratifying to hear what folks have been able to accomplish as a result of the CR visit. We’ve heard from museums that were inspired to start making changes as soon as we drove away, who asked for (and got!) funding for supplies we recommended, or who finally got management to give them what they needed to move forward.To date VAM has helped over 30 small museums in VA through the Circuit Riders program. More folks like these need your help! Your support will help ensure it continues. Please visit VAM's donate page any time to donate to Circuit Riders. That page will redirect to the Amazing Raise donation interface on September 18th and 19th. Thanks for your support of the Circuit Riders!
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