The challenge
The Iberville Parish Museum was preparing for a major renovation and new exhibit development while also working through changes in staffing, governance, and museum operations. The collection is important to the parish, with strengths in Atchafalaya Basin history, Mardi Gras, military history, local civic life, and community archives. At the same time, there were gaps in the collection, some unresolved documentation issues, and a need for clearer policies and procedures around acquisitions, deaccessions, storage, and collections care.
What I did
As a collections consultant subcontracted through Howard + Revis, I spent two days on site reviewing exhibit spaces, collections storage, physical records, and the Museum’s PastPerfect database. I assessed the overall condition of the collection, identified immediate storage and documentation concerns, reviewed existing forms and policies, and made recommendations for stronger collections practices.
My report also looked beyond basic collections care. I identified gaps in the collection, reviewed the Collections Management Policy, recommended clearer accessioning criteria and stronger deaccession procedures, and outlined steps the Museum could take toward more intentional collections planning and eventual accreditation.
The work later expanded into early organizational planning as the Museum prepared for a larger transition involving the Iberville Museum Association, Parish government, City of Plaquemine, and future museum staff. I facilitated planning conversations and prepared a memo outlining immediate priorities for board reorganization, project leadership, and clarification of responsibilities among the different partners.
Outcome
The collections assessment served as a useful tool for both Howard & Revis and the Iberville Parish Museum as they move forward with the renovation and new permanent exhibit. The museum board now has a fuller understanding of what it has collected well in the past and how it could improve its collection in the future.
The follow-up organizational work helped clarify some of the immediate decisions that needed to be made as responsibility for the Museum was being shared among the nonprofit board, Parish government, City government, and future staff. That work provided a starting framework for the larger transition, including clearer roles, board priorities, and next steps.
