September 25-27 | Wedgewood Resort, Fairbanks
The schedule of the conference is in progress as we gather speaker bios and session descriptions.
Register for a complimentary tour of the Fairbanks Children’s Museum led by Executive Director Meredith Maple-Gitter on the first day of the conference. After the tour, you can walk (10 minute walk) or carpool over to the opening night event. Maximum of 25 people.
Any person who has ever constructed a building knows that establishing a strong foundation is critical to the longevity and success of the project. In order for museums to better serve, work with, and communicate with their communities, they must first examine their organizational foundations to ensure that the groundwork has been laid to grow what will hopefully be a long-lasting commitment to community.
Based upon almost 30 years of working at and with community-based museums, Lisa Sasaki, Deputy Under Secretary for Special Projects at the Smithsonian Institution, will take us through a journey to understand why it’s important to not just think about how we build community but also to interrogate why museums, no matter the size or focus, must change if we desire to have communities see us as a trusted partner.
Join fellow collections professionals to ask and answer questions about NAGPRA, talk about the new updates to the law, and share your latest experiences with NAGPRA meetings and outreach. Discussion moderators:
In this session you will learn from two presenters. One will be discussing a science education toolkit available to museums and libraries, and the other will be sharing their experiences leading hands-on community programming:
How to Fillet a Fish: Community Engagement through Hands on Learning
Curator John Hagen will talk about how he has been using hands on learning to engage community members. Anchorage Museum in Anchorage, Alaska has been hosting hands on programs about wild foods available around his community, art-based community programs, and artist lead community workshops. These programs bring new people to the museum and help community members learn about the land around them. Learn how Hagen incorporates his culture and love for Alaska food into his curatorial practice through programs like: Catch a Fish, and Everything but the Slime: How to Fillet a Salmon, and Salmon Skin Sewing.
Enjoy lunch on your own, or sign up at the check-in table to go to a local restaurant to talk about specific topics. Sign up sheets will be located at the check-in table.
Effective board governance is the key to a successful organization. Boards are the visionaries who set strategic direction and lead in the fund development of the mission. In this session, you will learn six practical board responsibilities that will encourage your board to lean in and move mission. The format of this session is a hybrid of presentation and conversation of fundamental challenges in organizations– bringing topics to explore, such as board recruitment, fundraising, conflict of interests, or a situation that needs untangling.
More information soon.