The Mission of Panoramic Arts is to create an archive for the Panoramic Image. I believe the field is broad enough, has enough contemporary activity and has an abundant history to warrant a permanent place to call "home". The founding of an archiveis no small task, and will require a great deal of effort from individuals and corporations. I wish to devote this page to the broad outline of what I hope to accomplish. Please note that this is a DRAFT and is subject to change by a future board of directors. OUTLINE 1. A non-profit, 501-c-3 educational association needs to be formed at the onset. This would permit the association to formally and legally accept tax-deductable donations, gifts, loans and other acquisitions. The Maryland Association of Non-Profit Organizations in Baltimore, is an excellent resource for education and advice on chartering, registering, staffing and other matters related to non-profits and we would seek their help in our own case.The association would be limited in size to just those members of the board of directors and participants in committees. This association would not be "fraternal" in nature and would not seek to "compete" with associations for whom networking, conventions and other face-to-face experiences are an important part of their mission. 2. A panoramic archive needs to be established. This archive would be the "raw material" for future exhibits as well as being a permanent storage and preservation facility. The archive would accept and process non-cash donations and gifts from individuals and estates and would ensure that these materials are kept in a safe, secure, appropriate and permanently monitored environment. One possibility for this environment is an underground storage facility in Boyers, Pennsylvania that is owned and operated by the company Iron Mountain. 3. The word needs to get out. Through use of the Internet, affiliations with other associations, advertising and attendance at conventions and trade shows, individuals and corporations need to be informed that Panoramic Arts is real and open for business. People in the panoramic field, especially those who are unable to adequately organize and preserve their legacy, need to be encouraged to donate their materials to the association. This will ensure that their knowledge and creativity are not lost. 4. Accessions need to be approriately documented and organized. The process of acquiring donations and gifts are well documented in the "bible" of the museum community, "The New Museum Registration Methods". This book would be a "must read" for all those on the board, for it describes all the nuiances of the museum craft, from the desireable organizational structure to rights of reproduction. It is published by the American Association of Museums . 5. A revenue stream for museum operating costs and discretionary spending needs to be created. The archive would not be able to function if it based its budget on dues or fees imposed on its board members, for example. It would need to tap into city, state, national and even international sources. It would need to rely on the generous support of individuals and corporations. The job of the President and his/her subordinates would be to make this happen. The Maryland Association of Non-Profit Organizations again, has abundant information and advice on how to do this. They even have monthly training courses in this and other subjects. This about says it all for now. As I said above, specific phases and goals are described more fully in succeeding pages of this web site. These are ALSO a work in progress! Richard