Charting a Courseto Community Connection

October 26-28, 2016Lake Tahoe, Nevada

nevada museums associationnma

NEVADA MUSEUMS ASSOCIATION2016 Annual Conference

NEVADA MUSEUMS ASSOCIATION2106 Annual Conference

October 26 – October 28, 2016

Charting a Course to Community Connection

Conference HotelHyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort111 Country Club Dr.Incline Village, NV 89451775-832-1234www.laketahoe.regency.hyatt.com

RegistrationConference registration includes three breakfasts, one lunch, evening tour/dinner at Thunderbird Lodge, keynote, workshops, sessions and resource center. Resource CenterLearn more about NMA member museums at the resource center located in the reception area of the convention center. Pick up brochures, newsletter, calendars and other resource materials.

Off-site Event LocationThunderbird Lodge5000 NV-28 Incline Village, NV 89451(775) 832-8750Please note: parking is limited at the Thunderbird Lodge. Plan to carpool from the Hyatt Regency.

Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort111 Country Club Dr.

Incline Village, NV 89451

Country

Club

Dr.

Tahoe Blvd.

Lakeshore Blvd.

Lakeshore Blvd.

Incline Way

Incline Way

Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort

Thunderbird LodgePreservation Society

10 min5.7 miles

* All sessions and workshops will be held in Martis Peak rooms A, B, C

Day 1 - Wednesday, October 26Time Description Location8 am - 4 pm Registration Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe8- 9 am Continental Breakfast Regency Ballroom9 - 10:30 am Welcome and Keynote, Presenter: Leonard Garfield, Executive Director, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle, WA Regency Ballroom10:45 - Noon Session A: From a Museum to a Community Center - Tahoe Maritime Museum Session B: Combining Forces to Successfully Engage with Our Community Workshop 1: Polish Silver Like They Did In Downton Abby12:15 - 1:45 pm Lunch - On your own 2 - 3:15 pm Session A: Changing the Way We Think about Social Media Session B: Interactivity on a Budget-What Works and What Doesn’t Workshop 2: What is this Stuff? Best Practices for Accepting New Objects3:15 - 3:30 pm Break3:30 - 4:45 pm Session A: Home Means Las Vegas: House Museums and Immersive Experiences Session B: Building Audiences for Museum Education Programs: Bringing ‘em In by Taking the Guesswork Out Workshop 3: Make Your Own Custom Boxes: Save Money, Save Objects 4:45 - 5:15 pm Break5:15 pm Meet at Cutthroat Saloon to carpool to Thunderbird Lodge5:30 - 6 pm Travel to Thunderbird Lodge6 - 9 pm Evening tour/dinner/reception at Thunderbird Lodge

Day 2 - Thursday, October 27Time Description Location8:30 am - 10 am Registration, Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe9 - 10:30 am Hyatt Continental Breakfast and NMA Annual Board Meeting Regency Ballroom10:45 - Noon Session A: Day at the Museum: Creating Effective Field Trip Programs Session B: Wearing our Heritage: Connecting to Community through Clothing Session C: With a Lot of Help from my Volunteers: Managing Natural History 12:15 - 1:45 pm Lunch - Sponsored by Incline Village Crystal Bay Visitors Bureau Cutthroat Saloon2 - 3:15 pm Session A: Building Membership in a Tourist Town. It Can Be Done! Session B: Mapping the Museum: Sameer Farooq at University Galleries 3:15 - 3:30 pm Break 3:30 - 4:45 pm Session A: Making Collections Accessible: Digitizing an Anthropology Collection Session B: Community Engagement through Local Art Session C: Applying Library Methods to a Museum Setting4:45 - 5:15 pm Break5:30 - 6 pm Meet your group at Cutthroat Saloon6 - 9 pm Meet Up Dinners - on your own - EMP’s, etc.

Day 3 - Friday, October 28Time Description Location8 - 9:15 am General Session Breakfast, Year in Review: What’s Happening in Your Museum? Regency Ballroom9:30 - 10:45 am Session A: Howdy, Pardner! Connecting to Elko County at the NE Nevada Museum Session B: Avenues for Advocacy Session C: Full STEAM Ahead: Hands-On Activities for Museum Educators 11 - Noon Raffle, Evaluation, Concluding Remarks Regency BallroomNoon/end of day Lunch and catamaran afternoon ride - pre-registration required, space limited

NMA Annual Conference 2016 - Agenda at a Glance

WELCOME

The board of the Nevada Museums Association welcomes you to the 2016 Annual Conference at beautiful Lake Tahoe.

A full year of preparations by the program committee has culminated in an engaging selection of 21 sessions that explore routes museums have navigated to engage and enrich their communities. These sessions and workshops focus on calibrating the compass for Nevada’s cultural future.

The below program goals were established to encourage collaboration, exchange of ideas and best practices, learning, and relaxation: • Present a professional conference exemplifying high standards and full content • Provide professional development on par with regional and national conferences • Serve the interests of all Nevada museums, regardless of size • Reach out to beginning museum workers and seasoned professionals • Offer a retreat for restoration, inspiration and celebration of our profession • Maintain affordability to encourage broad participation

BOARD MEMBERS

Crystal R. Van Dee, PresidentDan Ruby, 1st Vice President

Samantha Szesciorka, 2nd Vice PresidentSherry Hayes-Zorn, Treasurer

Maggie Zakri, SecretaryDustin Wax, Website and Social Media

Dawn Barraclough, NewsletterJim Barmore, Past President

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26

8 - 4 Registration, Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe

8 - 9 Continental Breakfast, Location: Regency Ballroom

9 - 10:30 Welcome and KeynotePresenter: Leonard Garfield, Executive Director Museum of History & Industry, Seattle, WA

Location: Regency BallroomAs Executive Director of Seattle’s Museum of History & Industry, Leonard Garfield led MOHAI in the move to a new museum at Lake Union Park and a new Resource Center in Seattle’s Georgetown neighborhood, both of which opened in 2012. Before joining the museum, he served as director of the King County Office of Cultural Resources (now 4Culture) from 1993-1999. From 1985-1993, Garfield served as Washington State Historic Preservation Manager and State Architectural Historian, directing the National Register of Historic Places program. Among other writings, he is co-author of Built in Washington, an architectural history of Washington State.

10:45 - Noon Session A: From a Museum to a Community Center Presenter: Lora Nodolski, Tahoe Maritime Museum Location: Martis Peak A

The need for a collection storage facility led the Tahoe Maritime Museum to initiate a capital project that transformed the museum into a cultural destination for the Tahoe region. Learn how the museum is developing an interactive cultural experience combining history and public art with year-round educational activities.

Session B: Combining Forces to Successfully Engage with Our Community Presenters: Cynthia Warso, Education and Engagement Manager; Maggie Zakri, Collections Manager; Amanda Riley, Social Media Coordinator, Neon Museum

Location: Martis Peak BWith so many engagement options: drop-ins, exhibits, curriculum, tours, social media and more, what defines successful programming? Is there a winning formula? Panelists from the Neon Museum will lead a lively, interactive discussion to explore how combining departmental forces maximizes resources and provides essential components for success.

Workshop 1: Polish Silver Like They Did in Downton AbbyPresenter: Caroline Kunioka, Nevada State Museum, Las VegasLocation: Martis Peak C

Many museums have collections of 19th century silver. Learn when you should polish it, the ethics involved and what method and materials you should use. Limited to 20 participants. Pre-registration required.

12:15 - 1:45 Lunch: On your own

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26 cont’d

2 - 3:15 Session A: Changing the Way We Think About Social Media Presenter: Misha Ray, The Mob Museum Location: Martis Peak A

We hear a lot about “social media” in the museum industry. In a world of viral videos, memorable memes and quirky quizzes, where does your organization fit in? In this session, learn how to create content that will make your fans click, tweet, share and more.

Session B: Interactivity on a Budget: What Works and What Doesn’t Presenter: Leo Demski, University of Nevada, Reno Location: Martis Peak B

While interactive exhibits are emphasized and encouraged, their use of software, electronics and third-party applications often puts them out of reach for small museums. Using case studies, this session aims to provide some basic suggestions for creating interactive experiences on a budget, as well as offering guidance on what to avoid.

Workshop 2: What is this Stuff? Best Practices for Accepting New Objects Presenter: Garrett Barmore, University of Nevada, Reno Location: Martis Peak C

Overcrowding and lack of storage space forces most museums to be very judicious in what they do and don’t collect. This session offers different tools, tips and things to remember when considering objects for the permanent collection and how to say “no” to potential donors.

3:30 - 4:45 Session A: Home Means Las Vegas: House Museums and Immersive Experiences Presenter: Nathan Harper, Preserve Archaeologist, Springs Preserve Location: Martis Peak A

After more than four years of detailed restoration work and large-scale construction, the Springs Preserve is preparing to open a streetscape of early Las Vegas featuring four original railroad cottages and replicas of a railroad depot, hotel, theater and saloon. Learn how the Springs Preserve restored the cottages and is creating an immersive experience through replication.

Session B: Building Audiences for Education Programs: Bringing ‘em In by Taking the Guesswork Out Presenters: Cynthia Behr Warso, Neon Museum; Claire White, The Mob Museum Location: Martis Peak B

Building and diversifying audiences can be a challenge for museums. In this session, learn how to use research and data to create engaging educational programs and effective audience outreach. Review case studies from the Neon Museum’s new arts initiatives and The Mob Museum’s object-based outreach program. And be prepared to join in a lively discussion by sharing your own hits and misses.

Workshop 3: Make Your Own Custom Boxes: Save Money, Save Objects Presenter: Caroline Kunioka, Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas Location: Martis Peak C

Envious of big-budget-museum custom boxes? Custom boxes don’t have to be expensive if you make them yourself. Learn how to measure artifacts for custom box-making, create drop down sides and ties, ‘sink’ objects in ethafoam and retro-fit existing boxes to suit your artifact needs. Limited to 10 participants. Preregistration required.

4:45 - 5:15 Break

5:15 Meet at Cutthroat Saloon to carpool to Thunderbird Lodge (15 min. drive) 5000 NV-28, Incline Village

6 - 9 Evening tour/dinner/reception at Thunderbird LodgeThe Thunderbird Lodge National Historic Site is Lake Tahoe’s “Castle-in-the-Sky.” Please note the walking tour is ½ mile over uneven surface, up and down steep stairs and through narrow passages. High heels are not recommended. Learn more about Thunderbird Lake Tahoe at www.thunderbirdtahoe.org

Nevada State Museum’s Marjorie Russell Clothing and Textile Research Center

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27

8:30 - 10 Registration, Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe

9 - 10:30 Hyatt Continental Breakfast and NMA Annual Board Meeting Location: Regency Ballroom 10:45 - Noon Session A: Day at the Museum: Creating Effective Field Trip Programs Presenter: Dan Ruby, Fleischmann Planetarium Location: Martis Peak A

This session looks at best practices in museum field trips, covering marketing, scheduling, funding, transportation, staff and training, and the unique capabilities of museums as a part of a broader picture of K-12 education.

Session B: Wearing our Heritage: Connecting to Community through Clothing Presenters: Jan Loverin, Nevada State Museum, Carson City; Christine Johnson, Nevada Historical Society Location: Martis Peak B

The Nevada State Museum’s Marjorie Russell Clothing and Textile Research Center is home to more than 10,000 artifacts. Connection to community determines which materials are included in the collection. From politicians to pioneers, ranchers to showgirls, Grand Masters to burners, the clothing we wear tells our story.

Session C: With a Lot of Help from my Volunteers: Managing Natural History Presenters: Sali A. Underwood, Pamela Prim, Laura Eichenberg, Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas Location: Martis Peak C

Volunteers are a necessary component in collections management, filling positions that museums need but cannot fund. Their flexibility, willingness to learn, and readiness to accept challenges makes them essential. This session focuses on volunteer management, retention, and outreach based on the examples of two natural history projects at the Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas.

12:15 - 1:45 Lunch: Sponsored by Incline Village Crystal Bay Visitor’s Bureau Location: Cutthroat Saloon

The Incline Village Visitor’s Center is one of five introducing you to North Lake Tahoe. For more information, visit https://www.gotahoenorth.com/north-lake-tahoe/visitor-center

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27 cont’d

2 – 3:15 Session A: Building Membership in a Tourist Town. It Can Be Done! Presenters: Jennifer Kleven, Neon Museum Location: Martis Peak A

How do you build and maintain a membership base when 80-90% of your visitors are tourists? This session discusses two growing and successful membership programs: The Neon Museum and Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art. Learn how to create and manage a successful membership program – assessing the cost to your organization, establishing member benefits, and the tax implications.

Session B: Mapping the Museum: Sameer Farooq at University Galleries Presenter: Stephanie Gibson, University Galleries Location: Martis Peak B

As UNR prepares to open a new School of the Arts building, University Galleries looks to expand the conversation about how art is shared. Artist Sameer Farooq’s two-week residency collaborated with anthropologists, writers and museum professionals to investigate tactics of representation and display practices. This talk highlights the artist’s interdisciplinary practice and proposes new ways of thinking about museums in our community.

3:30 – 4:45 Session A: Making Collections Accessible: Digitizing an Anthropology Collection Presenter: Chenay Pointer-Bueltel, Nevada State Museum, Carson City Location: Martis Peak A

The session describes the process of cleaning, re-inventorying, photographing, and rehousing the Nevada State Museum’s Anthropology Department’s ceramic and rug collections. The focus is on the project’s goal, which is the accessibility of the collections physically as well as digitally.

Session B: Community Engagement through Local Art Presenter: Aaron Micallef, Springs Preserve Location: Martis Peak B

Learn how the Springs Preserve, over a period of several years and with collaborative programming, has engaged various segments of the Las Vegas community.

Session C: Applying Library Methods to a Museum Setting Presenter: Crystal Van Dee, Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas Location: Martis Peak C

Libraries and museums share the major goal of connecting visitors with information, but many museums have yet to apply library practices such as automation, content audits, experience mapping, and user interviews. This session explores how small museums can adapt library methods to help develop a better understanding of the communities we serve.

4:45 Break

6 – 9 Dinner: On your own. Meet at the Cutthroat Saloon.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28

8 – 9:15 General Session Breakfast Year in Review: What’s Happening in Your Museum? Location: Regency Ballroom

9:30 – 10:45 Session A: Howdy, Pardner! Connecting to Elko County at the NE Nevada Museum Presenter: Donald Westfall and D’ette Mawson, Northeastern Nevada Museum Location: Martis Peak A

This session provides an overview of recent initiatives at the Northeastern Nevada Museum to reach new audiences and make the facility a more viable venue for the entire Elko County community.

Session B: Avenues for Advocacy Presenters: Panel: Arthur Wolf, WOLF Consulting; Christina Barr, Nevada Humanities; Susan Boskoff, Nevada Arts Council; Hollis J. Gillespie, Cultural Assets Consulting Location: Martis Peak B

Nevada organizations and individuals have long been active advocates for State funding of cultural programs. Nevadans also participate in specialized advocacy for national policy issues and funding initiatives through several diverse programs like Humanities on the Hill, Americans for the Arts, and Museums Advocacy Day. Panelists will discuss current and prospective issues, how to advocate from home, and how to get to Washington, DC in person.

Session C: Full STEAM Ahead: Hands-On Activities for Museum Educators Presenters: Dan Ruby, Fleishmann Planetarium; Lou Loftin and Brian Crosby, Nevada Regional Professional Development Program Location: Martis Peak C

This workshop teaches how to bridge informal museum education to formal Nevada Academic Content Standards by using hands-on activities that integrate Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math.

11 – Noon Raffle, Evaluation, Concluding Remarks Location: Regency Ballroom

Noon Lunch and catamaran afternoon ride (space limited, RSVP required, weather permitting)Enjoy lunch and sail Lake Tahoe on Action Watersports of Incline Village 55’ catamaran. Learn more at http://www.awsincline.com/tours/sierra-cloud-catamaran

Noon – 5 Celebrate the 75th Anniversary of Nevada State Museum, Carson City 600 North Carson Street, Carson City, NV NMA members are invited to Nevada State Museum, Carson City to enjoy an afternoon of behind- the-scenes tours, birthday cake and free admission.

The Nevada Museums Association (NMA) is a non-profit membership organization made up of museum professionals as well as businesses and individuals interested in museums.

The NMA provides support to the state’s 100+ museums by offering learning opportunities through a

quarterly newsletter, annual conference and other informational workshops held throughout the year.

THANK YOU

The Nevada Museum Association could not host this conference without the dedication and hard work of many people and the generosity of our sponsors:

NMA Program Committee:Crystal Van Dee

Dawn BarracloughGarrett Barmore Melanie CoffeeMaggie Zakri

Samantha Szeciorka

NMA 2016 Sponsors:Thunderbird Lodge

Incline Village Visitor’s BureauAction Watersports

The Nevada Museums Association also thanks the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort for outstanding hospitality and service for our 2016 Annual Conference. More information about the resort is available at

http://laketahoe.regency.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.html

nevada museums associationnma

Special thanks to Jena Antochuk, Dawn Barrachough and the Springs Preserve for producing this program.

KEEP YOUR NMA MEMBERSHIP CURRENT

Membership in NMA is an important way to keep informed about statewide issues, to support the Nevada museum community, and to network with other Nevada museum professionals. Benefits include a subscription to our quarterly newsletter, discounted registration for our annual meeting and professional training workshops. Institutional members also receive a listing and photo on our website every year the membership is paid.

• Individual Membership is open to any individual who supports the aims and objectives of the Association.• Institutional Membership is open to any Nevada institution meeting the museum definition* of the American

Association of Museums. There are two tiers of institutional membership.• Associate Membership is a non-voting membership and is open to any institution or organization which supports

the aims and objectives of the Association but which is not a museum as defined by the American Association of Museums.

Go to www.nevadamuseums.org to enroll or renew.

Austin Museum Beatty Museum and Historical SocietyBoulder City/Hoover Dam Museum The Burlesque Hall of Fame Capital City Arts Initiative (CCAI)Central Nevada MuseumThe Children’s Museum of Northern Nevada Churchill County MuseumComstock Firemen’s MuseumDangberg Home Ranch Historic ParkDiscovery Children’s MuseumDouglas County Historical Society Eureka Sentinel MuseumFleischmann PlanetariumFriends of MidasHawthorne Ordnance Museum Historic Fourth Ward SchoolHumboldt Museum/North Central Nevada Historical SocietyLas Vegas International Scouting MuseumLas Vegas Natural History Museum Lost City MuseumLyon County Museum

The Mineral County MuseumThe Mob MuseumNational Atomic Testing MuseumNational Automobile MuseumThe Neon MuseumNevada Discovery MuseumNevada Division of State Parks Nevada Historical SocietyNevada Museum of Art Nevada Northern Railway Museum Nevada State Museum, Carson CityNevada State Museum, Las VegasNevada State Railroad MuseumPahrump Valley Museum and Historical SocietySparks Heritage MuseumSprings PreserveSunnyside Historical Society Thunderbird Lake TahoeUNLV Marjorie Barrick Museum Verdi History Preservation Society, Inc.Virgin Valley Heritage MuseumWilbur D. May Museum

*Museum Defined: A public or private nonprofit agency or institution organized on a permanent basis for essentially educational or aesthetic purposes, which, utilizing a professional staff, owns or utilizes tangible objects, cares for them, and exhibits them to the public on a regular basis.

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