Peer Reviewer for the DMFAH Collections

The Danville Museum is currently going through a Museum Accreditation (MAP) program, and we would like to give a shout out to Daniel Shogan who has been diligently working on the Workbooks for this Program. The process involves a peer reviewer, and we were assigned Karen Whitehair from Frederick MD, by the American Association for Museums. She has read through our DMFAH workbook, and recognizes that a lot of transitions are happening at the museum. She will be meeting with Daniel Shogan, Annie Chappell, Aidan Thomas, Mary Kent and Elsabé Dixon via Zoom before everybody heads back to school. We will be arranging a peer review on-site visit, after August 20.  For the on-site meeting, it will be important for Karen to meet with DMFAH board members and other key players within our organization.  We are currently sharing DMFAH Collections and Policy documents with Karen to review so she can offer expert advice.

Karen Whitehair has worked in the museum field for almost thirty years, focusing on collections stewardship within organizations, ranging from the National Park Service and the Smithsonian Institution to several history-based museums in the Greater Washington, DC area. Karen received her BA in History from the University of Colorado/Boulder, her MA in American History from Yale University, and a certificate in Museum Studies from the George Washington University Museum Studies Program. She has been actively involved within the museum field throughout her career, serving as an American Alliance of Museums MAP Peer Reviewer, presenting at conferences and writing about the work she does for publications such as American Spirit, AASLH’s History News, and Collections: A Newsletter 2 Journal for Museum and Archive Professionals. One of Karen’s favorite activities is to share what she has learned during her career with others.

DMFAH Full Board Meeting July 15 from 5:30pm -7pm

On Thursday, July 15 from 5:30pm -7pm the DMFAH Board will meet with both past board members and new board members to usher in new board appointees for the next three years and to thank past board members for serving on the Museum Board. One of the Board's responsibilities is to oversee the DMFAH's financial affairs, including making sure that the organization has adequate internal accounting systems and controls. The Board is also responsible for approving the organization's annual budget. We will announce the new Board Directors in next week’s newsletter.

To find out more please take a look at the American Alliance of Museum’s Guide for Board Members: https://www.aam-us.org/2014/11/02/guide-for-board-members/#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20Board's%20responsibilities,approving%20the%20organization's%20annual%20budget.

River District App for WANDERLOVE

Access the installation from the Riverwalk entrances at the Downtown Plaza (200 Main Street), or the Danville Community Market (629 Craghead Street). This fiber, knitting & crocheting collaboration by the Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History, recognizes the building of community found within the age-old practice of gathering to assemble fabric and knitted pieces in small groups. This interactive winter community project, produced from January through June, celebrates and reflects people’s many different backgrounds and experiences. "WANDERLOVE: A Stitch in Time" Yarn Bomb installation is open from July 4 – September 26, 2021, and creates an assembled reflection of the community in bright, joyful colors. Please download the River District app to find out more! https://distrx.com/property/338534-wanderlove-a-stitch-in-time#about

Thank you to all who worked the Governor's School Summer Art Camp Session

Governor's Schools give gifted students academic and visual and performing arts opportunities beyond those normally available in the students' home schools. Students are able to focus on a specific area of intellectual or artistic strength and interest and to study in a way that best suits the gifted learner's needs. Each program stresses non-traditional teaching and learning techniques. For example, small-group instruction, hands-on-experiences, research, field studies, or realistic or artistic productions are major elements in the instructional design at all schools. Students become scientists, writers, artists, and performers as they work with professional mentors and instructors. 

The DMFAH wants to give a Shout Out to the Governors School Program staff who worked this summer. Thank you to camp teachers Libby Killian and Linda Gourley; camp assistant Cali Earp and Emerson Scollo and volunteer teachers Taylor Murphy, Nancy Still, and Reilley Jones.