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This edition of Cultural Capital celebrates two milestones at Lord Cultural Resources. The first being the launch of our third edition of our flagship publication Manual of Museum Planning, which looks at how capital projects are an opportunity for museums to embrace and express a philosophy of sustainability. The second is a move on our part to increase our commitment to environmental sustainability by transitioning primarily to a web-based format for our newsletter. Don’t worry if you still like the print, we will continue to offer a downloadable and printable (if you must) version.
Manual of Museum Planning, like our company, is now over 30 years old. It has been published in several languages and reached museum professionals, planners, and students worldwide. As we set out to develop a volume that would speak to demands of 21st Century institutions, Gail Lord, Barry Lord and I felt that the issue of sustainability, while inherent in previous editions, should be further expanded upon.
Increasingly sustainability is the primary concern of cultural organizations, new and old alike. While shifts in the global economy and recent events have helped to put this issue at the forefront of management, government and board discussions — it has always been core to the missions of museums. Museums are the keepers of tangible and intangible heritage; preserving it in perpetuity for future generations. Thus they must be sustainable to fulfill the promise of their missions and carry out this critical societal responsibility.
As civic leaders, museums must strive for and balance social, environmental, economic and cultural sustainability — the quadruple bottom line. Each dimension of sustainability with its own unique charge, yet is mutually reinforcing with the others: |
- Social: Service to society is essential to being a sustainable organization and works to ensure that a museum is seen as a relevant, contributing, and vital member of the community.
- Environmental: Environmental sustainability is one of the most pressing global issues of our time. Museums must be leaders in their communities as well as globally on this issue — encouraging dialogue and discussion, educating the public, and exemplifying best practices.
- Economic: Spending money wisely is key to maintaining public, donor, and governmental trust. A museum must invest in its future with each and every dollar it spends.
- Cultural: Ensuring long-term impact within the culture of the museum’s community, whether this is local, regional, national, or a global community of interest. Cultural sustainability should be reflected in the museum’s mission.
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Dimensions of Sustainability
United Nations General Assembly. 2005 World Summit Outcome, Resolution A/60/1,
adopted by the General Assembly on 15 September 2005.
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