King County Heritage Report: Understanding the Field

In 2016, 4Culture undertook a heritage assessment to gather information about operations, opportunities, and needs of heritage organizations throughout King County. We are excited to share our results with you!

The Wing Museum © 2017, photo by Naomi Ishisaka

Who Did We Hear From?

We sent the survey to 153 organizations and received 72 responses representing every King County Council District. The highest percentage of respondents were historical societies and museums.

What Did We Learn?

Working with our Heritage Advisory Committee and additional stakeholders, we arrived at eight Key Findings focused in the following areas:

  • Diversity, Equity, Inclusion
  • Visibility of the Field
  • Financial Stability
  • Measuring Economic Impact
  • Populating the Employment Pipeline
  • Volunteer Support
  • Collections Staffing
  • Audience Evaluation

So What?

We encourage you to download and read the King County Heritage Report: Understanding the Field. Consider sharing with your staff and Boards, and engaging in a discussion about how your organization compares to the broader heritage field. Do you have similar strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for growth?

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