April 2015

Forum Monthly 

E-newsletter

VAM News 

VAM's 2015 Annual Conference was a great success. We had well over 400 participants, and our Richmond hosts really rolled out the red carpet! Thanks to all who made it possible. Check out conference photos on our Flickr account, and attendees, please complete your conference evaluation, and email [email protected] if you need the link to the conference handouts. Remember to save the date for #VAM2016, to be held at The Williamsburg Lodge March 12 - 15, 2016. 

Professional Development Update
Happening Now Online:
Survey of Museum Practice (ART 184 N01B)
Museum Marketing (ART 195 N41B)

Onsite Workshops:

The Collections Conundrum of Deaccessioning
April 10, 2015 The Lyceum, Alexandria, VA

Best Practices in Board Development
a half-day workshop presented in partnership with the Partnership for Nonprofit Excellence
May 1, 2015 Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, VA
This workshop is meant for both museum staff and board members - team up and register today!

It's that time of year!
It's time to begin thinking about nominating an artifact to Virginia's Top 10 Endangered Artifacts Program. We'll be accepting nominations beginning in June. Stay tuned as we launch our fifth year of the Top 10 program!

An Update from FRAME
FRAME Education: Monica Johnston, a middle school teacher at The Collegiate School, has designed and implemented a collaborative project concerning French and American art. The title of this project is Modernity: Portrait and Landscape. The project has brought together many partners. Two museums, teachers from different subjects and countries, and 24 French and 46 US students. The Virginia Museum of Fine Art, le Mus�e des Beaux-Arts Bordeaux, Isabelle Beccia, Cassignol Middle school in Bordeaux, Brigitte Bayle (Math), Monica Johnston (French), and Collegiate Middle School are all partners. Read the most recent FRAME newsletter.
In This Issue
VAM News
Member News
Member Kudos
Hails and Farewells
Professional Development Opportunities
More Museum News
Quick Links
Deadlines
Member News

From Gadsby's Tavern: because of the pipe break in January and other building-related challenges, work will be more extensive and time-consuming than anticipated, and Gadsby's Tavern remains closed at this time. Programming and events are still underway. Best of luck to our friends in Alexandria as they continue repairs! 

 

U.Va. and Monticello recently announced winners of 2015 Thomas Jefferson Foundation Medals: read the press release
 

The Virginia Historical Society is premiering Virginia Voices, the first state-specific, crowdsourced film of its kind. This modern historical documentary was made with video submissions of residents. From 2013 to 2014, Jeff Boedeker and his crew traveled across Virginia to record stories from Virginians. Video cameras were sent to residents to capture their own stories. Participants were asked four questions:

- What's your favorite place? - What's in your backyard?

- What's your family history? - What are your hopes?
The thirty-five-minute film will begin screening regularly at the VHS in summer 2015. All of the submissions may be viewed on the website www.virginiavoices.org. The film's website will also serve as an oral history database for the VHS's newest collecting initiative.

From Oatlands: The Reclaim Your Story project seeks to connect with descendants, especially those with the last names of Buchanan, Day, Fisher, Gleed, Howard, Jackson, Johnson, Mallory, Mason, Moton, Murray, Rust, Stewart/Steward, Valentine, Warner, and Washington. Two Civil War Trails markers recognizing our African American history will be dedicated on April 11th.

 

James Monroe Museum Director Scott Harris was interviewed recently for two video segments on Cox Cable of Fairfax and Fredericksburg (channels 74 and 77). In mid-April, a segment on the program NOVA Now will discuss the Museum and feature upcoming events like the James Monroe Birthday Celebration. This summer, a generic segment on the Museum produced for the show Cox Connections will begin airing periodically. 

 

The George C. Marshall Foundation will launch its new George C. Marshall Legacy Series in April to interpret General Marshall's legacy through a multi-year series of events, programs and information centered on key themes, events or episodes from General Marshall's career and the extensive holdings in the Foundation's archives.

 

Member Kudos
Dr. Edward L. Ayers
Congratulations to Dr. Edward Ayers. President Obama recently announced his intent to nominate Dr. Ayers as a member of the National Council on the Humanities. A teacher and scholar of American history, Edward L. Ayers, Ph.D., was named president of the University of Richmond in 2007. He will step down as president effective June 30, 2015. Dr. Ayers is also co-host of the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities' BackStory, a nationally syndicated radio show that ties history to the present day. Additionally, Dr. Ayers was our keynote speaker at VAM's 2015 Annual Conference. 

Congratulations to Bernie Kenneweg who was honored with a 2015 Historic Fredericksburg Foundation's Lillian D. Reed Volunteer award. The award recognizes notable lifetime preservation achievements and service. Bernie was honored for her dedicated service in support of the Mary Washington House Gift Shop and Washington Heritage Museums organization.

Birthplace of Country Music Museum (BCMM) has earned a number of awards from the Tennessee Association of Museums (TAM) and the Tri-Cities Branch of the Associated General Contractors of Tennessee (TCAGC), affirming the high quality of the museum's structure and the exhibits contained therein. 

With the completion of an 80,000-square-foot building - a distinctive new Yorktown landmark - the Yorktown Victory Center has reached a midpoint milestone in its transformation into the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. By late 2016, expansive permanent exhibition galleries and a new introductory film will debut the recently completed building, and visitors will be welcomed in expanded and upgraded settings for the encampment and farm.

Hails and Farewells

 

Nicole Quinn
The Office of Historic Alexandria (OHA) is pleased to announce that Nicole Quinn has been appointed to the position of Administrative Assistant III at the department's Administrative Offices at Lloyd House. Nicole will replace long-time staffer Madeline Shaw who is retiring on Friday March 27. Nicole has worked at OHA as a Museum Aide for 13 years and during the past few years has been responsible for assisting with the department's private event rentals at both The Lyceum and Lloyd House.

Anne Kenny-Urban has been named the executive director of The Agecroft Association, which owns and operates Agecroft Hall. Her appointment is effective April 1. Kenny-Urban comes to Agecroft from the VMFA, where she held senior administrative positions. Congratulations, Anne, and best of luck!

The Office of Historic Alexandria (OHA) bids farewell to Madeline Shaw, who has served for over fourteen years as the administrative assistant. Ms. Shaw is retiring to her family home in North Carolina. We wish you all the best, Madeline!

Caryl Thompson
Caryl Thompson joined the City of Virginia Beach Department of Museums as the marketing and public relations director. As such she will serve both the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center and the History Museums. Thompson has over 20 years of experience as a City of Virginia Beach employee with the Department of Parks and Recreation. Her career began as an aquatic recreation specialist and Thompson quickly rose to administrative positions within the department. In her last position as a media and communications coordinator, Thompson provided leadership and strategic direction on marketing campaigns integrating media releases, advertising, social media, and collaterals. Welcome, Caryl!
 

 

Professional Development Opportunities
Check out the University of Richmond's offerings through their Institute on Philanthropy. From Board Development to Grant Writing, Fundraising to Marketing, there is something for everyone.

  

  


AAM: Using Evaluation in our Practice as Educators
An EdCom Virtual Book Club Google+ Hangout
April 16, 2015 2pm - 3pm

AAM Annual Meeting
April 26 - 29, 2015

ALHFAM Conference 2015
June 19 - 23, 2015 in Williamsburg, VA

Oct. 7 - 9 at Natural Bridge

More Museum News

This week President Obama announced his intent to nominate Katheryn Matthew to lead the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Dr. Matthew's latest position is Chief Science Educator at the Children's Museum of Indianapolis. Read the White House press release

 

From the Washington Post: Decision Delayed on Federal Recognition for Virginia Indian Tribe

 

IMLS is currently planning another round of IMLS Focus meetings for 2015. Learn more.

 

From Salem Museum's own John Long: Why Museum's Matter, The Roanoke Times.

 

A study has been undertaken for the feasibility of an artisan center in the Shenandoah Valley to promote and support Virginia's artisans through sales, exhibition, interpretation, education and special events to inspire the next generation, strengthen communities, and provide an authentic cultural gateway to the region and the commonwealth. Read a summary

 

 

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