MLI: Museum Leadership Institute

Widely regarded as the world's preeminent museum leadership program, the Museum Leadership Institute (MLI) is designed to improve museums through professional development of their directors, curators, and other senior executives. MLI brings a consistently strategic perspective to the problems and opportunities facing today's museum leaders.  Academically rigorous, the program emphasizes leadership, strategic thinking, organizational culture and leading change.

Participants—selected from a wide range of institutions around the globe—start the multi-month MLI experience by conducting a through self-analysis and institutional diagnosis. Subsequently, participants come together for an intensive, immersive program in California where outstanding faculty facilitate thoughtful analysis and discussions in a confidential, collegial environment that encourages peers to learn from one another. Back home, ideas are implemented and sustained with personal coaching and online support from peers.

Program Approach

MLI brings a consistently strategic perspective to the problems and opportunities facing today's museum leaders. Academically rigorous, the program emphasizes leadership, strategic thinking, organizational culture, and leading change. It also addresses other pressing issues, such as crafting strategy, building public understanding, and enhancing personal and organizational effectiveness.

MLI does not provide quick fixes or one-size-fits-all answers. Instead, the program focuses on key questions and developing new ways of thinking:

• What are your core values? What are your institution's core values?
• How do others perceive you and perceive your institution?
• How do you influence others?
• How will you measure success for yourself and your institution?
• How will you achieve sustainable success?

Program Outline and Learning Environment

The multi-month MLI experience is a blended one, including independent activities, assignments with colleagues, online learning, an extended immersive residential component, peer learning, and personal coaching.  Learning at MLI is intensive and collaborative, a four-way partnership: you, your museum, your program peers and GLI.

Participants start by undertaking several pre-program assignments that include discussions with others in your institution. Most notably, you will conduct a thorough self-analysis and institutional diagnosis aimed at helping you understand your personal leadership style and the organization's broader context.

       Sample List of Faculty

       MLI Sample Schedule of Commitments

Testimonials

"My most important professional experience ever. Individuals in leadership positions hardly ever receive such significant feedback. Thanks to wonderful colleagues, experienced and generous faculty, and an amazing environment providing an absolutely safe and creative situation, we all could grow, assess and be humbled by the trust we were given. I have benefited enormously personally, and love sharing gained knowledge and ideas with my staff and beyond."  MLI 2010 Participant.

• View more testimonials in Pierre Arpin's blog, in a 2007 New York Times article, or watch videos of alumni talking about their experience at MLI.

Past Attendees

Since its inception in 1979, MLI has served 1,150 museum professionals from the United States and 31 countries worldwide.

Fee

Program fee for the next offering not yet set. Typically, the fee includes a college dorm room, most meals on program days, all course materials, access to the online learning portal, and the personal coaching sessions. Travel to the program location and incidental expenses are not covered. Because some individuals and institutions may not be able to bear the entire program fee, GLI will consider need-based requests for reduced fees for eligible museum professionals, up to the full program fee amount.

Eligibility and Selection

The program is open to highly committed museum directors and senior executives who influence policy and effect change, and typically have a minimum of five years of challenging work experience in museums. Admission is competitive.

          MLI Eligibility and Selection

Submit Your Materials

Dates of the next offering of MLI have not yet been announced. Please bookmark this page and check back for updates, or sign-up for our Keep Me Posted e-announcement list to be notified when dates are set and materials go live.