Wednesday, July 19

There are three types of registration for this year’s conference – Virtual Only, Virtual + Single Day, and Virtual + In-Person. No matter which one you selected, you have access to this year’s virtual day of programming. Come be our guest in the Midwest from wherever you are!

The following sessions and networking activities will be hosted in Zoom Webinar or Zoom Meeting. Login and dial-in information will be available to registered attendees in the conference virtual platform. ASL Interpretation and Zoom’s built-in transcriptions will be provided.

Morning Virtual Tour

7:45 AM – 8:15 AM CT (8:45 AM – 9:15 AM ET)

Virtual Tour: Indiana War Memorial Museum

The Indiana War Memorial Museum, located within the Indiana War Memorial in downtown Indianapolis, contains over 30,000 square feet of exhibit space dedicated to Indiana’s military history. Visitors are taken on a historic journey spanning from the Revolutionary War into the most recent military conflicts, connecting to the past through displays featuring original artifacts which include battle flags, weapons, and personal effects of Hoosiers who served our country.

Sponsored by Milwaukee Public Museum

Opening Session

8:30 AM – 9:00 AM CT (9:30 AM – 10:00 AM ET)

AMM Annual Business Meeting

Prior to our opening panel session, AMM members are invited to join us live for our 2023 Annual Business Meeting. Hear board election results and other announcements.

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM CT (10:00 AM – 11:00 AM ET)

Becoming an Antiracist Cultural Institution: Newfields’ Path to Embracing and Promoting a Culture of Equity and Racial Justice

(Leadership & Operations)

In the wake of COVID-19, societal unrest, and an unplanned leadership transition following a racially insensitive job posting, Newfields has pursued organizational healing through its commitment to integrating diversity, equity, inclusion, and access into all facets of the institution, resulting in a cultural shift within the organization.

Presenters: Dr. Colette Pierce Burnette, Newfields; Tascha Horowitz, Newfields; Shelley Selim, Newfields; Dr. Sean Huddleston, Martin University/Newfields Trustee

Sponsored by Minnesota Children’s Museum

Virtual Networking

10:30 AM – 11:30 AM CT (11:30 AM – 12:30 PM ET)

Shifting Gears – Reflecting and Projecting

Come as you are and connect with your peers across the region! In small groups, we will share our wins from the past year and the big “turns” (changes/challenges) on the horizon. 

Concurrent Sessions

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM CT (1:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET)

3D Scanning and Museum Collections: Collaboration and Applications of 3D Scanning and Printing

(Collections Stewardship)

Using a suite of high-end 3D scanners, Indianapolis, Indiana-based company Connections XR will demonstrate the lifecycle of 3D objects. Presenters will showcase the process to 3D scan, and share outputs that include 3D viewer access, Virtual Reality, and 3D printing.

Presenters: Jenny Johnson, Connections XR; Derek Miller, Connections XR; Robert Chester, Crispus Attucks Museum; Hilary Fleck, Monroe County History Center

Speeding up to slow down: Union voices join the pit crew

(Leadership & Operations)

Museum workers are at their “braking” point and many are choosing to unionize in an effort to gain traction in decision-making processes at their institutions. What does it mean to be in a union? What is involved in an organizing campaign? Two museums from the Twin Cities share their experiences.

Presenters: Gretchen Haupt, Science Museum of Minnesota Workers Union; Natalie Naranjo, Science Museum of Minnesota Workers Union; John Fulton, Minnesota Historical Society Staff Union

Virtual Networking

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM CT (2:30 PM – 3:30 PM ET)

Racers, Start Your Engines!  –  Brainstorming Solutions to Big Challenges

Come as you are and connect with your peers across the region! Choose from a range of cross-disciplinary topics and join your colleagues for small group brainstorming and discussion.

Concurrent Sessions

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM CT (4:00 PM – 5:00 PM ET)

Braking Point Before Breaking Point: Making Virtual Programming More Sustainable

(Education & Programs)

Three years into the Covid-19 pandemic, virtual programming has seen a boom and decline with changing audience needs and expectations. Join presenters for a collaborative session designed to connect you with others doing virtual programming and build solutions together and provide case studies in increasing internal collaboration and defining success.

Presenters: Bethany Hrachovec, Indiana Historical Society; Ryan Shank, Conner Prairie

Curious about Contractors?: Working with Independent Museum Professionals 101

(Museums 101)

Are you curious about working with contractors? Join us to learn the basics about working with independent museum professionals (AKA IMPs!). Attend this interactive session to gain resources to address your institution’s IMP needs, find one, and learn some best practices to form a positive and equitable collaboration.

Presenters: Tania Said, Tania Said Consulting; Julie Govert, Independent Exhibit Developer and Writer; Barbara Schafer, Schafer Grant and Project Management

Pre-recorded Sessions

A handful of additional sessions will be made available as recordings for access on-demand, when it is convenient for you.

Gearing up for grants: funding opportunities in NEH’s Division of Preservation and Access 

(Fundraising & Revenue)

Interested in funding to preserve and make accessible your institution’s humanities collections? Attend this session to learn about grants in NEH’s Division of Preservation and Access. We will discuss grants related to collections care and preservation, with time for attendees to ask questions and discuss ideas with a program officer.

Presenters: Dr. Jacquelyn Clements, National Endowment for the Humanities

Harnessing Enthusiasm: Growing the Next Generation of Museum Professionals 

(Leadership & Operations)

Have you ever wanted to start your own junior volunteer corps at your institution? Are you wondering where to start? Join the staff members from the Muskegon Museum of History and Science as they share the almost 5 year odyssey of creating and maintaining a Junior Museum Volunteer Corps.

Presenters: Wendy VanWoerkom, Lakeshore Museum Center; Jennifer Reeths, Lakeshore Museum Center; Marci Dalm, Lakeshore Museum Center

Understanding IMLS Funding Opportunities for Museums

(Fundraising & Revenue)

In this session, a program officer from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) will provide an overview of grant programs to help you find the best fit for your project ideas among several IMLS funding opportunities. IMLS offers grants designed for smaller institutions; grants for projects that advance your institution’s strategic plan goals; and grants to support research, collaboration, and innovation that will advance the museum field.

Presenters: Mark Feitl, Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)

Afternoon Virtual Tour

4:30 PM – 5:30 PM CT (5:30 PM – 6:00 PM ET)

Virtual Tour: Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum

Join Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum staff, Roxie Dunbar and Jason Vansickle, on a virtual guided tour of the museum. Learn more about the history of the Speedway, the famous Indianapolis 500 race, and IndyCar through highlights from the museum’s permanent collection.

Sponsored by Tania Said Consulting