The Neville Public Museum in downtown Green Bay. PC: Fox 11 Online
BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Representatives from the Neville Public Museum Foundation and The Children’s Museum of Green Bay are forming a new Museum Task Force.
Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach said in a news release the task force will “further explore how they can work together to strengthen impact, preserve program excellence and ensure their long-term sustainability under one collaborative umbrella.”
The task force has a list of shared goals, including:
- Understanding space feasibility
- Identifying programming
- Organizational and business priorities
- Coordinating stakeholder engagement
- Identifying resource needs
- Recommending concrete next steps
The group is aiming to have that work done within 90 days.
“The Neville Public Museum and The Children’s Museum of Green Bay are recognized as essential, vibrant and forward-thinking cultural institutions that have come together to discuss a unified organization rooted in education, preservation, exploration and community connection,” the group said in the release.
Built upon the rich legacy and brand equity of both founding organizations, we envision a future where the combined entity serves as a cornerstone cultural destination of Northeast Wisconsin — celebrating our region’s past while helping shape its future.
“I think it’s a lot better concept for them to come together, strengths and weaknesses, how they can help each other out, and then bring it to the Education & Recreation Committee, because it’s not this committee’s job to solve the problems,” said Brown County Board Chairman Pat Buckley.
One major concern brought forward by Brown County Supervisor Pat Evans is the Neville’s accreditation potentially being under threat because it has been without an executive director for nearly nine months.
“I hope this task force just puts the brakes on and they hire a director first,” said Evans. “I’m going to do everything I can to maintain this public museum the way it is and to maintain the accreditation.
The Education & Recreation Committee unanimously voted Wednesday to request a museum director is hired at the Neville before any sort of merger, consolidation or partnership with the Children’s Museum.
A document appearing to be a proposal to merge the Children’s Museum with the Neville is causing controversy. Evans said he received the proposal, which was compiled by the Children’s Museum, from an “anonymous source.”
“Chairman, if this isn’t a proposal, what is it? Would I make it up? No,” said Evans.
Buckley said the proposal was simply an idea discussed in late March. When asked about reviewing the proposal in a special meeting, Buckley said he declined.
“My understanding, that whole concept and that proposal just was dead at that point,” said Buckley.
He said the task force may or may not bring forward a proposal for a merger. It’s unclear whether the task force’s meetings will be open to the public.
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