An image with the text "Cultural Stewardship Succession Planning Initiative" at the top with an image of drawn stick men walking off a cliff with a pencil drawing in stairs for them. The logos for CCAHA and Lyrasis are in the bottom right corner.

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

Key resources have been developed through this initiative that can help you and your organization with the succession planning process.

Click here to see a list of resources.

Upcoming Events and recorded webinars

Interested in hearing more about this initiative, its findings, and its resources? Find us at a conference near you, or attend a virtual webinar! 

Click here to see all upcoming events.

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

Cultural Stewardship Succession Planning Initiative