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City Council MeetingTuesday, March 24, 2026MUSEUM DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW AND RECOGNITIONMuseum of Riverside RiversideCA.gov2
WardBoard Member1Sharon Tennell2Luz Negrón, Chair3VACANT4Anna Gaissert5VACANT6Julie Bjork7Mary CarterCitywideClaudia RodriguezCitywideCynthia ZdilorOUR BOARD 1 2
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1. The Board appoints ad hoc committees as needed2. Two independent 501(c)(3) nonprofits also support the Museum:a. Riverside Museum Associatesb. Harada House Foundation
BOARD COMMITTEES AND OTHER SUPPORT
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RoleStaff memberDirectorRobyn G. Peterson, Ph.D.Operations ManagerAnn LovellCuratorial Services ManagerJennifer DickersonInstitutional Advancement CoordinatorChantal DowningCurator of Natural HistoryIan WrightCurator of HistoryVACANTCollections RegistrarKatie GrimMuseum EducatorTeresa Woodard BeldingAssociate EducatorKim CobbSenior Office SpecialistToni KinsmanMuseum Maintenance WorkerCesar MendezOffice Specialist - .5 FTERachael RugaArchivistSteve Mandeville-GambleExhibition DesignerVACANTMUSEUM STAFF 3 4
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As a center for learning, the Museum of Riverside interacts with the community to collect, preserve, explore, and interpret the cultural and natural history of Riverside and its region.Approved by the Museum Board on December 15, 2015 (revised to reflect name change approved by City Council April 23, 2019).MUSEUM’S MISSION RiversideCA.gov6
1. The Museum is among the 3% of museums nationwide that are accredited. The process to renew our accreditation will begin next year.2. The Museum Department’s current strategic plan is under revision now for 2026-2027 through 2030-2031.
STANDARDS AND GOALS5
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1. Region-wide partnerships are continually sustained, renewed, and forged. 2. All museum-specific policies and procedures now meet or exceed professional standards.3. New procedures for public-facing concerns are in draft.STANDARDS AND GOALS•Service animals•Unaccompanied minors•Emergency response•Media response•Theft and vandalism•Translation services•Site maintenance•Facility rental•Flash photography•Strollers and wagons•Implied consent to be photographed•Sustainability practices RiversideCA.gov8
Highlight exhibitions are on view in Heritage House twice annually.ACTIVE ALL YEAR 7 8
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Find happy crowds at festivals at Heritage House and where we participate out in the community … … the Museum has been active in our community.ACTIVE ALL YEAR A record crowd at Insect Fair, even in the rain.
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The Museum’s goal is a smart rehabilitationof the original 1912 historic building … and …an exciting and thoughtful expansionfor the 21stcentury.DOWNTOWN RENOVATION GOALS 9 10
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July 2025: Construction beganNot before late 2027: Grand reopeningRENOVATION PROCESS, FROM TODAY RiversideCA.gov12
Engineering and design progress: 100% construction drawings are in hand and under review.Schedule:Work on the ground likely before end of 2026.HARADA HOUSE PROJECT 11 12
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Cost: Formal cost estimates better than feared. Fundraising:Under way to generate an additional $500,000 for all aspects of the Harada House project.HARADA HOUSE PROJECT$7,900,000$8,000,000$8,100,000$8,200,000$8,300,000$8,400,000$8,500,000$8,600,000$8,700,0001 295% of Goal Achieved RiversideCA.gov14
1. Orchard pruning and tree maintenance are under way2. Gift shop and carriage house kitchen were repainted3. Robust housekeeping and pest control protocols are in place4. Now gathering costs for restroom upgradesHERITAGE HOUSE PROGRESS Circa 1960, before it was “Heritage House”
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While the downtown site is closed, Heritage House is the Museum’s primary program site.Thousands attended …a. Movies on the Lawnb. Ice Cream Socialc. Victorian teasd. Moon Festivale. Behind the Black Veilf. Christmas Open Houseg. Weekly tours for schools and publich. Children’s LiTEArature.HERITAGE HOUSE PROGRAMMING RiversideCA.gov16
1. All collections successfully relocated from the downtown building.2. Repatriating Native American sacred collections.3. Managed improve-ments at our storage warehouses.COLLECTION STEWARDSHIP 15 16
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1. Progress organizing archives and housing the contents to a high standard.2. Responding to public collection inquiries.3. Highlighting “finds” in the collection via social media.COLLECTION STEWARDSHIP RiversideCA.gov18
1. FY2024-2025 in-person attendance, all sites and outreach: 24,9932. FY2024-2025 digital audience: 655,4043. Record attendance at Ice Cream Social in May: estimated 3,500BY THE NUMBERS – A FEW HIGHLIGHTS 17 18
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1. Downtown rehabilitation and expansion progress continues on track.2. Staff will complete planning for reopening exhibitions, programs, and grand reopening events.3. We will recognize and honor our community.EXPECTATIONS RiversideCA.gov20
That the City Council receive and file a presentation providing an overview of the activities of the Museum Department.RECOMMENDATION19 20 2/26/2026
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Robyn G. Peterson, Ph.D. Museum Director–[email protected]–951-826-5792THANK YOU 21