Final Report Explores Succession Planning in Tumultuous Times

CCAHA and Lyrasis are pleased to release a new white paper from the Cultural Stewardship Succession Planning Initiative, a multi-year project examining how cultural institutions—including libraries, archives, museums, and performing arts organizations—can better manage staff transitions, knowledge transfer, and long-term continuity. 

The project began in response to the major disruption wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic—accelerated retirements and staff turnover across the arts and cultural sectors, exposing gaps in institutional knowledge and jeopardizing continuity. In this new era of funding cuts and organizational uncertainty, understanding and addressing these concerns is now more essential than ever. 

To understand the scope of the challenge, the Initiative conducted surveys, 16 listening sessions, and interviews with staff and volunteers across the field. The findings were stark: three-quarters of organizations reported having no formal succession plan in place, and only 3% had formal knowledge-transfer processes.  

The new white paper, Succession Planning in Tumultuous Times: Research, Resources, and Realities in the Arts and Cultural Communities, synthesizes these findings and provides essential context for the pressures facing today’s arts and cul

tural heritage workforce. It also shares webinar recordings and other resources developed throughout the Initiative, including a Legacy Binder, which gathers the project’s templates and guides in one place, as well as materials and ideas for further research.

“As organizations face new pressures from federal grant cancellations and staffing shifts, the lessons from this project remain highly relevant,” said Tom Clareson, Senior Consultant for Digital & Preservation Services at Lyrasis. “These resources provide practical strategies to ensure that critical knowledge and expertise are not lost, helping institutions maintain stability during challenging times.” 

By sharing these findings and resources, CCAHA and Lyrasis aim to help cultural organizations plan for the future, strengthen institutional knowledge, and ensure continuity. Succession planning is not just about replacing staff—it’s about building resilient organizations capable of navigating change and preserving the work that matters most. 

Free Webinar| Succession Planning for Cultural Institutions: What's Next? 

Join us on January 28, 2026, at 12:00 PM ET for a free webinar reflecting on the white paper’s findings and looking ahead. We’ll discuss how these tools can be adapted across the arts and cultural sectors and invite your questions to help shape the next phase of this work. Learn more and register. 

Visit www.ccaha.org/succession to access all project resources. 

This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, with additional support from the Mellon Foundation.