Museum Planning LLC guides cultural institutions through every stage of development — from the first community assessment through post-opening evaluation. Our four-phase process has shaped more than 40 museums worldwide over 25 years of practice.
Before a single line is drawn, museums need a clear strategic foundation. Institutional planning establishes why the museum exists, who it serves, and whether it can operate sustainably. This phase produces the critical documents that boards, donors, and civic partners need before committing capital.
Facility planning translates institutional goals into physical space. This phase produces the blueprints — programmatic, experiential, and architectural — that govern every construction and design decision. It also structures the capital campaign required to fund the building and its exhibitions.
As construction progresses, the institution must be ready to operate on opening day. Operational planning builds the systems, plans, and infrastructure that keep a museum running — financially, programmatically, and physically. Personnel typically accounts for 60% of a museum's annual budget, making staffing modeling essential.
A successful opening is planned, not improvised. The final phase covers grand opening strategy, early-stage community engagement, and the formal evaluation cycles that determine what's working and what must evolve. Post-opening assessment closes the loop and initiates the next strategic planning cycle.