Roberson Museum shows off New York State

BINGHAMTON — As the Roberson Museum and Science Center marks its 60th year in Binghamton, it expands its mission to provide region-focused programs and exhibitions while making improvements to the facility.

“Even now, our exhibitions and programs emphasize the history, culture, and products of New York,” says Terry McDonald, executive director of the Roberson Museum and Science Center. 

In March, the museum opened its newest exhibit, “Journey From Our Prehistoric Past.” This collection, with pieces on loan from the New York State Museum in Albany and Museum of the Earth in Ithaca, showcases some of New York’s earliest life forms, changing environment, and geologic formation. Visitors will see ice age mammals, the region’s only dinosaur, and the skull and tusks from the Randolph Mammoth, one of the most complete mammoth specimens ever found in New York state. 

The Roberson is also expanding its partnership with the New York State Museum, which is under the umbrella of the Office of Cultural Education (OCE) within the New York State Education Department (NYSED). The collaboration of the two museums began in November 2012, when the state museum asked the Roberson Museum and Science Center if it wanted to host the traveling Abraham Lincoln exhibit. 

The Roberson accepted the opportunity, becoming one of just eight sites statewide to display the “Abraham Lincoln Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation” exhibit. 

Since then, the Roberson has engaged OCE, along with faculty from Binghamton University, in developing future programs. In March, the museum hosted a regional conference for formal and informal educators to learn how they can incorporate and access cultural resources for their curriculum, as well as to interact with each other.  More than 200 educators attended, and the conference featured a keynote speaker from NYSED.

The Roberson is also now on OCE’s four-year strategic plan under partnerships, along with two other museums, the Burchfield Penney Art Center in Buffalo and the Studio Museum in Harlem.

McDonald speculates that the Roberson Museum and Science Center was selected to be part of the strategic plan because of the positive outcomes of the short-term exhibit of OCE’s artifacts and the museum’s interest in further showcasing other New York state treasures.

Going forward, McDonald sees the Roberson playing a leading role in marketing the Binghamton community, attracting tourism to the region, and embracing Binghamton’s presence as the gateway to New York. To make this happen, she is working on collaborating with the city of Binghamton, which owns the Roberson building, and other local organizations to highlight what is central to Binghamton.

The Roberson is Greater Binghamton’s largest year-round tourist attraction and houses the city’s visitor center. With nine full-time employees and an operating budget of just under $900,000, the museum attracted 50,000 visitors in 2013, up about 20 percent from 2012.

The Roberson attracts visitors with community events in addition to its exhibits and education programs.

Currently, the museum is gearing up for its 14th annual Wine and Food Fest on April 24. As one of the museum’s fundraisers, more than 700 tickets were purchased for the sold-out festival. This is the fourth year in a row the festival has sold out.  

“We don’t want to diminish the success and quality of the event by making it too crowded. You want it to feel like a party,” says McDonald, explaining why the museum doesn’t increase the capacity of the event by selling more tickets.

The indoor/outdoor festival held on the museum grounds will feature more than 30 New York state wineries and more than 30 local restaurants and caterers. The funds raised, which totaled about $20,000, go toward the museum’s education programs.

The annual New Year’s Eve party, “Masquerade in the Mansion,” is another sell-out event for the Roberson, held in the historic house on the museum’s property. And this fall, the museum will celebrate its 60th birthday with a party.

“It’s important to see how you can better your community. Take an active role in making Binghamton a fun and inviting place to live,” says McDonald. 

Originally from Minneapolis, McDonald came to Binghamton University to pursue a Ph.D. in art history with a focus on medieval art and architecture. She didn’t finish her dissertation, but began teaching art and architecture history courses at SUNY Broome Community College and Fordham University. At the same time, she took a position as a museum educator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, but continued to live in Binghamton with her family.

After four years at the MET, McDonald grew tired of the commute and decided to leave. In an attempt to find a local job, she inquired about any open positions at the Roberson, where her artist husband had work on display at the time. As it turned out, the museum was looking for a director of education and hired McDonald for the role. She held that position for two years before moving into the executive director position.

“You can never make a mark there [New York City] like you can here,” says McDonald. “Here, I have been able to make changes.”

Now in her eighth year as executive director, she says the museum’s attendance is up, finances are strong, and programs and events are well attended. “I’m very proud of the progress the Roberson has made,” says McDonald.

For its fiscal year ending June 2012, the Roberson generated revenue of $1.2 million, according to the IRS 990 report. That was up nearly 44 percent over the previous year’s revenue.

Next on the agenda, McDonald and her team are focusing on upgrading the 60,000-square-foot facility’s infrastructure, including the HVAC system. At press time, the facility’s master plan was put out to bid with local contractors to determine costs. The Roberson has already applied for up to $2 million in grants to use for the renovations. The museum was recently awarded a $500,000 state grant that will go toward the facility improvements.    

Contact Collins at ncollins@tgbbj.com

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Roberson Museum and Science Center
30 Front St.
Binghamton, NY 13905
Phone/Fax: (607) 772-0660/(607) 771-8905
Roberson.org

Founded: 1954
Employees: 9 full time
Volunteers:  137
Service Area: Greater Binghamton, Southern Tier, CNY, surrounding states

Mission: Roberson Museum and Science Center engages people of all ages and backgrounds by providing regionally significant exhibitions and programs in art, history, and science education.

Programs and Services:
Roberson Museum and Science Center provides a “tremendous variety of school programs” meeting both New York state and Pennsylvania education standards. It also offers summer camps from June to August. Special events and programs throughout the year focus on creating unique learning opportunities and memorable experiences. For its annual Home for the Holidays event, the entire museum is decorated with “dazzling displays” to showcase holiday traditions from around the world.

Key Staff:
Executive Director: Terry McDonald
Executive Director’s Compensation from 2012 Form 990: $82,104
Marketing & Public Relations Manager: Jason Fiume
Business Operations Manager: Brian Lake
Director of Education and Visitor Services: Danielle Britton

Recent Organizational Highlights: 
Roberson celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2014. It just opened its newest exhibition, “Journey From Our Prehistoric Past.” The exhibit features fossils and bones from some of New York state’s earliest life forms. The exhibit is a partnership with the New York State Museum and the Museum of the Earth.  Its New Year’s Eve Masquerade in the Mansion sold out for the third straight year. Roberson’s 14th Annual Wine and Food Fest on April 24 is sold out, marking the fourth straight sell-out. Several new additions have been added to the model train display, the largest public model train layout in the region.

Planning/Fundraising Outlook for 2014:
As part of our 60-year celebration, the annual fund drive will focus on infrastructure and HVAC improvements to the mansion and museum.  Facilities’ improvements will ensure Roberson Museum and Science Center is around for at least another 60 years.” The museum will also put up a 50s/60s era exhibition in late 2014.

Board of Trustees (Officers)
Chairperson: Glenn Small, M&T Bank
Vice Chairperson: David Guy, Broome County Surrogate Judge
Treasurer: Diana Robertson, Johnson, Lauder & Savidge LLP
Secretary: Patrick Doyle, Doyle Consulting

Board of Trustees Members
Diana Bendz, National Initiative for Girls in Math and Science
Sherman Bodner, Press & Sun Bulletin
Marcia Craner, Binghamton University
Peter Cronk, Volunteer
David Dixon, Broome County Historical Society
Patrick Doyle, Doyle Consulting
Stacey Duncan, Broome County Land Bank
Scott Gerhart, Universal Instruments
Mark S. Gorgos, Coughlin & Gerhart LLP
David Guy, Broome County Surrogate Judge
David Harris, Delta Engineering
Angela Kehoe, interior designer
Kathleen Lake, Raymond Corporation
Jamye Lindsey, Levene Goulding & Thompson LLP
Marion Martinez, Binghamton schools
Heather Miller, UHS Hospitals
Robert S. Roberson, volunteer
Diana Robertson, Johnson, Lauder & Savidge LLP
Glenn Small, M&T Bank
Dan Zimmerman, Data Flow, Inc.

Financial Data:  Fiscal year ending June 30, 2012