IKT Members Survey - Results
To all of the members who completed our survey, thank you for your invaluable contribution. Your responses will guide and direct our work, now and in the coming months.
In general, the results were highly favorable and very encouraging, and there was little indication that the organization is doing anything wrong. As a result, our survey has been most useful in determining the degree of prioritization, whether moderate, high or top, for our various programmes and activities. My report will focus on five key takeaways from the survey, the ones from which the greatest lessons are to be learned.
About our overall programme priorities, 81% stated that the annual congresses are their top or high priority. [This was followed by resources and support for IKT members, such as open calls, at 71% top or high priority. In-person networking events and advocacy for curatorial practices and policies are a high priority, while online networking events are a moderate priority.]
As for the congresses themselves, all components of the congresses are perceived as valuable, with 88% stating that socializing and networking were extremely or very valuable. This is telling, as it indicates that casual conversations are not frivolous but integral to our mission as an organization. 83% said tours of galleries, museums and collections were extremely or very valuable, as did 79% about the symposium. The welcome reception, members’ forum and studio visits were perceived as very valuable, with meals and receptions the least valued, but valuable nevertheless.
According to members, IKT could improve communication and engagement, most strongly, by creating more opportunities for in-person engagement, at 59%, while virtual gatherings were chosen by the least number of members, at 29%. Nevertheless, it's important to note that those members who chose in-person engagement did not necessarily choose it over virtual engagement, but often, in addition to it. So, there is a strong desire among members for greater engagement, both real life and virtual. For other members, more frequent updates via newsletters and more timely notification of upcoming activities were priorities. These are concrete areas in which IKT can improve.
Hosting a congress in the future? 14 members said “yes,” and 30 said “maybe.” Even more members expressed interest in hosting an informal regional gathering. This is an extraordinary response. We encourage these members to share their interest and have, at least, a casual, exploratory conversation with a member of the board of directors.*
We also recognize, about raising funds for congresses, that 79% of these members identified it as an area in which they might expect to face challenges. And only 5% of members believe that our current timelines for preparing for a congress or other gathering are realistic. This suggests that we need to either expand our resources, or lower our expectations. For example, since meals and receptions were the lowest of the priorities among members, congresses might approach such things differently. One of many possible solutions that are open for discussion.
If there’s a theme here, it's about the value of the congresses, the desire for engagement both in-person and virtual, and a willingness to host congresses and regional gatherings despite potential economic barriers. As we grow as an organization, some things will remain constant. When, more than 20 years ago, I first learned about IKT, I was informed that it was the most convivial of the various curators’ associations. Over the years, with turn-over in presidents, boards and individual members, and changes in our profession, our survey demonstrates that conviviality has transcended specific individuals and certain conditions and has remained constant as a fundamental part of the nature, the culture, the character, of our organization.
Scott McLeod, IKT Board Member
*If you're interested in hosting a future congress or regional gathering, please contact us to start the conversation.