Institutional Development Bloghttp://www.aiccm.orgSat, 04 Sep 2010 22:32:18 GMTA Light at the End of the Economic Tunnelhttp://www.aiccm.org/a-light-at-the-end-of-the-economic-tunnelTue, 23 Feb 2010 19:10:26 GMTGena TimbermanToday, Oklahoma is facing a major deficit for the current fiscal year that will end June 30, 2010.  It has been an important time to review priorities for the Native American Cultural & Educational Authority (NACEA) and the American Indian Cultural Center & Museum and ask the important question, “How do we forge ahead in uncertain economic times and stay true to the overall vision?”  To remain optimistic now is vital…we need to look for the light at the end of this economic tunnel.

 

The NACEA is indeed a unique state agency.  The NACEA was created with one mission:  To create an awareness and understanding for all people of the Oklahoma American Indian cultures and heritage.   To accomplish this, we are advancing four components:
-    building the American Indian Cultural Center & Museum
-    developing a landscaped park and trail system
-    developing a privately-funded commercial development site
-    operating a centralized visitor information center

At the beginning of each fiscal year, the agency staff outlines, in a business plan, the goals and objectives to advance the overall vision – the four components.  We have been forced to trim our activities; but, one thing remains the same…community outreach and input has continued to be the priority.  It is through outreach that we feed the programs and exhibitions and learn how this special project will connect to the communities it serves.  It is the fuel that drives the project and provides the optimism and energy to motivate our staff.  We are truly appreciative that this effort has continued in light of dark economic times.  

Our goal, this legislative session, is to continue to educate our state leaders and others on the importance of advancing the project and protecting this state asset.  We are developing, site-wide, an Oklahoma economic development project that has the potential to benefit every district in our state.  Over twenty years, it is estimated that the total economic benefit to our Oklahoma economy will be $3.8 billion.  Now, that’s a bright light at the end of this dark economic tunnel!

 

 

 

 

 

Gena Timberman, Choctaw
Executive Director
genat@aiccm.org

]]>http://www.aiccm.org/a-light-at-the-end-of-the-economic-tunnelWho Do You Think You arehttp://www.aiccm.org/who-do-you-think-you-areWed, 30 Sep 2009 22:36:07 GMTGena Timberman

Who do you think you are?  Sounds simple enough to answer; but, when you have only an image or a phrase to sum it up and to make an impression, it can be a difficult thing.  Last week, the AICCM staff had the opportunity to ask, “Who do we think we are?”  We held an internal staff branding retreat…and it was a lot of fun!  It was a time to share among our staff team the words we felt describe the the project…committed, optimistic and enthusiastic were among the words expressed.  Then, we had to seriously ask ourselves, “Who do we think we are to external audiences?”  Now that is the really interesting question…a question that posed an opportunity to express those realities of what building a project like the AICCM means for a community and our state. 

Among our group, we heard “it’s a project that will be an investment for our local and state economy” and “it will be a place to dispel myths and stereotypes.”  Ironically, it was also time that we explored the reality that there are many stereotypes and myths that linger about “who we are” to some external audiences.At the end of the workshop, one thing became apparent…identity is important.  

What we put “out there” whether that is a name, logo, product or exhibit is the tangible evidence of “who we are.”  Today, we proudly put “out there” many images and ideas that have been derived from informative conversations in the Native community about components that are representative of our cultures here in Oklahoma…“Four Elements,” “21st Century Moundbuilders” and “One State…Many Nations” are a few of the ideas we have woven into the fabric of our project expression. 

Now, for the AICCM, it is an important time to understand how we will position our expression for the days ahead.  What are the messages we want to communicate?  What are the ways in which we will create a project site-wide identity that extends beyond the walls of a new Cultural Center & Museum?  For us, it is a good time to invest in a process that takes everything into account – our future and our present identity – and to create a plan to develop a well-informed and positive reputation through aligned internal and external perceptions.

 

 

Gena Timberman, Choctaw
Executive Director

genat@aiccm.org

 

 

 

 

]]>http://www.aiccm.org/who-do-you-think-you-areAgency Business Planhttp://www.aiccm.org/agency-business-planWed, 30 Sep 2009 22:26:13 GMTGena TimbermanOur accomplishments in FY 2009 exceeded our challenges as we moved the project further on this special journey.  This year, a tremendous amount of time was spent on Tribal Outreach as we completed an extremely time-consuming and labor intensive phased consultation goal to meet with Oklahoma’s tribes during the present phase to gather the necessary input to advance project design and program development.  This goal, directed by the Division of Community Outreach & Public Programs, was met on time, as scheduled, and involved the dedicated teamwork of several Division Directors to individually schedule tribal meetings, conduct presentations, travel to meet with tribal and community leaders and provide an appropriate level of follow-up for this major initiative to be accomplished.  Although this goal was met this fiscal year, it is a part of a phased, ongoing approach to weave the words of Oklahoma Native communities throughout the project’s entirety.  We have new and exciting goals for FY 2010 to continue and advance greater levels of tribal input and partnership.

Agency Development and Institutional Development were, and will continue to be, of primary focus in our efforts moving forward.  Administration & Operations worked closely with each division to understand the evolving needs and challenges and organized our available resources to operationally strengthen each division in some meaningful capacity.  Each division participated in a number of areas to advance institutional development. Each division participated in a number of areas to advance institutional development.  These collaborative activities advanced the infrastructure for our founding Development initiatives and informed the cultural and educational programs to be offered at the Center.  We have worked collectively as a team to develop the roots of each division, with a very limited budget.  Despite budget limitations for FY 2009, we achieved the launch of two new divisions for our agency, the Division of Arts & Exhibitions and the Development Division. This year, we partnered with the National Museum of the American Indian in hosting a “How to Build a Cultural Center & Museum” workshop and have established positive new peer institutional relationships that have been extremely beneficial to the American Indian Cultural Center as an institution in its young life.   We continue to look toward the input and direction of the Board, the Institutional Development Committee and our tribal and community stakeholders to strengthen the direction of the NACEA and the American Indian Cultural Center & Museum.

On the construction front, we advanced by leaps and bounds and saw the completion of a major phase, which included the topping off and seeding of the iconic promontory mound that entitled us to the rightful status of “The 21st Century Moundbuilders.”    Also, we hosted, with great pride and optimism, many wonderful community activities at a completed Visitor Center, which included legislative presentations, Oklahoma Indian Tourism Meetings, artist presentations, media conferences, receptions, and an Indian Education summer camp, to name a few.  We now look, with great anticipation, to see the steel structure of the spectacular American Indian Cultural Center emerge from the earth to greet those who drive by the site and wonder, “What is that giant mound of earth?”  It was a milestone year for construction, as we now see the footprint of the project and have made positive strides toward sustainability.

This year, project visibility and awareness have increased immensely.  The Marketing & Public Relations Division has worked diligently to update our web presence, build our capacity for external communications and inform the media and public at large with project updates. Community Outreach & Public Programs and Community Affairs Divisions, we are now in a strong position to create a heightened level of awareness about the historic and contemporary significance of this important project for Oklahoma.  As a result of all of the hard work of Oklahoma Native Artists, Art in Public Places and the AICCM Division of Arts & Exhibitions, our community will look forward to seeing the AICCM’s inaugural public art piece grace our site.  This special piece will represent the first of many ways in which Native art will be beautifully incorporated throughout the project and the site.

I am extremely motivated by what is to come in FY 2010.  We will undoubtedly move this project further than it has ever been before, and this time next year, we will shift into a new gear and continue our focus to the next phase of “ramping up” and beyond. We are grateful to Governor Henry and the Oklahoma Legislature for the commitment that has been made to advance our FY 2010 priorities.  The State of Oklahoma thankfully has a new level of investment to protect each year as the project construction advances.  We have to prepare ourselves, as an agency and an institution, to meet the challenges that we face in protecting this precious investment.  As a result, we have presented in the FY 2010 Business Plan, consideration to advance several areas of Strategic Planning and Institutional Development.

]]>http://www.aiccm.org/agency-business-planMuseum Spaces Tourhttp://www.aiccm.org/museum-spaces-tourThu, 03 Sep 2009 01:37:10 GMTShoshana Wasserman  



 

South Gallery "Value Circles"


 

 South Gallery "Moving Fires"


 

Intersection of South Gallery & Promontory Mound



The staff went on an extensive walking tour across the site to visualize how each of the building components relate to one another and to gain an appreciation for the scale of each of the spaces inside and outside of the museum. It was an amazing experience to stand on the slab with the awareness that you had just entered through the "East Gate," which will be comprised of many stones representing ancestors who had made the courageous journey. To enter the "Hall of People" and realize that it will be taller than the top of the "Promontory Mound," which is 90'. It was even more informative to imagine oneself as a future museum guest and anticipate what will influence the visitor to make the choice to proceed to the "Origins Room" where they will discover that Native Peoples have been here in this place for thousands of years. To  walk across the path of the future "Timeline Wall" and see how that will offer a chronological history of the tribes as they were removed from original homelands to this place from other parts of the nation.

Next we were escorted out into the "Value Circles" where a visitor will have the opportunity to interact with a wide variety of cultural objects. Standing at the location where one of the "Moving Fires" media experiences will be located was insightful as we learned how these spaces all interact and complement each other. It was helpful to visualize how the second floor Mezzanine will hang over the first floor and imagine what the visitors upstairs will be looking at from the second level. Traveling the path a guest will take to go up the staircase or ride the elevator to the second floor where the changing art exhibitions will be displayed. After leaving the museum building we walked across the "Courtyard of Nations" through the West Passage Tunnel and along the Southwest side of the Promontory Mound.

 

 

The "Promontory Mound's complexion has been dramatically changing throughout the last two months. Previously when you drove by the site you saw the mound which looked to many like a pile of dirt. Now as you pass you can see the whole mound is turning very green as all of the native grasses take root. The entire mound was covered in burlap to help with erosion and so the native grasses actually grow through the burlap. It is quite beautiful and amazing to see up close.

 

Beginning in August there will be even more changes as the steel is erected to enclose the museum buildings and gallery spaces. The tour provided the staff with some many insights that will help as we develop further develop this grand place to welcome future guests.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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