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Date: | Fri, 30 Aug 2013 17:48:49 +0100 |
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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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Just catching up on this after being away on leave - seems they've
fallen into the same trap as many of the Millennium Centres did 12-13
years back here in the UK, believing the most optimistic visitor
projections and building the business model round them, with no room
for flexibility. I find consultant projections of numbers consistently
30-50% over reality and underestimate the impact of offers on the net
ticket income with the result that here in the UK virtually all the
millennium science centres had big cuts in their early years and a
couple closed.
I always reckon its best to capitalise as much of your first year
operating cost as possible or, if expanding, aiming to fund core staff
based on the numbers being received at the original venue, and make
all the additionals short-term for the expansion with 6 month-1 year
contracts so you have options for either making them permanent or
letting them go at the end of the contract.
I am also surprised they are making such sweeping cuts only 4 months
in, changing location can change visiting patterns significantly and
unless major crisis looms holding fire for preferably the end of the
first year before widespread redundancies are made is better as it
gives a chance to equilibrate out. It also concerns me that a lot of
the losses are in the workshop and similar places that are vital to
the soul of the place, which would seem to be cutting off the flow of
innovation that makes the Exploratorium what it is in the first place.
IAN SIMMONS
Science Communication Director
Centre for Life
Quoting Charles Carlson <[log in to unmask]>:
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
> institutions.
> *****************************************************************************
>
> The article reflects events, and the extensive comments reflect some
> obvious public sentiments and anger. What's surprising and sad is
> the lack of compassion in the public domain; a zenith and nadir in
> the first 4 months.
>
> C
> http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/articleComments/Exploratorium-cuts-18-of-staff-as-attendance-lags-4737148.php?gta=commentlistpos#commentlistpos
>
>
> Sent from Charlie Carlson's iPad
> [log in to unmask]
> Cell 510-499-8086
> Try me on Skype (510) 984-3543
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For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.
Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org.
The ISEN-ASTC-L email list is powered by LISTSERVR software from L-Soft. To learn more, visit
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