Museums Association of Montana

Programming during the Pandemic and Beyond 

Presenter: Karen Reinhart, Curator Yellowstone Gateway Museum

The first few minutes of this program are dedicated to showing conference participants how to navigate Zoom during the MAM conference.

To stay vibrant in their communities, many museums successfully turned to virtual programming during the pandemic. This program examines the many benefits of engaging adults and students through online programming, and the nuts and bolts of setting up Zoom programs, using meeting or webinar platforms. Topics covered include hosts, lighting, practice sessions, live and pre-recorded sessions, managing participants, surveys, polls, recording programs, and more.

Making the Most of Your Board: How to build a Successful Board/Staff Relationship

Presenter: Matt Lautzenheiser, Executive Director of the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula

This session will explore how the Board and Staff work together to receive the best results for your organization.  It includes information on necessary policies, expectations, Board and staff roles, and Committee Structure.

The Role of History and Culture in Experiential Travel and Destination Marketing

Keynote Speaker: Racene Friede, President CEO Glacier County Tourism Region

Almost every leisure trip includes some history. The history of the destination, the history of the people, the history of the architecture, stories of the area – travelers want to know something about where they have chosen to visit. Understanding experiential travel in a changing travel environment and ideas for easy, low-cost ways that museums of all sizes can stretch their marketing dollars, both online and offline, and enhance the visitor experience.

Learning from our NEH Assessment: Where You Are Is Exactly Where to Start! 

Presenters: Amy Webster, Curator/collections manager for the Ninepipes Museum and Pat Roath, Curator of Collections & Exhibits Hockaday Museum of Art  

A Trip to Shindig Island

Presenter: Sabre Moore, Executive Director Carter County Museum

The COVID-19 Pandemic has taught us all the advantages of online fundraising and virtual events, but where to begin? Starting with the first ever virtual Dino Shindig, this program will feature easy-to-use online tools to raise money for your museum. Learn about hosting online silent auctions, Facebook Fundraising, AmazonSmile and Charity Lists, PayPal Giving and more!

Effective Web Presence on a Budget

Presenter: Kaitlin Johnson, Executive Director Yellowstone Historic Center and Ellen Butler, Curator and Fundraising Assistant  Yellowstone Historic Center

As technology continues to evolve and alter the way we communicate with each other, taking advantage of the most cost-effective methods to promote your museum is vital. Ellen and Kaitlin share their experiences in developing a strong online presence for both a museum and an event venue for the Yellowstone Historic Center on a shoestring budget. Topics for this presentation will include social media, primary websites, graphic design, and newsletters with emphasis on developing partnerships with other organizations in your communities.

Annual Membership Business Meeting followed by bring your own lunch Meet and Greet  - Share your recent challenges/opportunities

Curating Your Small Museum

Presenter: Jenette Rasch, Manager of Wise Wonders Science and Discovery Museum

What does it mean to curate? What steps and processes should be considered when selecting materials and information for effective exhibit design? Our presentation of information and objects is what is most impactful on our visitors and donors. This discussion will be about how to effectively present concepts and ideas through the curation of exhibits. We will talk about how to make your exhibits memorable and engaging with the goal of drawing return visits to your museum and effectively educating the public.

Grab it, Pack it, & Pallet it

Presenters: Kenrda Newhall, Senior Registrar, and Aaron Genton, Collections Historian, Montana Historical Society

The Veterans and Pioneers Memorial Building has been home to the Montana Historical Society since 1952. Since that time, this building has provided a home for the Society’s work, collections, and research. As Montana has grown, however, so have the needs of its Historical Society.

The Montana Historical Society Museum, Montana’s Museum, collects, preserves, and interprets fine art, historical, archaeological, and ethnological artifacts that pertain to Montana and its adjoining geographic region.

The Museum collection, an estimated 60,000+ artifacts, contains art and three-dimensional artifacts relating to all aspects of Montana history and culture. Our Native American collection contains artifacts from each of the many tribes who have called Montana home. The Society’s archaeological collection is relatively small, but contains representative artifacts from many eras of human habitation in Montana.

Other artifact strengths include: costumes and textiles, transportation artifacts, paper and ephemera, firearms, and agricultural, cattle, and mining industry objects. The collection also includes decorative arts and furnishings. The best-known works in our art collection are by Montana’s “Cowboy Artist” Charles M. Russell. This collection is one of the most significant collections of Russell art anywhere. Another major art collection represents the life work of sculptor Bob Scriver.

The goal of this session is to focus on what it takes to move this vast collection. Attendees will get a glimpse into the moving and packing process as it currently stands for the MHS Museum Program. Topics covered will include roles and responsibilities of staff; trial and error along the way; anticipated and unexpected challenges; setting goals and checking in on those goals, inventorying, cataloging, tracking, and carefully packing an estimated 60,000+ collection. In addition attendees will also get a behind the scenes tour of our storage areas and a first hand look at what we have accomplished so far.