Block 1: Tuesday, October 24, 11:00 am

Rising into Leadership: Our Experience in the 22-23 MACC Leadership Cohort

• Chelsie Niemi, Dennos Museum Center
• Katie Bancroft, Sloan Museum of Discovery and Longway Planetarium
• Matthew Bizoe, Krasl Art Center
• Sara Nishikawa, Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit

Join four of the graduates from the Rising Leaders 2023 cohort and learn more about the application process and experience. Each panelist will briefly describe their participation in the Michigan Arts and Culture Council program, and how they have incorporated what they learned into their practice. There will also be time for Q&A to help future Rising Leaders decide if the program is right for them.

Museums United: Working Together to Accomplish Our Goals

• Christopher Werner, Warren Historical Commission/Macomb County Heritage Alliance
• Judy Gager, Tri-RIver Historical Museum Network

Struggling with limited marketing and operations budgets, staffing and time? Learn how museums have worked together regionally to increase their visitation, learn more skills, staff more events and meet their goals. Share your experiences working with other museums and learn how to start a regional network of museums helping museums.

Engaging Youth at Museums Through Meaningful Collaborations

• Renee Saba, Ruth Mott Foundation/Applewood

As a foundation that owns and operates a historic site, the Ruth Mott Foundation/Applewood is learning how to offer direct programming in a way that supports the overall goals of the foundation and the grant partners we fund, without creating a sense of competition with those partners. Using youth programs, we will explore ways museums can support young people without duplicating or competing with others doing similar work. We will look at models for using the museum site in partnership with other organizations in a way that is unique and appropriate for each museum and the community they work within.

The [Digital] Experts Are In!: A digital practice open forum

• Chelsea Denault, Michigan Digital Preservation Network
• Biz Gallo, Library of Michigan
• Richard Adler, DPLA Michigan Service Hub

Have a question about digital collections that’s been stumping you? We all need an opportunity to connect with and learn from each other. In this session, attendees will have access to the expertise of three statewide digital collections specialists, as well as the knowledge and experience that other attendees bring to the table to share. This session will have a component of open questions and facilitated discussion on roadblocks and successful strategies to create and care for digital collections.

Compensation Conundrums: Why the Market Rate Doesn’t Work

• Lisa E. Worley, Edsel and Eleanor Ford House
• Ann M. Loshaw, Ruth Mott Foundation/Applewood
• Elana Rugh, Detroit Historical Society
• Lucy Hale, Michigan Science Center

What’s up with these minimum qualifications and that salary? Join us for a frank discussion about the disconnect between museum salaries and the experience and education required. We’ll talk about the history and trends behind museum pay, as well as how compensation influences diversity in the field. Leave with a list of resources and practical suggestions on how to advocate for yourself and your team.

Block 2: Tuesday, October 24, 1:45 pm

Navigating a Career: Let Your Values Be Your Guide

• Jason Dake, Edsel & Eleanor Ford House
• Mark Mulder, Zekelman Holocaust Center

When it comes to your museum career, are you lost at sea? Trapped inside of a whale of a predicament? Or maybe just a little foggy? This is a great time to check your core values. Whether this is your first time setting sail or you're a seasoned captain, this workshop-style session offers you the chance to create or update your list of values to help navigate career choices.

Activating Community Relationships Through Museum Stores

• Melanie Depcinski, Michigan Science Center

This discussion session will explore the role of the museum store in community engagement. Community relationships in museums are often explored from a programmatic perspective, but how can the retail operations of museums integrate community members, values, and initiatives? Using the Michigan Science Center as a an example case, participants will have the opportunity to share their own experiences with community engagement within retail spaces.

Collaborative Label Writing: Tips and Tools

• Geoff Woodcox, Sloan Museum of Discovery
• Bethany Fleming, Fleming Museum Consulting

This hands-on session will provide participants with a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the collaborative process of writing and editing exhibit labels. After a brief review of the process of writing and editing nearly 700 labels for the Sloan Museum's History Gallery, participants will write their own label about an object using the tips and tools introduced in the session. Attendees will need a laptop, tablet, or smartphone to participate.

Hands on CAP Assessment

• Katey Bierman-Clinton, The Zekelman Holocaust Center

In this session, we'll be walking attendees through all the paperwork involved in a CAP assessment. We'll start by explaining what a CAP assessment is and why it's important, and then we'll go through each form and step. We'll cover everything from the IMLS grant forms to the self-assessment site questionnaires, and we'll end by reviewing the final reports given to the Zekelman Holocaust Center in March 2023. By the end of the session, attendees will have a clear understanding of the paperwork involved in a CAP assessment and will be better equipped to guide their institutions through the process.

Everyone is a fundraiser! Building a culture of philanthropy in your organization

• Caitlyn Perry Dial, MSU Libraries

Fundraising at small museums is a team effort, but is often left to the Executive Director. How do we engage staff and board members in this often intimidating, awkward, and completely necessary practice? This session will share strategies and key phrasing for staff and board members to help identify donors and engage them in meaningful giving at your institution. Through building a culture of philanthropy at your organization, everyone will feel empowered to build relationships with your most dedicated supporters.

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Block 3: Tuesday, October 24, 3:00 pm

Logic Models as a Compelling Grant Writing Strategy

• Davina Kuh Jakobi, Ruth Mott Foundation/Genesee County Historical Society
• Tryphena Clarke, Ruth Mott Foundation/Applewood

This workshop offers an opportunity for attendees to gain the confidence and tools necessary to enhance their grant writing skills and develop compelling proposals by utilizing logic models as a framework for success. Funding from grants play a pivotal role in supporting museums, enabling them to undertake transformative projects, expand educational outreach and programmatic efforts, and preserve cultural heritage. Participants will be introduced to the power of logic models, which provide a structured approach to planning, implementing, and evaluating programs. By offering practical strategies with which to navigate the grant application process, this workshop will empower participants to develop compelling grant proposals that align with funders' objectives, ultimately increasing their chances of securing critical financial support. Join us to unlock the potential of successful grant writing and secure resources for your museum's initiatives.

The Five Levels of Allyship

• Dr. De’Andrea Matthews, Detroit Zoological Society

Each industry needs allyship, and the museum world is no different. "Ally" is an umbrella term that describes five ways to support individuals as a mentor, sponsor, advocate, coach and challenger. Dr. De'Andrea Matthews, a National Diversity Council Certified Diversity Professional (NDCCDP), will explore aspects of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) to harness the power of intersectionality as a source for collaboration and business acumen during this session.

Historic Sites and Museums Resource Swap

• Christina Arseneau, Niles History Center
• Patrick McKay, Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm

Whether you are a site coordinator searching for a contractor, a curator decorating a home or an educator looking for quality reproductions, you will find the resources you need at our facilitated discussion.

Creating Connections Through History in Action

• Beth Barrett, AIA, AANB , Quinn Evans
• Valerie Marvin, Michigan State Capitol
• Barbra Thumudo, Michigan State Capitol

Historic and iconic places have a unique charge – preserving history while supporting programming of an active working facility. If not properly planned and executed these programmatic needs will be at odds. Well executed, programming events and exhibits within the same space is mutually beneficial. Realizing the potential of this new public space, our team interconnected old with new. The result is a new Michigan State Capitol visitors’ center that welcomes, educates, and inspires. Since opening one year ago, dynamic exhibit and orientation spaces have welcomed visitors into the Capitol, telling a story of the building’s history and democracy in Michigan.

Community Engagement Projects from Emerging Museum Professionals

• Charlotte Juergens, University of Michigan
• Katie Mielens, Michigan State University
• Andrew Schneider, Eastern Michigan University
• Gwendolyn Hopkins, University of Michigan - Flint

Students from four university programs related to museums and/or arts and cultural management will share their experiences with community engagement projects, more details to follow!

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