Preliminary Program SEMC Annual Meeting 2017 New Orleans

SEMC

art, history and culture in motion

new orleans, la 2017 semc september 11-13

ANNUAL MEETING PRELIMINARY PROGRAM

MONDAY SEPT. 11 7:30 am – 11:00 am HHMAG HANDS-ON HELP PROJECT: COLLECTIONS CARE AT BEAUREGARD-KEYES HOUSE AND GARDEN MUSEUM AND HERMANN-GRIMA HOUSE Meet in lobby to walk (1113 Chartres Street & 820 St. Louis Street) Coordinators: Leah Walker, Site & Events Manager, Aiken County Historical Museum, Aiken, SC; Ashleigh Oatts, Education Coordinator, T.R.R. Cobb House, Athens, GA Join HHMAG for our annual Hands-On Help Project! This year features two historic houses within walking distance of the hotel. Please dress for a work day. The Beauregard-Keyes House and Garden Museum focuses on some of the past residents of the house, most notably Confederate General Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard and American author Frances Parkinson Keyes. They need assistance with researching, cataloging and interpreting items from Keyes descendants; cleaning, cataloging, and replacing original photographs with scans after water damage; and assistance in the garden and/or storage area (limit 25). The Hermann-Grima House was built in 1831 and is recognized as one of the earliest examples of American architecture in the French Quarter. Its dependencies include an eight-room slave quarters with a ground-floor kitchen and scullery.

They need assistance with inventorying (including some photography) and cleaning both inside and out (limit 15). For more information, contact HHMAG Leah Walker at lwalker@aikencountysc.gov and Ashleigh Oatts at aoatts@trrcobbhouse.org. (Sponsor: HHMAG) (pre-registration required) 8:00 am – 5:00 pm REGISTRATION Grand Ballroom Gallery 8:30 am – 11:30 am SEMC COUNCIL MEETING Iberville Room 11:00 am – 12:30 pm JIMI LUNCHEON (Pre-registration required, $30) St. Charles A

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11:30 am – 1:00 pm LAM ANNUAL AWARDS LUNCHEON & MEETING Celebrate with the Louisiana Association of Museums! In addition to recognizing the outstanding achievements of fellow museum professionals, foundations and corporate sponsors, the Sazerac House will share plans for their upcoming museum and provide a festive tasting of their renowned products. (Cost: $35.00. Register online at lamuseums.org)

7:00 pm – 10:00 pm OFFSITE PROGRAM: PRE-CONFERENCE EVENT PRESBYTÈRE, LOUISIANA STATE MUSEUM Meet at the Astor Crowne Plaza’s lobby (Parade to Presbytère, 751 Chartres Street) Follow a traditional New Orleans brass band and parade down Bourbon Street. You are invited to mingle with your colleagues over wine, beer, and hors d’ouevres at the Louisiana State Museum’s venerable late 18th century Presbytère, located next to St. Louis Cathedral on historic Jackson Square in the heart of the Vieux Carré. Plan on viewing two major history exhibitions that explore Louisiana’s Mardi Gras traditions, and Hurricane Katrina’s devastating 2005 impact on the City of New Orleans accompanied by heroic tales of rescue and recovery. (Pre-registration required)

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11:30 am – 12 noon PROGRAM COMMITTEE MEETING Iberville Room 1:00 pm – 5:30 pm RESOURCE EXPO OPEN Grand Ballroom

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1:00 pm – 3:30 pm WORKSHOP: Interpreting African American History & Culture Burgundy Room Moderator: Jennifer Zazo-Brown, Museum Research and Program Specialist, National Museum of African American History & Culture (NMAAHC), Washington, DC Presenters: Shawn Halifax, Cultural History Interpretation Coordinator, Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission (CCPRC), Charleston, SC; Maria Madison, President, The Robbins House, Concord, MA; Rolando Herts, Director, The Delta Center for Culture and Learning & The Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area, Cleveland, MS Learn about the Smithsonian Institution’s “Interpreting African American History & Culture Workshop,” offered annually by the National Museum of African American History & Culture, in partnership with Charleston County Parks & Recreation Commission. Attendees will participate in hands-on exercises to understand interpretive techniques and skills taught in annual professional development workshops. (Sponsor: EdCom)

been utilizing tablets in the galleries as a less expensive, easy to program, versatile technology platform, but from two different approaches. Join us for insights on funding, device management, content creation, programming, and evaluation. Tackle the technology and maintain excellent design based on content. A meaningful technology experience is more attainable than you may expect and we’re here to help.

Demystifying Design: How to Read Architectural Drawings Toulouse A Room Moderator/Presenter: Kyle Bryner, Director of Collections Management and Registration, Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, Winchester, VA Presenters: Bobbie Hill, Principal, Concordia, New Orleans, LA; Graham Hill, Architect, MLA, LEED AP, Concordia, New Orleans, LA Museums are growing their physical spaces and reconfiguring existing spaces for new storage areas. Collections professionals need a seat at the table during all construction and renovation projects to fulfil their role as collections stewards. Two architecture professionals will teach attendees invaluable skills and how to speak a common language during museum construction projects. Participate in a hands-on capacity to flex skills and learn tools to read and understand architectural designs.

(Sponsor: SERA)

1:00 pm – 2:15 pm CONCURRENT SESSIONS Weathering the Storm St. Ann Room Moderator: Natalie Hefter, VP of Programs, Coastal Discovery Museum, Hilton Head Island, SC Presenters: Lisa Rotondo-McCord, Deputy Director for Curatorial Affairs | Curator of Asian Art, New Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans, LA; Sharon Bennett, Project Archivist, College of Charleston & Disaster Preparedness Instructor for JIMI; staff, Belfor Property Restoration Disaster preparedness is critical for all institutions, regardless of budget, size, or mission. Organizations must also consider the aftermath, recovery, and rehabilitation that continue far longer than the disaster itself. Museum and property recovery professionals will address collections and structures issues as well as communication, community relationships, and recovery.

Membership Reboot: Redesigning Your Program St. Louis Room Moderator/Presenter: Samantha Roberts, Events, Membership, and Visitor Services Coordinator, Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL Presenters: Rachel Katz, William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum, Atlanta, GA; Robin Edward Reed, Director, Casemate Museum, Fort Monroe Authority, Fort Monroe, VA; George Bassi, Director, Lauren Roberts Museum of Art, Laurel, MS Considering redesigning your museum’s membership program, or just looking for some fresh ideas to update it? This session will address how to re-design your membership program by providing examples of membership at various museums, and then discussing the process, implementation, and review of redesigning a membership program with the audience. (Sponsor: EMP) Tablets in the Galleries: More Attainable than You Might Think Bourbon Room Moderator: Heather Marie Wells, Digital Media Project Manager, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, AR Presenters: Paul Scoggan, Web Developer, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, AR; Adina Jocelyn Langer Curator, Museum of History & Holocaust Education, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA Crystal Bridges and the Museum of History & Holocaust Education have

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Contributions on Every Corner: Engaging Underrepresented Communities in Local History Toulouse B Room Moderator/Presenter: James Quint, Director of Education, Historic Columbia, Columbia, SC Presenter: John Sherrer, Director of Cultural Resources, Historic Columbia, Columbia, SC This session will use the experience and knowledge gained during the Columbia Jewish History Initiative to explore practices and principles of working to integrate the story of underrepresented communities into the local historical narrative. Participants will explore how to establish connections in the community, funding streams, external partnerships and measurable deliverables to ensure time and energy are well spent.

(Sponsors: HHMAG, EdCom)

Preservation Resources: A Conversation Around Creating Access Grand Gallery Moderator/Presenter: Samantha Forsko, Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts, Philadelphia, PA The IMLS-funded Heritage Health Index (HHI) and Follow-up Connecting to Collections grants demonstrated a clear need for museums to have ready access to collections care, preservation and conservation resources. However, thirteen years after the initial HHI survey, many institutions still have limited access to resources due to their geographic location, budget, or staffing limitation. Learn about the NEH-funded Eastern Gulf Coast Regional Heritage Stewardship Program for preservation and conservation challenges. Discover resources and collaborative approaches to meet those needs. (Commercial Session)

Masterplanning for the Changing Future Bienville Room Moderator/Presenter: Scott Evans, Principal, Mathes Brierre Architects, Voorsanger Mathes LLC, New Orleans, LA Presenters: Stephen Watson, COO and Executive Vice President, The National WWII Museum, New Orleans, LA; Bart Voorsanger, Principal, Design Architect, Voorsanger Architects, Voorsanger Mathes LLC, New York, NY; Patrick Gallagher, Exhibit Designer, Gallagher Design, Bethesda, MD The living masterplan for the National WWII Museum campus has supported a thriving and expanding campus for more than eighteen years.

A dedicated team of visionaries created a plan that survived natural disasters, changing donor priorities, major artifacts donations, and technological innovations. Learn how your institution can develop a living masterplan, be true to your mission, but adaptable to change.

2:15 pm – 2:45 pm ICED TEA & COOKIE BREAK IN RESOURCE EXPO Grand Ballroom 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm OFFSITE WORKSHOPS Workshop 1: History of Cocktails at the Southern Food & Beverage Museum Meet at Astor Crowne’s entrance for group transportation at 2:30 pm (1504 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd.)

Lift your spirits at the Southern Food & Beverage Museum. Join Liz Williams, a food museum pioneer, for an introduction to the cocktail history of New Orleans. Williams will make classic cocktails that are featured in her book Lift Your Spirits: A Celebratory History of Cocktail Culture in New Orleans. During the demonstration Williams will share some of the unique challenges involved in curating a museum devoted to food and drink. Learn tips on how to incorporate food culture and programming into any museum’s mission. (Pre-registration required)

Walk This Way: Planning Exhibit Spaces Iberville Room Moderator/Presenter: Rachel Bragg, Preservation Specialist, HW Exhibits, Mount Pleasant, SC Presenters: Mary Rose, Senior Graphic Designer; Kelly Bozarth, Graphic Designer, HW Exhibits, Mount Pleasant, SC Developing a new exhibit? Need to reimagine a tired space? Join us as we use real case studies and hands-on activities to explore how the right combination of interior design, content, graphic design, and casework creates comfortable and engaging spaces for visitors. Bring your problem spaces for discussion. (Commercial Session)

Workshop 2: Interpreting Slavery in the 21st Century at the Historic New Orleans Collection Meet in Astor Crowne’s entrance and walk to The Williams Research Center (410 Chartres Street) Join a diverse group of museum and cultural professionals as they discuss their experiences interpreting slavery and the slave trade in southeast Louisiana. Presenters will focus on the process of developing new narratives and amending (and sometimes ditching) old ones; the value of community and peer feedback; the challenges and rewards of preparing and empowering frontline staff to tackle difficult history. Discuss how to move beyond gallery and historic house museum walls to facilitate broader community engagement with the subject of slavery in America. (Sponsor: HHMAG) (Pre-registration required)

Millennial Program Development: Exploring Options St. Charles B Room Moderator/Presenter: Martha Tye, Manager of Marketing and Online Media, Atlanta History Center, Atlanta, GA Presenters: Lasley Steever, Director of Programs and Digital Engagement, Gibbes Museum of Art, Charleston, SC; Jennifer Ross, Director of Development, Gibbes Museum of Art, Charleston, SC; Bess Meade, Manager of Design, Atlanta History Center, Atlanta, GA This panel examines two YP programs: Society 1858 of the Gibbes Museum of Art and Party With the Past of the Atlanta History Center.

The development of both programs stemmed from the need to reach the millennial audience, but the institutions found different ways to achieve that goal. Panel members discuss successes and struggles while comparing the two models. (Sponsors: EdCom, EMP)

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2:45 pm – 4:00 pm CONCURRENT SESSIONS The Art of Captivating Audiences in the Information Age: Lessons Learned Toulouse B Room Moderator: Cynthia Torp, President, Solid Light, Inc., Louisville, KY Presenters: Heather Marie Wells, Digital Media Project Manager, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, AR; Harry Delorme, Senior Curator of Education, Telfair Museums, Savannah, GA

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facilitated conversation tackling topics including knowing when it’s time to leave a job, workplace identity, transitions from peer to supervisor, consulting and more. Attend this session to learn, talk, listen, connect, rejuvenate, inspire, vent, support, challenge, advise and find Zen among your peers!

As a sequel to last year, this town hall session will explore the lessons learned, triumphs and defeats, of deploying technology in our institutions.

We’ll share real examples, along with the pros and cons of implementation, audience engagement results, and ongoing maintenance.

Historic Decisions: Don’t Debate, Deliberate Bourbon Room Moderator: Kathleen Pate, Immediate Past President, Arkansas Museums Association, Pine Bluff, AR Presenters: Nicole A. Moore, Manager of Education and Museum Content, National Center for Civil and Human Rights, Atlanta, GA; Mark Wilson, Director of Civic Learning Initiatives and the Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts & Humanities, Auburn, AL; Cristin Foster Brawner, Executive Director, David Mathews Center for Civic Life, Montevallo, AL; Joni Doherty, Program Officer, Charles F. Kettering Foundation, Dayton, OH In response to changing visitor expectations, museums must deliver interactive experiences beyond the traditional guided tour. The session will address how interpretation through deliberation can reveal the active role of citizens in making well-reasoned judgments about past problems, give voice to underrepresented populations, and connect historic decisions to contemporary issues. (Sponsor: EdCom)

Social Media with a Shoe String Staff Toulouse A Room Moderator: Stacey Wilson, Curator of Exhibits, Louisiana State Museum, New Orleans, LA Presenters: Jolie Johnson, Marketing and Membership Manager, Hilliard Art Museum, Lafayette, LA; Jen Suran, Graphic Artist and Video Editor, Louisiana State Museum, New Orleans, LA; Brandi Simmons, Communications Coordinator, LSU Museum of Art, Baton Rouge, LA; Margaux Krane, Communication and Marketing Manager, New Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans, LA; Anne Robichaux, Marketing Associate, The Historic New Orleans Collection, New Orleans, LA Successful social media for museums is a foreign concept even though most people use one or more social media apps. How do you adapt social media from personal use to business use to engage and attract visitors and succeed? This session will discuss successful and failed social media experiences in regards to community engagement, crowd sourcing, engaging audiences and promoting collections, dealing with negative comments, different types of posts, and making time to build content for posts.

Beyond the Field Trip: Strategies for Long-Term Educational Collaborations St. Louis Room Moderator/Presenter: Jenny Schwartzberg, Education Coordinator, The Historic New Orleans Collection, New Orleans, LA Presenters: Rien Fertel, Professor of History, Bard Early College, New Orleans, LA; Elizabeth Manley, Associate Professor of History, Xavier University, New Orleans, LA; Bobby Ticknor, Reference Assistant, The Historic New Orleans Collection, New Orleans, LA This session will explore two long-term collaborations hosted by The Historic New Orleans Collection. These programs allow students to work as archival researchers, meet with museum staff, and present their research. THNOC staff and faculty from Xavier University and Bard Early College will share their experiences and participate in discussion.

(Sponsors: AAMG, EdCom)

Building Codes and Accessibility: What are Your Responsibilities as a Museum?

St. Ann Room Moderator/Presenter: Steven Blashfield, Cultural Studio Director, Glavé & Holmes Architecture, Richmond, VA Presenter: Brent Ward, Principal, Riggs Ward Design, Richmond, VA For museum professionals, building codes and accessibility requirements are often confusing and have potential financial impacts to your budget. Increasing your understanding of these responsibilities can improve your institution’s ability to respond effectively. This session will dispel some misconceptions about codes, provide clarity to the confusion, and offer a forum to discuss your questions. We will discuss general aspects of building codes, applications for designated historic buildings and the application of accessibility requirements for your facilities.

Your Digital Project Planning Packet Bienville Room Moderator/Presenter: Samantha Diamond, CEO, CultureConnect, New York, NY Presenter: Emily Gumpel, Account Director, CultureConnect, New York, NY Museums of all sizes struggle with how to plan for digital projects, coordinate among stakeholders and address myriad complexities of executing such projects. We’ve developed a digital planning packet that addresses a cross-section of topics from audience targeting to visitor’s services training, risk assessment to content development and the essential considerations for experience design and software development. In this workshop, we’ll work through the packet with the goal of providing actionable next steps at your home museum. (Commercial Session)

State Museum Association Roundtable Grand Ballroom Gallery Moderator/Presenter: Michael Scott, Professional Development Chair, North Carolina Museums Council, Greensboro, NC Presenter: Jennifer Thomas, Executive Director, Virginia Association of Museums, Richmond, VA Join representatives from the various state museum associations throughout the Southeast to meet, network, and share news about COSMA, the new coalition for state museum associations. Discuss common issues that all state associations face and share ways that others have solved these problems.

Mid-Career Community: Join the Conversation Iberville Room Moderator: Zinnia Willits, Director of Collections and Operations, Gibbes Museum of Art, Charleston, SC Presenters: Matthew S. Davis, Director, Georgia’s Old Governor’s Mansion/ Sallie Ellis Davis House, Georgia College, Milledgeville, GA; Kathleen F.G Hutton, Director of Education, Reynolda House Museum of American Art, Winston-Salem, NC; Michelle Schulte, Museum Professional, VA Join others at the mid-career stage (10+ years in the field,) for a

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Equity and Inclusion Action Team St. Charles B Room Presenters: Jessica Rast VanLanduyt, Deputy Mission Officer, Atlanta History Center, Atlanta, GA; Deitrah Taylor, Cultural Center Coordinator, The Cultural Center, Georgia College, Milledgeville, GA; Dawn Hammatt, Exhibits Project Manager, Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience, Meridian, MS; Marcy Breffle, Education Coordinator, Historic Oakland Foundation, Atlanta, GA Calling action-oriented colleagues! We are forming a group committed to developing long-term equity initiatives for SEMC’s region. Beyond

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dialogue, we want to create strategies, policies, and action items promoting inclusivity in museums concerning gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, ability, and religious identification while advocating diversity in our field; challenging our programmatic, curatorial, and collecting practices; and creating safe spaces for guests. We will workshop steps to take over the next year. Afterwards, we will move to the second floor for an informal breakout gathering to continue building our connections.

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm COUNCIL LEGACY RECEPTION Lucullus Antiques, Art & Objects (610 Chartres Street) SEMC Council presents the SEMC Legacy Society, a planned giving program, and recognizes donors to the Past Presidents Circle and William T. and Sylvia F. Alderson Endowment Fund at a special reception in the French Quarter. (Council invitation only) (Sponsors: Lucullus Antiques, Carole Wharton, LLC)

4:00 pm – 4:30 pm EQUITY AND INCLUSION ACTION MEET-UP Astor Ballroom Gallery Following the “Equity and Inclusion Action Team” session, join the team for an informal breakout gathering to continue building our connections.

Have fun with “identity” buttons.

6:30 pm – 9:30 pm (buses start loading at 6:00 pm) EVENING EVENT: NEW ORLEANS MUSEUM OF ART AND THE NEW ORLEANS BOTANICAL GARDEN Meet at Astor Crowne’s lobby entrance for transportation 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm: New Orleans Museum of Art / Besthoff Sculpture Garden (One Collins C. Diboll Circle, City Park) 8:00 pm – 9:30 pm: New Orleans Botanical Garden The New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) and the New Orleans Botanical Garden welcome SEMC with an evening of culture and cuisine.

Enjoy 5,000 years of art history at NOMA as you savor local New Orleans fare. Explore the Syndey & Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden just across the street, featuring a world-class collection of sculpture amid majestic oaks and beautiful bayous. Take a stroll through scenic City Park to continue your evening at the New Orleans Botanical Garden. Dance to local sounds and sip specialty cocktails under the stars in this lush 12-acre garden setting with its signature Art Deco design and new Enrique Alférez collection.

4:00 pm – 4:30 pm NEW MEMBERS/FIRST TIME ANNUAL MEETING ATTENDEES WELCOME Grand Ballroom Gallery 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm RESOURCE EXPO/SILENT AUCTION GRAND OPENING RECEPTION Grand Ballroom Get into the NOLA spirit at the Grand Opening Reception and kick off the conference on a festive note with a free cocktail. Experience the culture, food, and music. Network with the Resource Expo exhibitors and check out the Silent Auction offerings. (Grand Opening Reception Sponsors: Malone Design/Fabrication, Our Fundraising Search, Riggs Ward Design) 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm ACADEMIC MUSEUM GATHERING Grand Ballroom Gallery Get together with staff from college and university museums for informal discussion of issues and concerns, exchange of ideas and exhibitions, and programming for today’s students. (Sponsor: AAMG)

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TUESDAY SEPT. 12

Students Work in Museums (SWIM) Poster Session Grand Ballroom Gallery Moderator: Pam Meister, Director, Mountain Heritage Center, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC University students throughout our region are engaged in important and challenging work in Southeastern museums. They are conducting object-based research, producing exhibits, doing oral history interviews, creating content for websites, and developing public programs.

This poster session showcases student projects. (Sponsors: AAMG, EMP)

7:30 am – 9:00 am WALKING TOUR 1: History Walking Tour of French Quarter Meet at Astor Crowne’s entrance to walk With history, architecture, and local lore at every turn, this early morning walking tour is a perfect introduction to our host city. Professional guide, amateur historian, and longtime New Orleans resident Arthur Smith, recently retired as director of marketing and communications for the Louisiana State Museum, will lead the tour. (Pre-registration required, $10)

Museums Do Hollywood: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly St. Ann Room Moderator/Presenter: Walter Hill, Director, Horry County Museum, Conway, SC Presenters: Fielding Freed, Director of Historic House Museums, Historic Columbia, Columbia, SC; M. Tracey Todd, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Middleton Place Foundation, Charleston, SC; J.R. Fennel, Director, Lexington County Museums, Lexington, SC Ever thought about reaching out to Hollywood for some big screen attention? Wondered what it would be like to get your museum on TV? Ever been approached by filmmakers about using your museum, building, or sites in film? Join a panel discussion with museum representatives to learn about the pros and cons of bringing the “Hollywood types” into our institutions and legal expectations from both sides of the game to consider before jumping off into stardom!

WALKING TOUR 2: Jazz Walking Tour Meet at Astor Crowne’s entrance to walk Using original jazz recordings as a soundtrack, New Orleans music historian Dr. Charles Chamberlain leads this entertaining walking tour of historic jazz sites in the French Quarter and the diverse “back of town” community of Louis Armstrong’s youth. (Pre-registration required, $10) 8:00 am – 5:00 pm REGISTRATION Grand Ballroom Gallery 9:00 am – 5:30 pm RESOURCE EXPO OPEN Grand Ballroom

Funding from New Audiences: How to Attract, Appeal to, & Engage New & More Diverse Audiences to Support Your Mission Toulouse B Room Moderator/Presenter: David Moore, Executive Director, Historic Oakland Foundation, Atlanta, GA Presenters: Linda W. McNay, Fund Raising Consultant, Our Fundraising Search, Atlanta, GA; Pricilla H. Cooper, Vice President of Institutional Programs, Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, Birmingham, AL Museums cannot be supported by admissions alone. Museum leaders must devote time and attention to diversifying their constituencies and their fundraising models to include all types of donors. Join our panel of three fundraising professionals to discuss methods for fundraising from new audiences. Together we can learn how to be more inclusive and successful in reaching new donors and raising more dollars.

9:00 am – 10:15 pm GENERAL SESSION: SEMC ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING AND KEYNOTE SPEECH Astor Ballroom Keynote Speaker: Jessica Harris After a warm welcome to New Orleans and the brief business meeting, join your colleagues for a keynote talk by culinary historian Jessica Harris.

Jessica Harris, Ph.D. from New York University and English professor at Queens College, has written thirteen books, including her recent memoir entitled My Soul Looks Back and High on the Hog: A Culinary Journey from Africa to America, documenting the foods and foodways of the African Diaspora. Comments and questions from the audience will be encouraged.

(Sponsor: Solid Light, Inc.)

A Sensory Sensation: Museum Programs for the Spectrum Bourbon Room Moderator/Presenter: Deborah Rose Van Horn, Registrar, Kentucky Historical Society, Frankfort, KY Presenters: Karen Kelly, Director of Exhibits and Education, Children’s Museum of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA; Anthony Aiuppy, J. Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver Educator for Family and Children’s Programs, MOCA Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL; Kasey Brown, Coordinator of Fee-Based and Catalyst Programs, Kentucky Science Center, Louisville, KY; Michelle Schulte, Parent and Museum Professional, VA Visiting museums and going to public events with a child are always a challenge. For families with kids on the autism spectrum (ASD) or with a sensory processing disorder (SPD), visits can be a nightmare. How can museums help meet the needs of these families? Join us to learn about the challenges these families face and three dynamic programs serving this growing audience. This session will have parents of children with SPD and ASD, who will explain what they need. Educators will share their programs, staff/volunteer training, and discuss challenges and benefits.

(Sponsor: EdCom)

10:15 am – 10:45 am COFFEE BREAK RESOURCE EXPO Grand Ballroom

10:45 am – 12:00 noon CONCURRENT SESSIONS Technology Showcase Grand Ballroom Gallery Moderators/Presenters: Heather Marie Wells, Digital Media Project Manager, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, AR; Michael Scott, Curator of Education, High Point Museum, High Point, NC Museums throughout our region are engaged in challenging and innovative technology work, creating websites, apps, kiosks and other multimedia experiences for educational, marketing, and operational needs. This showcase highlights winners of SEMC’s Technology Competition with hands-on demos where experienced museum technologists share valuable insights.

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Exhibition Lighting Design 101: Conquering Darkness with Truth and Beauty Toulouse A Room Moderator/Presenter: Steven Rosen, FIALD, IES, President & Creative Director, Available Light, Salem MA Presenters: Leo Kerr, LC, IES, Lighting Designer/Exhibit Production, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C. Although most exhibition people agree that a well-conceived lighting design can contribute to the success of an exhibit presentation, it is often left to the last minute. Besides a lecture, there will be hands-on demonstrations on how light can be successfully manipulated. Expect to leave this session with a better appreciation and understanding of lighting design.

What does equity mean for your education programs? How do you work with and foster diverse audiences? Museum educators will reflect on successful and unsuccessful programs that attempted to address multiculturalism, LGBTIQ equality, and inclusion. The audience will be invited to share their experiences through a discussion covering public programs, K-12 education, and interpretation. By working together, we will seek solutions to the day-to-day challenges and be inspired to push the boundaries of programming as we work to reach diverse audiences.

(Sponsor: EdCom) Cataloging and Organizing an Unruly Collection St. Charles B Room Moderator/Presenter: Fran Huber, Assistant Director for Collections Management, Louisiana State University Museum of Art, Baton Rouge, LA Presenters: Natalie A. Mault Mead, Museum Curator & Director of Education, Preserve Louisiana at the Old Governor’s Mansion, Baton Rouge, LA; Lauren Davis, Curator, Louisiana’s Old State Capitol, Baton Rouge, LA There is nothing like working with an unsecured, undocumented, and unorganized collection. If this is your situation, you aren’t alone! The task may seem daunting, but this session will provide creative ways to manage, catalog, and organize a collection with a limited budget and staff.

(Sponsors: SERA, EMP)

Museums, Ethics, and the Public Trust St. Louis Room Moderator/Presenter: James B. Gardner, Washington, DC Ethics constitutes a fundamental premise of the museum profession — it is critical in defining who we are as a profession, establishing high expectations and standards of integrity and competence that are critical to maintaining public confidence. This session will include case studies to explore the complexities of museum ethics.

Behind the Scenes: Developing the Visitor Experience in Collections Bienville Room Moderator: Jessica Gordy, Group Tour Coordinator, Atlanta History Center, Atlanta, GA Presenters: Erica Hague, Collections Manager, Atlanta History Center, Atlanta, GA; Tiffany Charles, Collections Manager, The National WWII Museum, New Orleans, LA; Lori McDuffie, History Museum of Mobile, Mobile, AL This presentation will cover the development, implementation, and impact of a variety of behind the scene tours. Speakers will discuss their tour offerings including the goals, successes, failures, and future of their programs. Afterwards, small groups can begin crafting what a behind the scenes experience at their institution would entail. (Sponsors: EdCom, SERA)

12:15 pm – 1:45 pm ANNUAL AWARDS LUNCHEON Astor Ballroom Gather for lunch and visit with friends during this networking opportunity. SEMC President Darcie MacMahon will welcome everyone to New Orleans. The meeting will end with an Awards Presentation recognizing professional excellence in our institutions and among our colleagues.

(Pre-registration required, $35)

2:00 pm – 3:15 pm CONCURRENT SESSIONS

PR Nightmares: Responses to Negative Publicity and Controversy Iberville Room Moderator: Andy Ambrose, Executive Director, Tubman African American Museum, Macon, GA Presenters: William U. Eiland, Director, Georgia Museum of Art, Athens, GA; Deborah Velders, Director, Mobile Museum of Art, Mobile, AL This panel will discuss recent public relations challenges and controversies their museums have faced, the origin of the controversy, how it threatened or challenged their museums, their funders, their public image.

They will address the following questions: How did they address the issue and the aftermath? How did it affect their museum and supporters?

What did they learned from the process? How do you acknowledge and encourage public input and response? How did these museums respond to future demands for self-censorship or oversight over exhibits?

Ignite SEMC: Thoughts to Spark Your Passion for Museums Toulouse B Room Moderators: Heather Marie Wells, Digital Media Project Manager, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, AR; Eliza Newland, Collections and Program Manager, Royce J. and Caroline B. Watts Museum, Morgantown, WV Presenters: Zinnia Willits, Director of Collections and Operations, Gibbes Museum of Art, Charleston, SC; Kathleen Pate, President, Arkansas Museums Association, Pine Bluff, AR; Douglas Kennedy, Audience Engagement & Public Relations Manager, Louisiana Art & Science Museum, Baton Rouge, LA; Erica Hague, Collections Manager, Atlanta History Center, Atlanta, GA; Kali Mason, Curator of Collections, Customs House Museum, Clarksville, TN; Glenna Barlow, Manager of Engagement, Columbia Museum, Columbia, SC; Laura Minton, Curator of Collections & Exhibitions, Western Carolina University Fine Art Museum, Cullowhee, NC; Lana Burgess, Clinical Associate Professor, McKissick Museum, Columbia, SC Do you wear multiple hats at your institution, but don’t have enough time to attend a session for each? Looking for a mix of practical and inspiring ideas to take home with you? Don’t know if your brain can handle another 75 minutes on a single topic? Then this is the session for you. In this session you’ll hear professionals share their concise, practical, and inspiring thoughts on a topic for 5 minutes. If 5 minutes isn’t long enough for you there will be time at the end for group discussion.

Equity and Inclusion in Educational Programming Burgundy Room Moderator/Presenter: Richard Harker, Education and Outreach Manager, Museum of History and Holocaust Education at Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA Presenters: Katy Malone, Outreach + Education Manager, Bernard A. Zuckerman Museum of Art, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA; Mary Wilson Joseph, Manager of School Program Sales & Logistics, Atlanta History Center, Atlanta, GA; Virginia Howell, Education Curator, Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking, Atlanta, GA

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Making Connections in the Creative Age: Engaging Older Adults at Your Institution St. Louis Room Moderator/Presenter: Dana Witkoski, Education & Engagement Assistant, Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia, SC Presenters: Kayleigh Vaughn, Manager of Education, Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia, SC; Georgia Mastroieni, Director of Youth & Family Engagement, Cameron Art Museum, Wilmington, NC How can a museum adapt to become more accessible to older adults?

What if these adults have certain physical, mental, or behavioral disabilities? Presenters will discuss how their institutions adjusted programs, facilities, and outreach to create a more appealing and welcoming environment for visitors. (Sponsor: EdCom)

for grants and donor pools. Traditionally, operational income has been acquired through a small variety of assets: memberships, grant funding, admission fees, gift shop and/or café revenue, facility rentals, etc. This session will identify additional resources to expand these conventional income streams. Contemporary Arts Center partnered with a local developer to re-develop their upper floors for use as a creative, co-working space as both a way to activate the museum and add additional revenue.

Presenters will discuss ways that institutions can capitalize on untapped resources to expand their mission.

DIY: Embedding Visitor Studies in Your Museum Exhibitions Bienville Room Moderator/Presenter: Ann Rowson Love, Coordinator, Museum Education & Visitor-Centered Exhibitions/Ringling Liaison, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL Presenters: Maureen Zaremba, Curator of Education, The Ringling, Sarasota, FL; Aja Roache, Director, Foster Tanner Gallery of Art, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL Learn about the process of embedding visitor studies in the museum to gain insight into visitor experiences in exhibitions and permanent collections. Presenters will address questions raised by museum staff new to visitor studies. (Sponsor: CurCom)

Advances in Disaster Response for Collections Since Hurricane Katrina (from Alligator Farm to Field Office) Bourbon Room Moderator/Presenter: Sharon Bennett, Project Archivist, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC Presenters: David Goist, Conservator, Fellow, American Institute for Conservation, Goist Art Conservation and Member of the National Heritage Responders, Asheville, NC; Lori Foley, Administrator, Heritage Emergency National Task Force, Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration (FIMA), Washington, DC; Jessica Unger, Emergency Programs Coordinator, Foundation of the American Institute for Conservation, Washington, D.C. In 2005 when Hurricane Katrina brought damage and destruction to Louisiana and Mississippi, the museums, libraries, state and federal agencies were not prepared for such a region-wide event. Twelve years later, emphasis on emergency preparedness plans, training for wet recovery, incident command systems, and organized emergency agencies could lessen the long-term negative effects of major disasters. Speakers will share the resources available today to help museums and libraries respond to major disasters. (Sponsor: SERA)

Spotlight on Student Work in Museums (SWIM) Iberville Room Moderator: Pam Meister, Director, Mountain Heritage Center, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC Hundreds of college students are currently engaged in important work at dozens of Southeastern museums. Now in its seventh year, this session provides a showcase for student work and an impetus for dialogue with experienced museum professionals and other students. Four groups or individuals chosen through a juried competition will make 10-minute presentations followed by audience Q & A and discussion. (Sponsors: AAMG, COMPT, EMP)

Civil War to Civil Rights: African American History and National Park Service Sites in the Southeast Toulouse A Room Moderator/Presenter: Deborah L. Mack, Associate Director, Community & Constituent Services, Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, Washington, D.C. Presenters: Priscilla Hancock Cooper, Vice President of Institutional Programs, Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, Birmingham, AL ; Rex Garniewicz, President and CEO, Coastal Discovery Museum, Hilton Head Island, SC; Jeannie Cyriaque, Cultural Heritage Specialist and Research Scholar, College Park, GA This session will explore the process and potential impact of National Park Service designations at African American sites in three states: Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument in Alabama; Reconstruction Era National Monument in South Carolina; and the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site in Georgia. This session will cover interpretation, visitor experience, African American history, and institutional development. (Sponsor: EdCom)

Working with Conservators: Practical Considerations Burgundy Room Moderator/Presenter: Matt Johnson, Senior Book Conservator, ECS Conservation/HF Group, Browns Summit, NC Presenters: Shannon White, Director of Collections, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Charlotte, NC Conservation is an integral part of maintaining a collection, but many institutions do not have in-house conservation services. This presentation will outline the many considerations made in locating and working with conservation professionals, both from the perspective of conservator and museum. (Sponsor: SERA) Working with Teen Volunteers: Locally & Nationally St. Charles B Room Moderator/Presenter: Collin Makamson, Student Programs Coordinator, The National WWII Museum, New Orleans, LA Presenter: Shelbie Johnson, Family Programs & Outreach Coordinator, The National WWII Museum, New Orleans, LA This panel will present strategies and best practices from two yearround volunteer programs for middle and high school students offered

by The National WWII Museum: its on-site Victory Corps volunteers and its national cohort of WWII Student Ambassadors. Format, recruitment, maintenance and staffing of both programs will also be discussed.

(Sponsors: AAMV, EdCom)

Creating Opportunity to Leverage Your Institutions Assets St. Ann Room Moderator/Presenter: Neil Barclay, Director and CEO, Contemporary Arts Center New Orleans, New Orleans, LA Presenters: Steve Dumez, Director of Design, Eskew + Dumez + Ripple, New Orleans, LA; Mike Siegel, President, Corporate Realty, New Orleans, LA Every institution grapples with limited resources and fierce competition

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2:30 pm – 4:30 pm Workshop 3: Early Childhood Program at the New Orleans Museum of Art Meet at Astor Crowne’s lobby entrance for transportation at 2:30 pm New Orleans Museum of Art (One Collins C. Diboll Circle, City Park) Thinking of beginning an early childhood program at your museum?

Come check out the Mini Masters program at NOMA. This innovative new program for Pre-K students pairs in-school lessons with multiple museum visits and a final “showcase” exhibition of student work. This workshop covers all the bases from program development and funding to resource materials, museum visits, and assessment. (Sponsor: EdCom)

a roundtable discussion with three staff members who work to interpret their own community’s history of slavery. (Sponsors: EdCom, HHMAG) How Hacking Can Cripple Your Facility Toulouse A Room Presenter: Todd Kleperis, CEO, HARDCAR, Palm Springs, FL Did you know the phones entering your IT area could be a threat? Do you have any idea how many devices are on your network? What happens if your HR list is stolen? Who is watching your IT department now?

Answer these questions and more with an industry expert on security.

Your facility is worth millions – is your IT department ready to defend it?

(Commercial Track Session) (Sponsor: NAME)

3:00 pm – 3:30 pm ICED TEA BREAK IN RESOURCE EXPO Grand Ballroom

Wheel of Misfortune Toulouse B Room Moderator/Presenter: Kyle Bryner, Director of Collections Management and Registration, Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, Winchester, VA Presenters: Deborah Rose Van Horn, Registrar, Kentucky Historical Society, Frankfort, KY; Matthew S. Davis, Director, Georgia’s Old Governor’s Mansion/ Sallie Ellis Davis House, Milledgeville, GA; Michael Scott, Curator of Education, High Point Museum, High Point, NC; Scott Warren, Historic Site Manager II, James K. Polk Historic Site, Pineville, NC Explore museum mishaps and disasters in a fun way! Contestants from different museums will each take turns spinning the Wheel of Misfortune.

During each spin of the wheel, a different problem facing museum professionals will be addressed. Topics will include: disasters, theft, lost paperwork, PR nightmares, education programs gone awry, and all of the other terrible things that can happen in museum! No one really ever wins the game of Wheel of Misfortune, but we can all learn valuable lessons from it. A fun time shall be had by all. (Sponsor: SERA)

3:30 pm – 4:45 pm CONCURRENT SESSIONS STEM at a History Museum? Of Course!

St. Ann Room Moderator/Presenter: Rob Wallace, STEM Education Coordinator, The National WWII Museum, New Orleans, LA Can you teach about STEM at a history museum? Yes! By looking at the way we solved really big problems in the past we can develop ideas for solving today’s issues — and students can see examples of STEM careers and examine the role of STEM in society. We will engage in hands-on activities that connect important STEM concepts (from new science standards) to compelling stories from WWII. (Sponsor: EdCom)

What is JIMI? Answer: SEMC’s Finest Education Program St. Louis Room Moderator/Presenter: Brian Hicks, Director, DeSoto County Museum, Hernando, MS Presenters: Martha Battle Jackson, Chief Curator, North Carolina State Historic Sites, Raleigh, NC; John Lancaster, Independent House Museum Consultant, Franklin, TN The Jekyll Island Management Institute, JIMI, is an eight-day SEMC sponsored museum management course in Jekyll Island, GA, designed for both newly emerging and mid-career museum professionals to further their knowledge about general museum administration and operation. In this session, this year’s JIMI graduates will give an overview of the eightday program and information about available scholarships.

Let’s Be Friends: Museum Collaborations to Create Diverse Communities Bienville Room Moderator/Presenter: Scott Warren, Historic Site Manager II, James K. Polk Historic Site, Pineville, NC Presenters: Amanda E. Finn, Executive Director, Historic Carson House Museum, Marion, NC; Allison Houchins, Director of Education, Hiddenite Arts and Heritage Center, Hiddenite, NC; Rebecca Sailor, Curator of Education, Gibbes Museum of Art, Charleston, SC; Susan McKellar, Chief of Operations, The Charleston Museum of Art, Charleston, SC Community involvement is a serious challenge that small museums face. This panel will share their successes with regional and job-focused community collaborations and brainstorm new methods of engaging community in our home institutions and the institutions of our audience.

Come prepared to share your experiences and to ask questions! (Sponsor: EdCom)

Brave New World: Critical and Controversial Issues Iberville Room Moderator/Presenter: Deborah Randolph, The Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (SECCA), Winston-Salem, NC Presenter: Karen Morris, RJ Reynolds Arts Magnet High School, WinstonSalem, NC Interested in successful school/museum collaborations that are meaningful for students? This session discusses the collaboration of an arts magnet school and contemporary art museum. Students examined current critical issues in the exhibition Dispatches (ecology, refugees, post 9/11, activism, elections) through a three- pronged approach: field trips, visiting artists and interdisciplinary projects.

Slavery and Community: Inclusive Interpretation at the Whitney Plantation Bourbon Room Moderator: Ashley Rogers, Director of Museum Operations, Whitney Plantation, Wallace, LA Presenters: Courtni Becnel, Visitor Services and Outreach Coordinator, Whitney Plantation, Wallace, LA; Adina Oubre, Tour Guide, Whitney Plantation, Wallace, LA; Cheryl Gaudet, Tour Guide, Whitney Plantation, Wallace, LA As museums nationwide struggle to gain and maintain ethnically diverse staff, the Whitney Plantation has seen success hiring interpreters descended from people enslaved along Louisiana’s River Road. Join us for

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4:30 pm – 5:30 pm RESOURCE EXPO/SILENT AUCTION CLOSING PARTY Grand Ballroom

Reimagining the Gibbes: A Rebranding Odyssey Burgundy Room Moderator/Presenter: Lasley Steever, Director of Programs and Digital Engagement, Gibbes Museum of Art, Charleston, SC Presenters: Erin Banks, Creative Director, Gibbes Museum of Art, Charleston, SC; Robert Prioleau, Founding Partner, Blue Ion, Charleston, SC The Gibbes Museum reopened in 2016 after an 18-month, $13.5M renovation, which returned the 1905 building to its Beaux-Arts grandeur, including an education center and expanded galleries. While closed, the Gibbes team partnered with Blue Ion to renew our brand and story — addressing our visual identity, and impacting all aspects of our operation.

We will share our process and key takeaways.

5:00 pm – 6:00 pm EXHIBITS NETWORKING MEET-UP (NAME & CurCom) Napoleon House (500 Chartres Street) Coordinators: Cynthia Torp, President, Solid Light Inc., Louisville, KY; Ann Rowson Love, Coordinator, Museum Education & Visitor-Centered Exhibitions/ Ringling Liaison, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL Exhibit geeks — come one, come all! Organized by NAME (National Association for Museum Exhibition) and CurCom (Curators Committee), this informal gathering of exhibit fanatics is a fun happy hour interlude before the evening event and a chance to network and talk with peers about current projects, big ideas, and general museum musings. (NAME & CurCom members)

EMPs in the Round: A Discussion for Emerging Museum Professionals St. Charles B Room Moderator: Lacey M. Czeluscinski, Registrar, Florence County Museum, Florence, SC Presenters: Amanda Breen, Membership Coordinator and Curatorial Assistant, Gibbes Museum of Art, Charleston, SC; Eliza Newland, Collections and Program Manager, Royce J. and Caroline B. Watts Museum, Morgantown, WV; Katie Ericson, Education and Outreach Coordinator, Bernard A. Zuckerman Museum of Art, Kennesaw, GA Emerging museum professionals (EMPs) are innovative, energetic, and passionate new members of the museum community. But meeting the vigorous demands of day-to-day operations, often with scarce resources, and daunting best practices can test even the well-prepared EMP. A roundtable discussion will address common concerns and challenges in a safe space for conversation among peers. Bring your questions with you and prepare to collaborate! (Sponsors: AAMG, EMP)

5:30 pm – 6:30 pm EMERGING MUSEUM PROFESSIONALS MEET-UP AT 21ST AMENDMENT Meet in the Grand Ballroom Gallery to walk (725 Iberville Street) Join EMPs and students for happy hour at a bar that pays tribute to the Prohibition era in U.S. history. Network and meet new friends!

(Sponsor: EMP)

Off-Site Session: Exhibit Review Historic New Orleans Collection Moderator/Presenter: Michael Scott, Curator of Education, High Point Museum, High Point, NC Presenter: Cynthia Torp, President, Solid Light Inc., Louisville, KY Come discuss the museum exhibit field with representatives from museum education, curation, and exhibit design while visiting a local museum’s exhibit. Then meet the staff that worked on the exhibit and hear about their process, their proudest achievements, and where they wished they had more resources. Discuss the role of each field and how they all shape the exhibits process. (Sponsors: CurCom, NAME)

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6:00 pm – 7:00 pm (buses start loading at 5:30 pm) DIRECTORS AND TRUSTEES RECEPTION AT OGDEN MUSEUM OF SOUTHERN ART Meet bus at hotel entrance (925 Camp Street) Ogden Museum of Southern Art invites museum directors and trustees for a special reception. (Sponsor: Leslie Hindman Auctioneers)

of Southern Art. At The National WWII Museum’s Louisiana Memorial Pavilion you will have access to newly refurbished galleries. The National WWII Museum will run two private screenings of its 48 minute, 4D film Beyond All Boundaries, narrated by executive producer Tom Hanks and featuring CGI animation, multi-layered environments and first-person accounts from the trenches to the Home Front.

Stop by the Ogden Museum for a cocktail reception among great works of Southern art. Visit exhibitions that explore color photography in Southern history and promote contemporary practices in the state of Louisiana. Both museum stores will remain open. The evening reception offers cocktails and appetizers with dinner on your own.

7:00 pm – 9:00 pm (buses start loading at 5:30 pm) MUSEUM EVENING EVENT: THE NATIONAL WWII MUSEUM (945 Magazine Street, enter via Andrew Higgins Drive) AND OGDEN MUSEUM OF SOUTHERN ART (925 Camp Street) Meet bus at hotel entrance 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm: The National WWII Museum Private screenings of the 48 minute, 4D film Beyond All Boundaries 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm: The National WWII Museum and Ogden Museum of Southern Art Please join us where history and art intersect for a cocktail reception hosted by The National WWII Museum and the Ogden Museum

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9:00 pm – 11:00 pm SERA REGISTRARS RESPITE Come join your fellow registrars and collections managers for a night of networking and fun at Tiki Tolteca. The venue is within walking distance from the hotel so join us for a night of fun. (Contributing Sponsors: Willis Towers Watson; and Transport Consultants International) (SERA members, pre-registration required)

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WEDNESDAY SEPT. 13

Presenter: Amelia Gallo, Membership & Programs Manager, Thomas County Historical Society, Thomasville, GA The combination of a savvy user base that knows how to find what they want and increased competition from non-museum pages has and will continue to press traditional organizations to find new means to stay relevant. Our session offers concrete, detailed suggestions related to our experience that a content-and-engagement heavy social media approach can lead to new memberships and financial donations, as well as new archival and artifact donations, and expand average weekly engagement rates.

8:00 am – 12 noon REGISTRATION Grand Ballroom Gallery 9:00 am – 10:15 am CONCURRENT SESSIONS

Facing the Challenges of Digital Preservation and Access Toulouse B Room Moderator/Presenter: Cassandra Erb, Curator of Exhibits, Louisiana State Museum, New Orleans, LA Presenters: Alec DeLeon, Program Specialist, National Performance Network, New Orleans, LA; Chianta Dorsey, Reference Archivist, Amistad Research Center, Tilton Hall, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA; Melissa Smith, Independent Researcher and Archivist; Jennifer Long, Louisiana State University, New Orleans, LA The digitization of archives and museum holdings is one way to ensure long term preservation of materials, but this avenue presents its own set of unique problems. This session will focus on issues in the digitization process that affect the longevity and sustainability of digital holdings and ideas of accessibility and the Internet. Panelists will discuss specific projects in digitization and digital collections as a small independent archive, issues in cataloguing projects, and concerns surrounding contemporary digital materials. (Sponsor: SERA)

Generating Empathy Across Race and Time: Innovative Strategies for Interpreting Slavery Burgundy Room Moderator/Presenter: Max van Balgooy, President, Engaging Places, Rockville, MD Presenters: Ashley Rogers, Director of Operations, Whitney Plantation, Wallace, LA; Shawn Halifax, Cultural History Interpretation Coordinator, Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission, Ravenel, SC; Christian Cotz, Director of Education and Visitor Engagement, James Madison’s Montpelier, Orange, VA To stay relevant in a country stumbling through conversations about race, museums that interpret slavery must develop programs and exhibitions that explore the narratives of the enslaved with the same care and affection traditionally given to owning families. Panelists from McLeod, Montpelier, and Whitney plantations explore this challenge through strategies used at their sites. (Sponsor: EdCom)

Rivers of Rhythm: A Museum Without Walls Iberville Room Moderator: Crystal Hardison, Programs Manager, National Museum of African American Music, Nashville, TN Presenters: Dr. Andrew Hostetler, Social Studies Professor, Vanderbilt University and NMAAM’s Education Curriculum Design Committee, Nashville, TN; Marquita Reed, Ph.D. Graduate Fellow, Middle Tennessee State University/National Museum of African American Music and NMAAM’s Education Curriculum Design Committee, Nashville, TN; Norman Merrifield, Education Instructor, NMAAM’s Education Curriculum Design Committee, Madison, TN Museums must embrace the digital age and create a space for discussion and education outside of the museum walls. One of the missions of the National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) is to educate the world about the role of African Americans in the creation of the soundtrack of American life. NMAAM strives to create a museum without walls by creating a digital curriculum that makes use of NMAAM’s Rivers of Rhythm digital database. The panel will discuss the creation of the Rivers of Rhythm application and its implementation in building a student curriculum that will be distributed to schools across the nation.

(Sponsor: EdCom)

Moving the Mountain: Large-Scale Collections Moves Astor Ballroom I Moderator: Zinnia Willits, Director of Collections and Operations, Gibbes Museum of Art, Charleston, SC Presenters: India Crawford, Transport Consultants International, Lithia, FL; Wendy MacGaw, Vice President, Artpack Services, Farmington Hills, MI; Frances R. Francis, Senior Registrar, High Museum of Art, Atlanta, GA; John Vincent King, Independent Art Handler, New Orleans, LA In 2014, the Gibbes closed for renovation. In preparation, everything had to come out of the building, including 10,000 pieces of art that had to be packed and stored off-site. With hindsight, the team will share how they moved the mountain, a tale of complex scheduling, occasional drama, a few “oops” moments and ultimate success. (Sponsor: SERA) Opening Doors Through Teen Internships Bourbon Room Moderator /Presenter: Allison Reid, Deputy Director for Interpretation & Audience Engagement, New Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans, LA Presenters: Anne Kraybill, Director of Education and Research in Learning, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, AR; Elise Solomon, Youth & Family Programs Manager, New Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans, LA Looking to creatively address diversity in the museum field, Crystal Bridges and NOMA offered paid summer internships for high school students to explore museum career options. Panelists will compare two complimentary programs and open the floor to discussion about other ways museums are addressing this critical issue. (Sponsor: EdCom)

Using Oral Histories in Museums St. Ann Room Moderator/Presenter: Melissa Buchanan, Collections Curator, Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum, Mt. Pleasant, SC Presenters: Sue VerHoef, Director of Oral History and Genealogy, Atlanta History Center, Atlanta, GA Recognizing the value of documenting the voices of their communities, many museums collect oral histories and use them in exhibitions, programs, outreach, and social media. This session will examine how oral histories are used and offer participants a platform to explore ways their institutions can use oral histories. (Sponsors: EdCom, SERA)

Beyond the Basics: Making Social Media Work for You Toulouse A Room Moderator: Ephraim J. Rotter, Curator, Thomas County Historical Society, Thomasville, GA

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More Than Child’s Play: How the Louisiana Children’s Museum Raised Millions for its Extraordinary Early Learning Village Astor Ballroom III Moderator/Presenter: Sandra Kidd, Partner, Alexander Haas, Atlanta, GA Presenters: Julia Bland, CEO, Louisiana Children’s Museum, New Orleans, LA; Jerry Henry, Partner, Alexander Haas, Atlanta, GA When the Louisiana Children’s Museum (LCM) set out to create a new hands-on learning experience for their young visitors, it was more than child’s play. The Museum put together a coalition of local and national experts, advocates, and public and private funders to develop a transformational model for early childhood education. The result is the LCM Early Learning Village in New Orleans’ City Park, a $45.5 million project.

This session will be a conversation with the LCM CEO and top campaign volunteers about the campaign that brought this extraordinary vision to life. From a strong launch to the need for a mid-campaign turnaround strategy, from using city benchmarks for fundraising to reenergize the campaign and drive toward final goal, LCM leaders have steered a complex campaign for the new Early Learning College to success. The Museum leaders and campaign council will discuss strategies for revitalizing the message, re-engaging volunteers, and revising expectations.

Presenters: Marcy Breffle, Education Coordinator, Historic Oakland Foundation, Atlanta, GA; Richard Harker, Education and Outreach Manager, Museum of History and Holocaust Education, Kennesaw State University Kennesaw, GA; Jasmine Waters, Youth Volunteer Associate, Atlanta History Center, Atlanta, GA Volunteers serve as museum ambassadors and contribute their skills, abilities, and perspectives to help a museum achieve institutional goals.

In an open forum, participants will discuss and identify best practices to recruit, train, and retain volunteer groups that reflect the broad diversity of our communities. (Sponsors: AAMV, EdCom) Museum Partnerships with Universities St. Ann Room Moderator/Presenter: Brenden Martin, Public History Program Director, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN Presenter: Brian Hackett, Public History Program Director, University of Northern Kentucky, Highland Heights, KY As museums seek strategic partnerships to enhance their mission-based activities, an important but often underutilized connection is with colleges and universities. This session addresses best practices for history museum museums working with academic programs to assist with exhibit development, public programming, marketing, collections management, digitization, and more. (Sponsors: AAMG, EdCom)

The Price, the Value, and the IRS: What Are Collections Objects Worth?

St. Louis Room Moderator/Presenter: Darlene A. Bialowski, Principal, Darlene Bialowski Art Services, Spofford, NH Presenters: Robert F. Salmon, Managing Director Fine Art, Jewelry & Specie, Willis Towers Watson/Willis of New York, Inc., Potomac, MD; Patricia Atwood, Timely Antiques Appraisal, LLC, Rockford, IL Learn what a qualified appraisal is and looks like; the differences in fair market value and retail replacement value and why an auction house value is not necessarily appropriate. This session is for you whether you deal with donations, bequests, or insurance coverage at work or for your personal use. (Sponsor: SERA)

Working with Living Artists: From Contract to Close Iberville Room Moderator: Beth Bahls, Registrar for Loans, New Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans, LA Presenters: Becky Parker, Chief Registrar, Bernard A. Zuckerman Museum of Art, Kennesaw, GA; Lizzie Shelby, Senior Studio Assistant, George Dunbar Studio, Slidell, LA This panel explores working with living artists in venues that include private, public, and university museums. We will be covering three stages of working with living artists: initial concept, development, and execution.

(Sponsor: SERA)

Inclusion in the Classroom Astor Ballroom II Moderator/Presenter: Megan Sauter, Student and Public Programs Administrator, Kentucky Historical Society, Frankfort, KY Presenters: Jo Allison Slone, Special Education Teacher, Rowan County Middle School, Morehead, KY; Heather Hill, Outreach Coordinator, Kentucky Derby Museum, Louisville, KY How can educational outreach programs remain relevant and include students with special needs? An introduction to learning disabilities will be followed by example activities that use a variety of learning styles. The roundtable will provide an opportunity to discuss the challenges faced in today’s classroom, while exploring successes of colleagues. (Sponsor: EdCom)

Architectural Conservation for the Historic Museum Building Bourbon Room Moderator: Mamie Sterkx Gasperecz, New Orleans, LA Presenters: Laura Ewen Blokker, Assistant Director/Principal, Tulane School of Architecture, Southeast Preservation, Greensburg, LA; Courtney Williams, Cypress Building Conservation, New Orleans, LA; Michael Shoriak, Cypress Building Conservation, New Orleans, LA This session will address best methods for the conservation and interpretation of historic museum buildings. Participants will share their knowledge of this topic to give attendees the confidence and tools to make positive steps in the care of their historic buildings. (Sponsor: HHMAG) When the Historical is Personal: Interpreting Decorative Arts in Private Homes Toulouse A Room Moderator/Presenter: Sarah Duggan, CIS Coordinator and Research Curator, The Historic New Orleans Collection, New Orleans, LA Presenters: Lydia Blackmore, Decorative Arts Curator, The Historic New Orleans Collection, New Orleans, LA; Katie Burlison, Chief Curator, HermannGrima + Gallier Historic Houses, New Orleans, LA Decorative arts are often exhibited in private residences, presenting unique interpretive challenges and opportunities. In this roundtable, three curators discuss how they blend historical and personal narratives in private and museum domestic settings, and invite the audience to share their own innovations and challenges. (Sponsor: HHMAG)

10:15 am – 10:45 am COFFEE BREAK Grand Ballroom Gallery

10:30 am – 11:45 am CONCURRENT SESSIONS Achieving Diversity: Volunteer Programs Grand Ballroom A Moderator: Samantha Roberts, Events, Membership, and Visitor Services Coordinator, Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL

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From Source to Story: Communicating Your Content with Exhibit AV Media Toulouse B Room Moderator: Tim Lay, Director of Museum Development, Northern Light Productions, Boston, MA Presenters: Owen Glendening, Associate Vice President for Education and Access, National World War II Museum, New Orleans, LA; Keith Hudson, Senior Director of History and Research, National World War II Museum, New Orleans, LA; Seth Paridon, Manager of Research Services, National World War II Museum, New Orleans, LA; Melanie Holmes, Project Manager, National World War II Museum, New Orleans, LA; Beth Sternheimer, Senior Producer, Northern Light Productions, Boston, MA; Robert Malootian, Creative Director/ Senior Associate, Gallagher & Associates, Silver Spring, MD Panelists will explore approaches to storytelling through audiovisual media in museums, examining the National World War II Museum’s integration of their extensive collection of oral histories and images in narrative media for new exhibits, and discuss how museums with varying budgets can create media experiences to address broad interpretive goals.

Programs, Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, Birmingham, AL; Nicole Ivy, Director of Inclusion, American Alliance of Museums, Arlington, VA This panel will address diversity and inclusion in museum staff, leadership, exhibitions and programs. Museum trustees lead and serve on the search committees that select museum directors. Museum directors will consider hiring practices to diversify their staff. After decades of museum initiatives, staff retention is the real issue. How do museums become an inclusive institution that reflects their communities in programs, exhibitions, and staff? (Sponsor: EdCom) Direct Care, What’s That?

Astor Ballroom I Moderator/Presenter: Deborah Rose Van Horn, Registrar, Kentucky Historical Society, Frankfort, KY Presenters: Kyle Bryner, Director of Collections Management and Registration, Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, Winchester, VA What exactly is Direct Care and what does it have to do with my museum? Come join some of the SERA board for a facilitated discussion about the AAM White Paper on the Direct Care of Collections released in 2016. What does “Direct Care” mean? What can we do with the funds generated from the sales of deaccessioned collections? (Sponsor: SERA)

You Can Close Your Eyes…But the Problem Won’t Go Away St. Louis Room Moderator/Presenter: Stevan P. Layne, Founding Director, International Foundation for Cultural Property Protection, Denver, CO Presenters: Geoffrey Goodrich, Director of Security, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, AR Institutions face the potential threat from “lone wolf” assault, disruptive demonstrations, planned attack, or intentional destruction. All institutions, unless uniquely protected, are soft targets. This program is about “target hardening,” adopting reasonable prevention and protection measures not previously considered. Measures recommended come from law enforcement, the Department of Homeland Security, and professional security managers.

Becoming Family Friendly: Early Childhood Learning in the Museum Astor Ballroom II Moderator/Presenter: Kathleen F.G. Hutton, Director of Education, Reynolda House Museum of American Art, Winston Salem, NC Presenters: Naomi Lifschitz-Grant, Assistant Professor of Art Education, University of North Carolina–Pembroke, Pembroke, NC; Chantell Nabonne, Gallery Learning Specialist, New Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans, LA; Beth Hoover-DeBerry, Assistant Director of Education, Reynolda House Museum of American Art, Winston Salem, NC Why should museums, displaying vulnerable and valuable objects, encourage caregivers and young children to visit? What can staff do to ensure all families feel welcome? After a review of programs at two museums, an educational consultant and museum educators will facilitate discussion of challenges and opportunities of working with young families.

(Sponsor: EdCom)

Curatorial Voice, Collaboration & Cultural Pluralism Burgundy Room Moderator: Ann Rowson Love, Coordinator, Museum Education & VisitorCentered Exhibitions/Ringling Liaison, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL Presenters: Cora Fisher, Curator, Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art, Winston-Salem, NC; Debbie Randolph, Curator of Education, Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art, Winston-Salem, NC; Noelle Trent, Director of Interpretation, Collections and Education, National Civil Rights Museum, Memphis, TN; Aja Roache, Director and Curator, Asst. Professor of Arts Administration, Foster-Tanner Fine Arts Gallery/Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL In this curatorial research session, curators will discuss how to collaboratively facilitate innovation while performing curatorial roles related to interpreting cultural histories. Learn about the complexities of curation and the necessity of collaboration to embrace culturally inclusive perspectives.

Aja Roache will address “Reframing Diversity, Inclusivity, and Pluralism in Curation.” Noelle Trent will talk about “Balancing Act: Expanded Curatorial Roles in Times of Change.” Deborah Randolph and Cora Fisher will discuss “Collective Actions: Curatorial Collaboration During Exhibition Development that Promotes Social Change.” (Sponsor: CurCom)

12:00 noon – 1:30 pm AFFINITY LUNCHEONS Southeastern Registrars Association (SERA) Grand Ballroom C This is the annual business meeting for the Southeastern Registrars Association. Come hear updates from the board, welcome new board members, and find out more about what is going on with SERA. This is also a great opportunity to network with your colleagues. (SERA members only, pre-registration required, $30) Museum Educators Committee (EdCom) Astor Ballroom I Join a discussion on how to marry the goals and aspirations of your education department with the distinct needs of your volunteers and volunteer program with Richard Harker, Education and Outreach Manager, Museum of History and Holocaust at Kennesaw State University, and President of the American Association for Museum Volunteers (AAMV).

(EdCom members only, pre-registration required, $30)

Diversity Across the Museum: Staff, Trustees, Exhibitions & Programs Astor Ballroom III Moderator: Mary Baily Wieler, President, Museum Trustee Association, Baltimore, MD Presenters: Rod Bigelow, Executive Director, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, AR; Priscilla Cooper, Vice President of Institutional

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Directors and Trustees Luncheon Astor Ballroom III Moderator: David Butler, Executive Director, The Knoxville Museum of Art, Knoxville, TN Join directors and trustees from around the region to network and share concerns, successes, and challenges with your peers. (Sponsors: Alexander Haas, DLR Group/Westlake Reed Leskosky, Museum Trustee Association, Travelers) (Pre-registration required, $40)

Distance Learning Director at the Center for Puppetry Arts, discuss how your institution can create, implement, and grow distance learning programs. (Pre-registration required, EdCom members) CurCom Tour: Ogden Museum of Southern Art Meet shuttle at hotel entrance (925 Camp Street) Join Bradley Sumrall, Curator of the Collection at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, as he discusses the process behind curating the museum’s most recent permanent collection exhibition Profligate Beauty. Inspired by the lush landscape, diverse culture and complicated history of the region, this exhibition celebrates the creative spirit of the artists in the American South and explores the question of what it is to be a Southern artist. Sumrall will explain his thought-process in choosing artists of various backgrounds, mediums, gender, ethnicities, and time periods as well as discuss the craft of curating a large exhibition with an overall theme in a multi-gallery space. (Pre-registration required, CurCom members)

Curators’ Luncheon (CurCom) Astor Ballroom II Join your colleagues for lunch and informal conversations about curatorial issues, network with peers, and meet your Regional AAM CurCom representatives. (CurCom members only, pre-registration required, $30) AAMG Luncheon Grand Ballroom B Join your colleagues for lunch and informal conversations about academic museum issues, network with peers, and meet your Regional AAMG representative. (AAMG members only, pre-registration required, $30)

African American History Tour: Behind the Scenes Tour of the McKenna Museums Meet bus at hotel entrance (2003 Carondelet Street) The McKenna Museums are a testament to how Black excellence survived over time in this country. These institutions house a private collection of art, artifacts, and documents that place significance of Black imagery, material culture, and history that come together to tell the scope of African American history from the 18th century to present. At the George and Leah McKenna Museum of African American Art, Dr. Dwight and Beverly Stanton McKenna have collected works by local and internationally renowned artists such as Henry Ossawa Tanner, William Eduoard Scott, Clementine Hunter, Ernie Barnes, and Ulrick Jean-Pierre. Le Musee de f.p.c. has dedicated itself to the collection, preservation, and interpretation of material culture of free people of color in an effort to share the history of those free people prior to the Civil War and their impact. In the most Africanized city in North America, the history of Black people in New Orleans is the essence of the history of the city. (Pre-registration required) (Sponsor: Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture)

HHMAG Luncheon & Business Meeting Grand Ballroom A Moderators: Leah Walker, Site & Events Manager, Aiken County Historical Museum, Aiken, SC; Ashleigh Oatts, Education Coordinator, T.R.R. Cobb House, Athens, GA The Historic House Museums Affinity Group of SEMC will host a luncheon during which we will have our annual business meeting. During this meeting we hope to elect officers, speak about a non-profit status, and to look for ways to also increase membership. HHMAG’s mission is to address issues that are of interest to historic house museums by providing educational programming, workshops, and networking opportunities for the staff and volunteers associated with historic house museums in the twelve states comprising SEMC. Please join us and encourage any other historic house professionals to attend as well. (HHMAG members only, pre-registration required, $30)

3:00 pm – 4:30 pm SEMC COUNCIL MEETING St. Ann Room

1:45 pm – 3:30 pm OFF-SITE TOURS Meet in Astor Crowne lobby at 1:45 pm SERA Behind-the-Scenes Tour: New Orleans Museum of Art Meet shuttle at hotel entrance (One Collins C. Diboll Circle, City Park) Come join your fellow registrars and collections managers for a behind the scenes look at the brand new storage for the New Orleans Museum of Art. Attendees will get to take a look at the new facility and talk with staff about the process of building and moving into the new space! (Preregistration required, SERA members) EdCom Tour to The National WWII Museum: Going the Distance in Museum Education Meet shuttle at hotel entrance (945 Magazine Street) Discover how museums utilize a variety of distance learning technologies to connect collections and educational materials with tens of thousands of individuals who otherwise might not have the opportunity to visit the brick and mortar site. Chrissy Gregg, Distance Learning Manager at the National WWII Museum, Patty Petrey Dees, Director of Education at the Booth Western Art Museum, and Sara Burmenko,

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SEMC

art, history and culture in motion

new orleans, la 2017 semc september 11-13

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