December 15, 2022

Welcoming in the New Year

Saying Goodbye to 2022 and Welcoming 2023 with Hope

By Peggy Schaller

As 2022 comes to a close we can look back at all the challenges that we faced over the last few years--those we met head on and conquered and those that were out of our control--and we can look ahead to 2023 and see a light at the end of the tunnel and it is NOT an oncoming train. That light is HOPE. Hope that we can find a new normal for ourselves, our museums and our world. Covid 19 is still with us along with the flu and RSV and in this season of holiday gatherings we must continue to be vigilant.

Northern States Conservation Center holds out hope that in 2023 will see a less violent and more loving world. We want to wish everyone around the world a happy and safe Holiday Season. 

Be safe and stay well!

Introducing our newest instructor: Samantha Hunt-Duran

Samantha Hunt-Durán is a museum professional, researcher, and consultant in the cultural heritage sector. Hunt-Durán’s nine years in the field have encompassed training in conservation, collections management, archives processing, collections packing and moving, disaster mitigation, polarized light microscopy pigment identification, technical writing, historic preservation, and federal contracting. She has an MA in Art History (Concentration in Museum Studies) and a BFA in Pre-Art Conservation from the University of Denver. Most recently, she has served as lead consultant and Project Manager for several strategic planning and collection management projects for federal museums. 

Hunt-Durán is a Professional Associate of the American Institute for Conservation (AIC), which designates the highest level of professionalism in the field of conservation. She is also a Certified Assessor for the Collections Assessment for Preservation (CAP) program, which audits a museum’s conditions, policies, and procedures related to collections care.

Please help us welcome Samantha to our instructor ranks!

Samantha will be teaching the following courses in 2023

MS008: Buy In: Getting All Staff to Support Preservation February 6 to 10, 2023  

MS101: Introduction to Museums March 6 to 31, 2023

MS109: Museum Management August 7 to September 8, 2023 

Early Bird Discounts Available for Full Length Courses

An Early Bird Discount is available for anyone who signs up for a full length course from museumclasses.org 30 days prior to the start of that course. 

Sign up for a full length course up to 30 days prior to its start and save $100.00!

For our course list or to sign up: http://www.collectioncare.org/course-list

To take advantage of this discount, you must enter coupon code EARLYBIRD at checkout at collectioncare.org

Earlybird Discount Deadline for February 2023 Courses is January 7, 2023

Earlybird Discount Deadline for March 2023 Courses is February 4, 2023

January 2023 Courses

MS 001: The Problem with Plastics

January 9 to 13, 2023

Instructor: Diana Komejan

Description:

As we march boldly toward the 22nd century, artifact collecting includes that most fragile of materials - plastic. Not only is it in our collections, but it is used to house our collections, too. What problems have you seen? What problems have others seen? What materials are best? What can we, as caretakers, do to minimize long-term damage? Join Diana in this mini-course for discussing care and deterioration of plastics. Bring any questions you have about plastics in your museum.

MS 103: The Basics of Museum Registration

January 2 to February 3, 2023  

Instructor: Peggy Schaller

Description:

Collections management is a critical component of running a museum. Most museums have collections and these collections drive the public functions and activities of the institution. Collections management is the physical and intellectual management of these items. In this course we will examine how information is collected and recorded for each object brought into the collection - a process called registration. We will also examine the policies that govern what is brought into the collection, including the most important piece of institutional policy--the museum mission statement. These policies are assembled into the collections management 'bible'--the registration manual. At the end of this course you should have a clear understanding of how and why collections are documented in museums and the governing principles that drive daily museum activities.

MS 262: Moving Collections

January 2 to 27, 2023

Instructor: Stefani Pendergast

Description:

Moving collections is a daunting task. Fragile items need special packing and care to be safely transported. Large, heavy or awkward items like dinosaurs and oversized sculptures require special equipment and support from local authorities. How do you design your project to meet the budget and timing demands of your administration? Are your collections over-packed in acidic boxes and does your move includes improving their storage and care? Collections often take up more room when they are stored properly. How do you determine your needed storage space when the collection is decompressed? Moving Collections provides an overview of how to plan and manage a move to avoid the many pitfalls. The course includes: defining your project, developing a Request for Proposal (RFP), developing a work plan, staffing, and packing protocols. Whether you are moving part of the collection within your building or moving the entire collection to another facility, Moving Collections provides a blueprint for you to follow

MS 270: Planning and Designing Interpretive Panels

January 2 to 27, 2023  

Instructor: John Veverka

Description:

The Planning, design and text copy development for interpretive panels is a practical “how to do it” course to develop updated or new interpretive panels for heritage sites, historic homes, natural areas, zoos, and other related sites. Panels are the most widely use interpretive media, world-wide, to quickly present a message or story to site visitors in a memorable fashion. We will look at the interpretive planning process, interpretive design concerns, interpretive text writing for panels, panel fabrication materials, panel pre-testing evaluation, and even how to write a RFP (request for proposal) to have your panels fabricated. This is an important course for any interpretive staff member, planner, designer or manager.

The course includes an e-copy of John’s Interpretive Planning Textbook, and a e-copy of John’s new The Interpretive Trails Book.

February 2023 Courses

MS008: Buy In: Getting All Staff to Support Preservation

February 6 to 10, 2023 

Instructor: Samantha Hunt-Duran

Description:

To get anything done in your museum, you often need to get other staff to support the idea. All too often, preservation is left to one or two staff members and others believe it doesn't apply to them. For example, it is hard to successfully implement a pest management plan without full staff support. Everyone must buy into the notion of preservation. But how? Readings will introduce some ideas and participants in this course will brainstorm with the instructor about what works, what might work - and what doesn't.

MS104: Introduction to Collections Preservation

February 6 to March 10, 2023  

Instructor: Laura Elliff Cruz

Description:

Every museum professional needs a solid foundation in preservation principles and techniques. Introduction to Collections Preservation provides an overview of current preservation issues from environmental monitoring to collection cleaning, exhibit mounts and storage furniture. Participants learn about every aspect of the modern museum and how the building, staff and fixtures affect preservation. Subjects include the agents of deterioration, risk management, object handling and transport, object labeling, exhibit lighting, security, emergency preparedness, materials for storage and display, storage and exhibit philosophies, and condition assessments.

MS266: Legal Issues in Collections Management

February 6 to March 3, 2023 

Instructor: Sarah Kapellusch

Description:

In this course we will examine the most significant laws and regulations that affect collections management, including the legal organization of museums, responsibilities of governing boards, collections care, loans and gifts, international regulations, intellectual property, cultural appropriation, and freedom of expression.

March 2023 Courses

MS 101: Introduction to Museums

March 6 to 31, 2023  

Instructor: Samantha Hunt-Duran

Description:

The United States has more than 17,000 museums, we can only guess at the world's total. While most people think of a museum as a well-staffed, professionally run institution, the vast majority of museums are started and run by people with little or no basic training in museum studies or preservation. Introduction to Museums is designed to change that. The course introduces basic concepts, terminology and the role of various staff members, including curators, registrars and directors. Introduction to Museums is aimed at staff members, board members, interns, volunteers, as well as anyone interested in becoming a museum professional or learning more about the profession.

MS 223: Care of Metals 

March 6 to April 7, 2023  

Instructor: Diana Komejan

Description:

Outdoor sculpture, silver tea service, gold jewelry, axe head, wheel rim - metals are found in most museum collections and may be stored or displayed indoor or outdoors depending on the object. Learn how to identify different types of metal and their alloys. Gain an understanding of how and why metals deteriorate and methods for preventing deterioration from occurring or continuing. The pros and cons of different popular treatments will be covered along with recommendations for the least damaging approach to treatment. Care of Metals provides a simplified explanation of the chemistry and structure of metals, explaining the importance of the galvanic series and electrochemistry in care strategies. Starting with an overview of the history and function of metals and how they are made, the course will cover guidelines for handling, labeling, exhibiting and storing metals. An overview of treatments, including cleaning, used on metals and how appropriate they are for the long-term preservation of the metal object will help students make care decisions when consulting with conservators.

MS 269: Visitor Motivations for Selecting Programs

March 6 to 31, 2023  

Instructor: John Veverka

Description:

A visitor-centered course on how to increase your visitor program participation numbers (attendance) in interpretive programs and experiences. John Veverka researched why visitors select and attend interpretive programs for 2 years while working as a seasonal naturalist with Ohio State Parks and completing his MS in interpretation from the Ohio State University. The results of this research was groundbreaking for program planning. Employing research results increased program attendance the following year by over 30%. This course teaches how to do your own research into what motivates your visitors. The results may help you increase your visitor numbers and their satisfaction with the experience you offered.

Join your cultural property industry peers in St. Pete, FL

IFCPP’s annual conference offers educational sessions from cultural property security leaders, opportunities to network with peers from institutions across the country, and special excursions to local cultural properties including the Salvador Dali museum. Our annual conference is the time for cultural property security professionals to come together to network and learn about cutting-edge trends in this ever-changing industry. You don’t want to miss this!

When: May 6-10, 2023

Where: St. Petersburg, FL at the Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront Hotel

Registration and more information

Conferences and Meetings

Double check each organization's website for more information.