NEMA Membership Survey
By Scarlett Hoey (she/her), Director of Membership & Development, New England Museum Association
Thank you to the 332 people who filled out the 2022 NEMA Membership Survey which ran this spring. Survey questions examined communications, programs, benefits, volunteer engagement, advocacy, and DEAIJ (Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, Inclusion, and Justice) topics. Your opinions and suggestions help NEMA to move forward with future programs, initiatives, and our new website.
Results that Help Shape NEMA Programming
Using the survey data from questions on programming, DEAIJ topics, and open-ended questions, the NEMA team will shape future programming and work closely with the board and PAGs to produce workshops and sessions that will benefit you and the field we all love.
| Of the following topics, which would you like to see us address in our programs and other resources in the year ahead? | Preference percentage across all groups |
| Museum examples of lessons learned from diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and racial, disability, gender, economic, and environmental justice efforts | 55% |
| How museums have engaged in local/community social justice initiatives | 49% |
| Universal design for visitor experiences | 46% |
| How organizations are approaching membership, development, financial and strategic planning | 45% |
| Employee recruitment, retention, and addressing the well-being needs of employees | 40% |
| How museums care for their collections | 39% |
| Training and support for Executive Directors and Board Members | 39% |
| How museums are managing virtual, in-person, and hybrid programs and exhibits | 39% |
| How museums are managing virtual, in-person, and hybrid educational programs | 37% |
| Tips for career growth/skill building, job searches, resumes, and applications | 35% |
| Museum Decolonization and repatriation of cultural remains, NAGPRA, etc. | 31% |
The topic that received the most interest for programming was “Museum examples of lessons learned from diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and racial, disability, gender, economic, and environmental justice efforts.” This topic was consistently among the highest preference for entry through senior level folks, while other preferences varied by career level. Broken down by career level, results showed that both mid-level and senior level individuals saw the highest need for DEAIJ and social justice programs. Senior level folks were also very interested in financial and strategic planning, while mid-levels were not. Respondents who self-identified as “Entry-Level '' and “Intermediate” ranked “Museum examples of DEAIJ…” highly, however career growth and employee well-being were a larger concern to these two groups. Career growth ranked #1 for entry level and intermediate, while 10th across all respondents. Also, for entry level and intermediate individuals, topics on museum decolonization and collection care ranked much higher among these groups than other respondents. Among volunteers and trustees, the highest needs were for financial and strategic planning, collections care, and Executive Director and Board training. Using this survey data NEMA will continue to produce top-notch programming for members at all stages of their careers.
As an important reminder, NEMA staff and the PAG chairs always want to hear from you about what you need for professional development, so if a topic that’s vital to you is not in this list, please let us know!
Results that Help Shape NEMA’s DEAIJ Initiatives
Since Spring 2021 the NEMA staff and board have worked with Arts Connect International to examine ourselves, our organization, and the NEMA mission and value statements (see the article about our new mission). This internal DEAIJ work was the impetus for the theme of this edition of this journal. As NEMA prepares to launch our new mission/values the Board and staff know these initiatives are not one-off discussions and that they must be baked into everything we do as an association.
We value the feedback we heard from respondents when we asked in the survey for how members would like to see NEMA live the value statement: NEMA believes that museums, and the people, stories, collections, and experiences that enliven them, have the ability to create a more just society. Some respondents wrote in positive comments highlighting NEMA’s shift to “requiring salary ranges with job postings.” Others suggested “creating easily digestible and practical tools that member Museums can use to champion these efforts.” While another comment challenged the association to consider "How can NEMA lead the way with its own staff diversity? Board diversity?”
Other open-ended comments included encouraging NEMA to find ways to support more diverse and inclusive workers in the field. These responses included: “creating more opportunities for young QTDBIPOC to enter the Museum field and see it as a place of disruption so they can help make a just society” and “support the inclusion of minority and LGBTQ professionals; setting standards (or at least guidelines) for board responsibilities that are more in tune with the times (rather than the last century) which would also include encouraging more inclusive/diverse boards.”
Regarding pay equity, some respondents wanted more attention on the “barriers created by unpaid internships,” “stagnating wages because the field seems to be becoming more pink-collar over the years,” and “advocating for wages that reflect the required education, experience and skills of the profession.” Additionally, some respondents were interested in having NEMA “support museum unions” and “advocate on behalf of museum professionals to the institutions.”
NEMA staff and board are committed to anti-racism work and the survey showed that many individuals are also interested in this work. On average, most members wanted us to strike a balance between tackling large issues and supporting individuals in their careers, which we will continue to do.
Results that Helped shape the New Website
The survey found that a quarter of respondents have volunteered with NEMA – thanks for your volunteerism! The comments showed that many are interested in volunteering, but you need more clarity and transparency on what is involved. NEMA offers a range of volunteering possibilities from longer commitments (Board Service and PAG Co-Chairs) to shorter opportunities, such as volunteering around conference time. The new NEMA website has a dedicated space where you can learn more about the various ways to get involved.
Comments showed many folks continue to value the range of resources available on the NEMA website, along with the professional development offerings and networking opportunities (in-person and virtual). We are excited to share that the new website and members portal will continue to be updated in the next few months, they will include a members-only Museum Admission Program page, a refreshed Business Member Marketplace, and an updated Museum Document Exchange (a go to spot for museum policies/documents – help the field by adding your documents, email them to: nema@nemanet.org).
Quick note from the Director of Membership & Development
Hello! I’m Scarlett Hoey, NEMA’s Director of Membership & Development. It was a pleasure reading through the 2022 Membership Survey results. It was interesting to see the data unfold and hear feedback from our membership. I hope you found this overview interesting and helpful too. If ever you have any membership questions, please email me (scarlett.hoey@nemanet.org). I know that my NEMA colleagues (Heather, Meg, Dan, and Amy) and the NEMA board would agree that we couldn’t do our work without you, and nor would we want to!
Thank you for all that you do for our field and with NEMA!
