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When Frank was at the Exploratorium there were layoffs when needed. The Exploratorium weathered those and some were more dire. Now that they are a major presence not only in the world but on the waterfront they will get more attention. Since I don't live in San Francisco I may have missed all the newspaper articles on how the Exploratorium helped start science centers all over the world or how anyone in the field takes notice of what they are doing.
Nonprofits all face the challenge of making budget. Since the move is a major change I am not surprised that there were some unforeseen outcomes.
-----Original Message-----
From: Informal Science Education Network [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Rachel Hellenga
Sent: Saturday, August 17, 2013 1:34 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Exploratorium cuts 18% of staff as attendance lags
ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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I second Alan's comments about the difficulty of predicting these things. I have seen the hassles associated with "under building" instead of over building. Within one year of opening, the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center had to turn away school groups and/or carry out elaborate choreographed, timed tours to get students through the gallery tours during peak times. And she shortage of space resulted in banishing the Education & Development Departments to a different building separated from the main facility--not great considering Chicago weather.
It's also hard to get the staffing levels right. That first year after opening, everything is crazy and the people on staff are all run ragged, but you can't over hire because year two is at risk of the "sophomore slump" (I"m borrowing that term from John Jacobsen at White Oak) when lower attendance could result in layoffs.
It is tough to think that many of the people being laid off have barely had a chance to catch their breath and have likely been giving up weekends and vacations for a couple of years to get the place open. My heart goes out to all the staff and I hope they can take pride in their accomplishment and leverage the portfolio of good work without letting the departure tarnish their achievement.
Any Exploratorium employee needing volunteer help with a resume overhaul just ask.
On Sat, Aug 17, 2013 at 12:14 AM, Alan Friedman <[log in to unmask]>wrote:
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
> Centers Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and
> related institutions.
>
> **********************************************************************
> *******
>
> Last month I was in Berkeley for a few days and took BART to spend a
> Saturday at the new Exploratorium. I spent most of my time watching
> other visitors, the result of a lifetime working in the science center field.
> Conclusion: there were thousands of people, almost all families with
> a wide range of ages, having a great time. I chatted with two
> families from the East Bay who were making their first visit to the
> new location, and loving it, courtesy of deep discounted Groupon admissions.
>
> It is still the Exploratorium which inspired so many of us for
> decades, only now in different location. In its new home the
> Exploratorium has all of its old strengths, and most of the old issues
> connected with its unique style and attitudes. Sure, I enjoyed
> strolling around the grounds of the Palace, but the Embarcadero,
> tourists and all, is fun too. The breeze off the bay and the
> sailboats are wonderful, and the Exploratorium's Bay Observatory
> Gallery is one of the most delightful places to be in San Francisco.
>
> Many museums and science centers built or expanded in the past 30
> years have overprotected revenue, and had to take cuts a few months to
> a couple of years after opening. Even the best experts at predicting
> such things have a tough time. UNDERestimating what visitorship will
> be after opening can cause even longer-lasting headaches than
> overestimating.
>
> The emails in SFGate seem very familiar. People not in our profession
> often have no idea how nonprofits are funded, what their costs are,
> and how difficult the calculations are to find a happy compromise
> among all the choices we must make. One would like to think that the
> public gives us the benefit of the doubt, and people don't assume the
> worst, and that they withhold judgment until they learn more about the
> trade-offs. Alas, among the folks who post comments to news stories,
> these are not qualities in good supply. Perhaps if the Next
> Generation Science Standards are adopted and more people understand
> what engineering "trade-offs" are all about, we'd have a more tolerant
> world.
>
> As it is, best wishes to our friends at the Exploratorium as they make
> the adjustments needed, and as they continue to inspire us.
>
> Alan
>
> ________________________________________
> Alan J. Friedman, Ph.D.
> Consultant for Museum Development and Science Communication
> 29 West 10th Street
> New York, New York 10011 USA
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>
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> www.museumgroup.com <http://www.museumgroup.com/>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On 8/17/13 12:00 AM, "ISEN-ASTC-L automatic digest system"
> <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> >Exploratorium cuts 18% of staff as attendance lags - SFGate
>
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