The California Exhibition Resources Alliance (CERA) has deep relationships with the museums, libraries, and cultural organizations it serves. CERA is supported and advised by a group of museums, libraries, and cultural organzations known as CERA Associates. The Associates network provides feedback about potential exhibitions being offered and schedules advance bookings. This successful model of evaluating and pre-booking exhibitions is an important way for CERA to monitor quality and exhibition content offerings, as well as assure demand for future CERA exhibitions.

CERA Associates currently receive subsidies on exhibit fees and many other benefits. There are no fees for CERA Associate participation.

Benefits of being a CERA Associate –

• Rent high quality exhibitions at reduced fees. Discounted rental fees offered to Associates are tied to annual institutional budgets. The fee structure consists of three levels:

  Tier One: Under $250,000 annual operating budget  

  Tier Two: Over $250,000 and less than $1,000,000 annual operating budget

  Tier Three: Over $1,000,000 and less than $2,000,000 annual operating budget

• Pre-select exhibitions for touring through CERA
• Pre-booking of exhibitions before they are offered to non-Associate museums

CERA Associate Criteria –

1) Be a not-for-profit institution qualified under §501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or a unit of a government agency.

2) Have the equivalent of one full-time professional staff member and less than 10 full-time professional staff

3) Be open to the public at least 20 hours a week

4) Have a program of changing exhibition and have adequate space to host CERA exhibitions

5) Meet minimal professional museum standards set by AAM, in particular standards of conservation, facilities and security

6) Host at least one CERA exhibition every three years

7) Attend one CERA Associates meeting a year

8) Have an overall budget under $2,000,000

9) Demonstrate active community support for traveling exhibitions

Joining CERA Associates –

Participation in CERA is open to professionally run institutions that meet Associate criteria. For information, please contact:

Adrienne McGraw, Executive Director

California Exhibition Resources Alliance

415-525-1553

Email info@ceraexhibits.org