Crisis communications:
Milwaukee Public Museum

Challenge

Mueller Communications was retained under a “loaned agency” agreement through one of its clients, on behalf of the Milwaukee Public Museum.  The crisis communication challenge was a recently disclosed, potential financial disaster arising in part from a misappropriation of museum funds.  Further complicating the challenge was the resignation of the museum’s president and its board chairman after the crisis arose. Because of this crisis, the museum was in danger of losing public and private financial support, and potentially closing its doors to the public. 

Solution

Mueller Communications quickly developed and executed an effective crisis communications strategy to change public perception of the organization and regain political and private donor trust. The goal was to launch and complete a community-wide campaign to restore the Milwaukee Public Museum to financial security and to the level of excellence that the community had come to appreciate for several generations. 

The agency coordinated editorial board meetings, meetings between Museum representatives and county officials, civic leaders, philanthropists, as well as a series of difficult public meetings before County Board committees.

Results

Mueller Communications was successful in helping the Milwaukee Public Museum to control its image in the local media during the greatest crisis in its long history. Effective communications efforts enabled the Museum to foster awareness of the proactive steps it had taken to put itself on secure financial footing. The plan proved successful when the county approved the underwriting of a new bank loan, keeping the doors of the Milwaukee Public Museum open.

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