ABSTRACT
At a time when some museums are scaling down operations and others are closing down due to financial challenges, the role played by museum's ‘Friends’ to support them is significant. This chapter assesses the role played by the ‘Friends’ of the Natural History Museum in Zimbabwe in support of its operations. The objectives of the study were to appraise the programmes run by the Friends of the Natural History Museum and to assess the resource contributions by museum members. Interviews were used to gather data from staff and members, complemented by a survey of the museum's website and Facebook page. Research findings revealed that museum members were very resourceful and played a key role in organising programmes such as exhibitions, lectures, gallery talks, screening of motion pictures, treasure hunts and nights in the museum, golf days and a conservation club, among other initiatives. Members were also involved in the museum's fundraising projects, marketing, and in sourcing donations as well as donating their own financial and material resources. This research identifies a need to better promote the work of the Friends of the museum and to expand its membership base, as well as to improve its membership incentives so as to retain current members and attract future ones.
