Succession Planning for Cultural Institutions, Part One: Research Findings

Cultural sector professionals are notorious for wearing the proverbial many hats and making extraordinary use of scarce resources.  Staff transitions, whether unexpected or planned, can be disruptive and stressful in these environments.  With shifts to the workforce and volunteer pipelines, succession planning and knowledge transfer are becoming more important to address.
In 2023, members of 15 arts and cultural organizations participated in listening sessions supporting the Collections Stewardship Succession Planning Initiative, a joint effort by the Conservation Center and Lyrasis, funded by a Museum Leadership Grant from the Institute for Museum & Library Services. This input, along with insights from museum, library, and arts professionals across the country, has led to the development of tools and resources to support better succession planning for collections care and management roles at cultural institutions.
Join Michelle Eisenberg, Executive Director of CCAHA, and Tom Clareson, Senior Consultant for Digital & Preservation Services at Lyrasis, for a presentation on the findings of this report.