[Nhcoll-l] Establishing a Museum online course begins May 6

[helen at collectioncare.org]

MS256: Establishing a Museum
Instructor: Claudia Nicholson
Dates: May 6 to May 31, 2013
Location: Online at www.museumclasses.org

Description:
Establishing a museum ? or even just expanding or enhancing
one ? can be quite daunting. It is a job that demands a
clear community vision and an organized approach, which
make a tremendous difference for the museum?s future.
Establishing a Museum will provide the facts and
comprehensive advice you need to undertake this endeavor.
This includes considering how your museum can get the
community and financial support it needs. The course walks
students through specific steps and considerations to
clarify the process of establishing and maintaining a
successful museum. These steps include writing a mission
statement, understanding community expectations, and
establishing a collections policy. Students will explore
the potential role of the museum within their community and
key considerations when establishing a museum. Topics
include collections care, community expectations and
benefit, registration, the role of traditional culture and
language within the museum setting, exhibitions,
conservation, staffing and financial management.

Logistics:
Participants in Establishing a Museum work through sections
on their own. Materials and resources include online
literature, slide lectures and dialog between students and
the instructor through online forums. The course is limited
to 20 participants.

Establishing a Museum runs four weeks. To learn more about
the course, please go to
http://www.collectioncare.org/tas/tas.html If you have
trouble please contact Helen Alten at
helen at collectioncare.org

The Instructor:
Claudia Nicholson is Executive Director of the North Star
Museum of Boy Scouting and Girl Scouting in North St. Paul,
MN. Claudia began her career in museums at the National
Archives in Washington, DC. After earning her Masters
Degree in History Museum Studies from the Cooperstown
Graduate Program, she became Curator of Collections for the
South Dakota State Historical Society in Pierre. While
there, she worked with a Native American advisory committee
to create a groundbreaking exhibit on Sioux life in South
Dakota. After seven years, she moved to St. Paul to become
a curator at the Minnesota Historical Society. She has 32
years experience in museums and historical organizations.

Helen Alten
Director
Northern States Conservation Center
www.collectioncare.org
www.museumclasses.org