• Craig Hadley, Dennos Museum Center
• Tami Fauver, Krasl Art Museum

While the AAM accreditation process might appear to be an insurmountable challenge at first glance, this session is intended to empower small museum staff with the information they need to achieve the field’s highest honor. Now more than ever, accreditation can help our small museums thrive amidst a changing socioeconomic landscape by improving our organizations and boosting donor confidence. As such, this session will explore AAM’s accreditation process through first-hand case study alongside audience participation. Come prepared with your questions—and your own advice—to share with attendees.

Location: Oaks

• Barbara Hubbard, Troy Historic Village
• Shelby Nelsen, Sloan Museum of Discovery and Longway Planetarium

Time is precious and since Covid began people have been more selective about how they spend it. Volunteers don’t have to spend their time with us, and don’t owe museums anything. Knowing that, how do we recruit volunteers and create a community that keeps them coming back? In our discussion we will learn how to identify and prioritize needs, understand and engage volunteers, and empower volunteers to fulfill your mission.

Location: Meadows

• Nicole Webb, GVSU Art Gallery
• Alison Christensen, GVSU Art Gallery

This session is for the museum novice, seasoned professional, and everyone in between! Grand Valley State University (GVSU) Art Gallery Collections Manager & Curator of Content, along with the Project Manager & Curator of Public Spaces will share the journey a work of art takes from accession to public display. Participants will experience what it’s like to be a work of art on public display on a GVSU campus! Firsthand examples of the Art Gallery organizational systems and technologies that aid in accessibility will be explored. Along with examples of university and community partnerships that help with everything from collection selection to collection maintenance. Practical ideas of how to maintain physical and intellectual control over a collection while on public display will also be reviewed. Information shared in this session can be applied to both short and long-term display. Navigate an art journey with us!

Location: Great Lakes II-III

• Jackie Huss, Lakeshore Museum Center
• Wendy VanWoerkom, Lakeshore Museum Center

Join the staff of the Lakeshore Museum Center as we discuss three initiatives that were designed to make the museum an effective community resource. We will start by looking at a way to bring a successful program outside the Museum walls, and then share about two programs where we work alongside our local correctional facility to welcome people who are incarcerated to utilize the museum in different ways. One program provides a welcoming visitation location for women and their children/grandchildren, and the other is an exit-program for men returning to the community from incarceration. We will talk about funding, the challenges, and the successes of these programs.

Location: Great Lakes IV-V