As history organizations around the country adapt to the rapidly evolving public health situation, we’ll be sharing resources and ideas from across the field through our newsletter and Professional Development webinars.
The content posted here is from our weekly e-newsletter, Dispatch, for the week of April 27.
Upcoming webinar topics: insurance and planning for reopening.
This Week
In memoriam: Jim Vaughan: National preservation advocate and friend of AASLH Jim Vaughan passed away April 23. Jim had a long and distinguished career at sites across the country, retiring a few years ago as the executive director of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. He also served on the AASLH Council and as Treasurer. Read more.
NEH CARES Act webinar: Hosted by the National Humanities Alliance, this recorded info session provides an overview of the quick and relatively simple application process to NEH for maintaining staff during the COVID-19 crisis. Read more.
Museum coronavirus impact survey: The New England Museum Association is gathering information about the impacts of the coronavirus outbreak on museums’ economic and educational plans; specifically losses in revenue, employment, and educational opportunities. The survey closes May 1. Read more.
Call for papers: Museum & Society: The editors of Museum & Society seek initial responses for their November 2020 issue: short (1000-1500 words) papers reflecting on the impact of COVID-19 on cultural organizations; new challenges, realities, and practices emerging during the pandemic; and the impact of the pandemic on planning activities and institutional discourses. Read more.
Curator battles in lockdown: England’s Yorkshire Museum is holding weekly virtual curator battles for closed museums around the world, encouraging them to share their favorite objects relating to a theme chosen by Twitter votes. So far, “creepiest object” and “sassiest object” have drawn impressive global participation. Read more.
From AASLH
Reminder: All AASLH staff are working remotely until further notice. We’re still answering phones and voicemails. If you need to connect with a specific staff member, please email them directly.
New AASLH member benefit: ARCUS Leadership Academy is providing FREE access for AASLH members to its online professional leadership development courses. Request your member coupon code at info@aaslh.org. Offered online, the courses cover community outreach, public speaking, financial management, fundraising, team building, advocacy, and more, and include a culminating professional certificate. Read more.
AASLH Affinity Community forums: The AASLH forum space is up and running. We encourage you to join a community to discuss issues facing your site with colleagues across the nation. Browse and join forums in our Membership Center.
Conversations webinar feedback: If you have taken part in one or more of our new AASLH Conversations webinars, we would love to hear your thoughts on how the series is helping you. We also welcome suggestions for future topics of discussion. Submit your feedback and suggestions here.
Share visitation data: AASLH’s “National Visitation Survey” will remain open indefinitely to allow more institutions time to respond. We are asking institutions to submit their 2018 and 2019 visitation figures. Reliable data will ensure we can properly assess the impact of this year’s coronavirus closings. Submit your information here.
Upcoming Events from AASLH
*All in-person events scheduled through July 1 have been cancelled or postponed. AASLH is developing new online events to help practitioners and institutions respond to COVID-19. Please check our calendar for the latest updates.
April 29: Webinar: Insurance Best Practices
April 30: Webinar: How to Spot Opportunity When it is Disguised as Chaos
May 5: Webinar: AASLH Conversations: Planning for Reopening
May 7: Webinar: AASLH Conversations: Local Advocacy Matters
May 12: Webinar: AASLH-NCPH Conversation: Digital Internships
May 19: Webinar: How to Build Your Own Successful Traveling Trunk Program
May 26: Online Course: Financial Structures and Strategy
June 1: Online Course: Basics of Archives
June 1: Online Course: Leadership and Administration for History Organizations
June 1: Online Course: Caring for Museum Collections
Upcoming Events from Other Organizations
April 29: Webinar on visitor trust: On Wednesday, April 29, Gateway Ticketing will present “Re-creating Trust with Your Guests.” Read more.
April 29: Webinar on digital programs: On Wednesday, April 29, Cuseum will present “Supporting Communities with Digital Programs During Coronavirus.” Read more.
April 30: Webinar on evaluation: On Thursday, April 30, AAM’s Committee on Audience Research & Evaluation Professional Network will present “CARE-apy: How to Do Evaluation with No Evaluation Staff.” Read more.
