Developing Community and Corporate Partnerships

–Andres Garcia, 2021 Development Intern

I am a rising international senior at Tulane University from Merida, Mexico. I am pursuing a bachelor’s degree in management with a minor in marketing and intend to use my knowledge to promote arts and culture through entrepreneurship. However, this goal was not always so clear to me. For a while, I struggled (and still struggle) to balance my love and passion for the arts with my academic endeavors. That was until I discovered the lack of infrastructure and education on the arts and culture in Mexico and the potential that lies in combining business and entrepreneurship with the arts. As a somewhat frustrated musician and artist, I want to provide my community with the opportunities and tools I wish I had when I was younger. Eventually, I want to better the cultural infrastructure and facilitate the pursuit of careers in the arts in my community in Mexico. Nonetheless, there is so much I need to learn before I can achieve that goal.

Business Appreciation Day, July 17, 2021

I was exhilarated to have the opportunity to work as a development intern for the Chrysler Museum. I am incredibly grateful for the chance to develop my skills and experience at such a remarkable and commendable institution. In the past couple of months, I have learned so much about museums and how they operate. Working in development has been particularly exciting as I get to learn and be part of the revenue-generating operations of the Museum. These operations are especially important for the Chrysler as they ensure the institution can maintain free admission and keep generating exceptional exhibitions for visitors, among other things.

As an intern, I worked on planning, organizing, and inviting businesses to the Museum’s first Business Appreciation Day to engage and cultivate the Museum’s existing and possible future partners. Business Appreciation Day presented an opportunity for local businesses to visit the Chrysler collection and get a sample of the benefits they can enjoy if they partner with the Museum. The agenda included docent-led Museum tours, a business-themed glassblowing demonstration, live jazz, and a free prize drawing. I worked alongside the communications department to create all the necessary materials for the event, such as membership passes, event guides, and a sign-up form to collect visitors’ contact information.

Business Appreciation Day, July 17, 2021

Business Appreciation Day, July 17, 2021

Additionally, I worked on developing an overarching brochure for the Chrysler Museum’s Corporate Leadership Alliance (CLA) program. The development team will share the brochure with local businesses in hopes of receiving their support as corporate partners. In appreciation for their support, CLA members receive benefits designed to meet the interest of their business, including support recognition for the Museum’s programs, events, and exhibitions. Perhaps one of the most challenging assignments I had during my internship was creating a comprehensive and cohesive matrix of the different recognition benefits that pertain to each membership level. This task was challenging because of both the discrepancies that existed in past benefits presentations and the addition of lower levels of membership to the CLA program. Moreover, I proposed ideas for a CLA loyalty program to prevent lapsed partnerships and exhibition-related surveys for the curatorial department to record exhibition-related visitor feedback.

Through both Business Appreciation Day and the CLA brochure, my work as an intern will likely help the Chrysler expand its reach in the community and capitalize on corporate partnerships for the benefit of the Museum and the local community. I am certain that the knowledge and experience I acquired through my internship at the Chrysler Museum of Art will be of great value to the development of both my academic and professional careers, and for that, I am extremely grateful. Finally, I want to give a special thank you to Heather Sherwin, the director of development, and Kirk Levy, a longtime Museum supporter, for their constant guidance and consideration. It is safe to say that my summer experience would not have been the same if it was not for their exceptional teachings.