We love expert guidance and actionable steps that help save precious time on research. Even if you’re not starting a new initiative, toolkits can be great for staying up to date on innovations and best practices in the museum sector.
The only problem is that museum toolkits are usually scattered hither and yon across the web. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a repository of sorts?
Note: This is our second museum toolkit roundup. If you don’t see what you need below, have a look at Part One. Both are arranged in alphabetical categories for easier browsing. As you can see, folks are out there doing LOTS of legwork to help other institutions thrive. It makes sense to take a closer look.
📊Audience & Data
Data Visualization Design Process: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners | Depict Data Studio
From understanding your audience to choosing the best chart and maximizing clarity, this guide will help anyone looking to get the “numbers out of your spreadsheets and into real-world conversations.”
Using Data in Community Collaborations | ASTC
This collection of resources has been compiled and created by ASTC, but it’s not exclusively for science museums! It’s a variety of toolkits that can help museums use data effectively in community partnerships. You’ll find things like Data Walks: An Innovative Way to Share Data with Communities and the brand-new Civic Engagement & Policymaking Toolkit, which includes ways to thoughtfully identify and implement or deepen civic initiatives.
📦Collections Care
Our Collections Matter Toolkit | ICCROM
A comprehensive resource for sustainable collections management from the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property. This toolkit offers guidance on preserving collections in ways that align with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). You can also check out user insights since the toolkit launched this past summer.
🏛️Community Engagement
Community-Engaged and Participatory Methods Toolkits | Urban Institute
Learn how you can use participatory methods to include communities as partners and fellow experts in your research, policymaking, or program planning. You’ll find info on getting started, how to form a community advisory board, collaborating with specific communities, and more.
Going Places Community Engagement Toolkit | Art Fund_
Relatedly, this toolkit guides museum professionals through community consultation, collaboration, and co-curation to build stronger, more inclusive community relationships. Art Fund is UK based, but these principles apply over here, too.
CAPE Toolkit | Mississippi Museum of Art
MMA’s Center for Art and Public Exchange (CAPE) uses original artworks, exhibitions, programs, and engagements to increase understanding and inspire new narratives around issues of race and equity in contemporary Mississippi. They created a toolkit with guidelines for other institutions looking to establish, evolve, and maintain similar initiatives.
Youth250 | Made by Us
Data, tip sheets, program templates, and guides to help organizations engage Gen Z. Launching January 2025.
🧠Education and Learning
Art Educator Toolkit | National Art Education Association
Strategies, approaches, lessons, units, and tools to support museum educators in successfully navigating the shifting landscape of teaching and learning (including in-person, hybrid, and distance-learning).
Access for All Toolkit | Collections Trust
The toolkit aims to help museums, libraries, and archives make access for everyone an essential part of their culture and practice. It is a self-assessment tool that will help you audit good practice and identify areas for improvement under the Inspiring Learning for All framework.
⚙️Exhibition Design
The Olfactory Storytelling Toolkit | Odeuropa
We mentioned this one in our exploration of scent in museum exhibitions. Learn tips and techniques for using smell in your storytelling to create multisensory experiences for visitors.
Rethinking Touring Exhibitions | Art Fund_
A practical guide to making traveling exhibitions more sustainable. It explores how to reduce the carbon footprint of exhibitions while maintaining their reach and impact.
Using the Resources at Hand: Sustainable Exhibition Design | The Centre for Sustainable Curating
A simple, straightforward look at ways to lower your carbon footprint at every step of exhibition design, from the initial organization to the deinstallation. The only part of this toolkit that doesn’t apply universally is the section on resources in Southwestern Ontario (where the toolkit originated).
Sustainable Exhibition Design & Construction Toolkit | AAM
Updated in 2024 and designed to help you define and improve the sustainability of your exhibitions in the ways that are most important to your community and your institution. As noted by AAM, “Few museums have the resources to follow all of these guidelines. Don’t get discouraged or overwhelmed.”
💰Funding
Grant Funding and Assistance for History Museums | Texas Historical Commission
Updated in October 2024, this is described as a “brief guide” to grant sources and grant-writing resources, but it’s really quite robust. Side note: The Texas Historical Commission also has a nice little collection of links with suggestions and guidelines for museum fundraising.
Non-Profit Fundraising Toolkit | Donorbox
Think of this as a toolkit for creating a toolkit. It’s a comprehensive guide to setting up a fundraising toolkit, something your institution needs to make raising money more efficient and effective.
📢 Marketing
Marketing Toolkit | Museums Galleries Scotland
We love the resources put out by MGS. This one includes information on defining and knowing your audiences, where and how to market, developing your branding, and improving your photography.
🤖Technology and Innovation
Digital Media & Technology Toolkits for Small Museums | Museum Learning Hub
You’ll find free, self-paced training resources designed for small museums. It has a collection of digital media and technology capacity-building programs, including toolkits on digital accessibility, website management, and virtual exhibitions.
🤝Professional Collaboration
Working with Independent Museum Professionals | IMP
Tips for collaborating with freelance museum professionals, including contract guidelines, communication strategies, and project management advice.
