Cultural Stewardship Succession Planning Initiative
project background
The Cultural Stewardship Succession Planning Initiative is a two-year project of CCAHA, in partnership with Lyrasis, created to actively address the need for leadership development and knowledge transfer in the cultural heritage workforce. Funded by a National Leadership Grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the initiative will gather data and build professional development resources to support succession planning for cultural stewardship staff and volunteers. As succession planning is a critical instrument in addressing a long-term shift at cultural heritage organizations toward greater diversity, equity, and inclusion, the suite of resources will promote strategies to keep these important concerns at the forefront during times of transition.
As service providers to the country’s cultural heritage collecting institutions, CCAHA and Lyrasis have long recognized the need for succession planning, especially in smaller organizations with fewer resources. CCAHA and Lyrasis will utilize a series of small group listening sessions to learn about successful succession planning strategies and pathways that have proven more challenging for institutions in the project’s target group.
To be notified about upcoming listening sessions, the project survey, and resources, join the CCAHA mailing list.
For more information, contact pso@ccaha.org.
Study findings
Succession Planning Initiative: Progress Report
Succession Planning Initiative: Impact Report
Succession Planning Survey Results Summary
Resources and Tools
5 Key Questions Board Members Should Ask About Staff Succession Planning
Top 10 Things You Can Do NOW To Support Succession Planning & Staff Transitions
Job Analysis for Succession Planning
Oral History Knowledge Transfer Guide
RACI Chart for Succession Planning
Succession Risk Advocacy Matrix
Additional Resources
Cultural Succession Planning Bibliography
A collection of publications and media on Succession Planning-related topics from outside CCAHA.
Collections Management Policy Toolkit
A digital tool developed by CCAHA that guides collecting institutions step-by-step through the process of creating a Collections Management Policy.
Upcoming Events
May 21st – 25th, 2024 – “Succession Planning Trends and Tools in Collections and the Arts,” American Institute for Conservation Annual Meeting (Salt Lake City, UT)
June 7th – 10th, 2024, "What Happens Next?: Succession Planning and Knowledge Transfer", Association for Living History, Farm and Agricultural Museums Annual Meeting and Conference (Hopewell Township, NJ)
September 11th – 14th, 2024, "Doing History Inside Your Organization: Succession Planning", American Association for State and Local History 2024 Conference (Mobile, AL)
November 12th - 14th, 2024, "Succession Planning for Libraries, Archives, and Museums", Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums 2024 Conference (Palm Springs, CA)
Advisory Committee
- Katherine Skinner Cuda, Independent Consultant and Lecturer, San Jose State University School of Information
- Linda Endersby, Collections Consultant, Curiosities Consulting Company; Interim Managing Director, Coalition of State Museum Associations
- Cynthia Falk, Professor, Cooperstown Graduate Program
- Kahina Haynes, Executive Director, Dance Institute of Washington
- Emma Selfors, Curator of Collections, Historical Museum at Fort Missoula
- Kimberly Springle, CEO, GTMS Enterprises and Executive Director, Charles Sumner School Museum & Archives
- Deya Terrafranca, Research Library & Archives Director, Museum of Ventura County
Facilitators
- Tom Clareson, Senior Consultant for Digital & Preservation Services, Lyrasis
- Michelle Eisenberg, Acting Director, CCAHA
- Dyani Feige, Director of Preservation Services, CCAHA