“It’s the Little Things: Small Steps Towards Continuous Improvement at the Hamilton Civic Museums” will give participants the opportunity to explore and learn about the City of Hamilton’s culture and heritage through some of their museums and historic sites: the Hamilton Museum of Steam & Technology, Whitehern Historic House and Garden, and Dundurn National Historic Site, which includes Dundurn Castle, the historic Kitchen Garden, and the Hamilton Military Museum. Participants will engage with how front-line museum staff have actively worked to translate corporate strategic goals into bite-size, attainable actions, demonstrating how small things can make big improvements to the visitor experience and can help museums tackle big concepts in tangible ways.
Key Themes: Visitor Service and Experience; Audience Development; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Sustainability
Target Audience: Staff from small to mid-size museums interested in front-line visitor service and continuous improvement
Please note: participants will gather in the lobby of the Sheraton Hamilton Hotel (116 King Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8P 4V3) at 9:00am. The tour will depart at 9:30am sharp and is scheduled to return to the Sheraton Hotel at 5:00pm but exact timing is subject to change. Please plan accordingly.
Itinerary:
9:00am: Study tour participants gather Sheraton Hotel entrance
9:30am: Study tour departs from the Sheraton Hotel
10:00am: Arrive at Hamilton Museum of Steam & Technology (HMST), 900 Woodward Avenue
10:10am: “Behind the Scenes” tour of the HMST, with front line and management staff
- Tour will focus on visitor experience improvements and opportunities, and audience building
11:15am: Q&A and ideation with HMST museum staff, with coffee & tea break in the HMST Woodshed
11:45am: Depart HMST on route for Whitehern Historic House & Garden, 41 Jackson Street West
12:15pm: Arrive at Whitehern Historic House & Garden, lunch at the Whitehern Stable
1:15pm: Whitehern Site Tour with front line and management staff
2:15pm: Depart Whitehern for Dundurn National Historic Site
2:30pm: Arrive at Dundurn National Historic Site
- Tour of Dundurn Castle, Historic Kitchen Garden, and the Hamilton Military Museum with front-line and management staff
4:30pm: Study tour departs from Dundurn National Historic Site
5:00pm: Study tour arrives at Sheraton Hotel
Accessibility:
Hamilton Museum of Steam and Technology: The main floor of the museum and the education space (location of the coffee/tea discussion) are fully accessible. The second story of the museum is not fully accessible. As a result, a virtual tour option is available to visitors.
Whitehern Historic House and Garden: The gardens are accessible (although it would be grass paths) as is the Whitehern Stable (where lunch would be served). The historic house requires stairs for the entrance and thus would not be fully accessible.
Dundurn National Historic Site: The historic Kitchen Garden is fully accessible. The main floors of Dundurn Castle and the Hamilton Military Museum are fully accessible, but their upper floors are not accessible. As a result, virtual tour options are available to visitors.
Please inform the OMA of your accessibility requirements as soon as possible, along with any information, questions, and concerns that you have regarding accessibility and mobility on the tour. You can reach us at 1 (866) 662 8672 or email
[email protected].
Registration includes admission fees, lunch, and transportation to and from the Sheraton Hamilton Hotel.
All study tours are subject to change and cancellation.
If the register button does not appear, please contact the OMA to add your name to the waiting list: 1 (866) 662 8672 or email
[email protected].
