Museum to share social impact study results March 2nd

Join Carter County Museum March 2 at 7 p.m. for a special presentation on the results of the Measurement of Museum Social Impact Study. In 2021, Carter County Museum, along with thirty-seven other museums and zoos, signed onto the MOMSI study, which is part of a national effort to address the critical need of establishing best practices for measuring social impact within the museum field. The study took place between October 2021 to August 2022 and involved participants at each museum signing up to visit three times and answer a series of questions. Nationally, a total of 2,560 people completed the surveys for their institutions, including 63 from Carter County Museum based participants.

Carter County Museum participated in MOMSI with the hope that it could provide representation for rural communities and demonstrate the social impact and relevance of small museums. What the museum didn't expect was that this study would lead to a resurgence of interest in the museum from local audiences, who made up only 31 percent of visitors prior to the pandemic.

CCM recruited sixty-three individuals for the study-no mean feat for an institution in a town of only four hundred people. To start out, CCM posted the usual flier in the lobby, but staff knew they needed to dig much deeper to reach the full goal. Board and staff were instrumental in this effort, inviting neighbors during backyard conversations and going off-site to the local holiday bazaar. They created a sign-up link that staff could easily share, which worked well and created a seamless process for people. And, to increase accessibility for older members, CCM provided help filling out the application. Staff are delighted to share that they had a very high registration/survey completion ratio.

As a result of MOMSI, community members discovered that Carter County Museum is a dynamic institution that changes often. Many participants are long-time residents of the area but do not often visit the museum, and this study has served as a spark to bring them back through the doors, and with them their grandchildren or visiting relatives. They left with stories to share with friends and family about new dinosaurs and archaeological collections on display.

For other participants who are regular visitors to the museum, this study has given them a new lens, where the attention to detail necessary to complete the survey resulted in new "discoveries" of items they had overlooked or changes since their last trip. Above all museum staff saw a renewed appreciation for and pride in this "hidden gem of a museum," as some call it.

At the meeting on March 2, the MOMSI team will share the results specific to the surveys conducted through the Carter County Museum as part of the monthly CCGS meeting. The data is very exciting and has implications for the museum's place in the community as well as future strategic planning. It will be a hybrid event, so attendees can join in person or via zoom by registering at the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMkfuuurjopGdXWTWfWvZ1_P3ROE28znn2D

After registering, participants will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. The event is free and open to the public. Those who join in person may also enjoy snacks and non-alcoholic beverages that will be available.