Our Mission & Vison
Our Mission
The Museum Council of Greater Philadelphia builds connections between and among the diverse museum and cultural community, provides opportunities for professional growth, shares best practices, and promotes accomplishments in the field.
Our Vision
Members of Philadelphia’s museum and cultural community access diverse learning experiences, engage in impactful networking events, and collaborate invaluable professional and leadership opportunities through the Museum Council of Greater Philadelphia.
We are a community of over 300 museum professionals
representing organizations in 3 states.
About Us
The Museum Council of Greater Philadelphia was founded in 1939 by a consortium of area museums seeking to promote public awareness of local cultural institutions. In addition to developing museum-school partnerships, the Museum Council encouraged conservation of collections, architecture, and cultural landscapes and professional development through peer interaction.
Today, the Museum Council continues its advocacy on behalf of area cultural organizations and their constituencies and promotion of professional development among staff serving in area museums. Behind-the-scenes tours offer on-the-ground opportunities to see new exhibits and programs and hear from those who built them. Guest lecturers and panelists are nationally- or internationally-recognized and bring new perspectives challenging us to evolve our practice. Past speakers include Judy Koke, Joan Baldwin, and Margret Middleton.
In the spirit that elevating one, elevates us all, the Council annually honors institutional innovation various grants, and funding opportunities to Museum Council members.
Museum Council is governed by a board of ten individuals. Its members reflect a cross-section of the field, from consultants to full-time staff to retirees. Members of the board head five committees: Programming, Membership, Marketing & Communications, and Emerging Museum Professionals.