Reopening Resources for Museums + CEWS Extension

The Group of Ontario Emerging Museum Professionals (GOEMP) Committee presents the third edition of “Confessions of a Museum Professional.” This project invites colleagues to share anonymously written postcards about studying and working in the cultural sector. Submissions pose questions, share frustrations, and tell stories about the workplace, educational training, experiences, and failures within the arts, culture, and heritage community. 

Submit your online postcard HERE. 

Due to COVID-19’s evolving nature, which has resulted in cancelled programs and forced galleries and museums to close their doors around the world, we are taking the project online and bringing it to you as a webinar. This online session will consist of a conversation with three panelists who will directly respond to a selection of paper and digital postcards we’ve received. The moderated discussion will specifically address the global pandemic and how it has affected museum professionals today.

Read more and register HERE.

Are you missing your museum colleagues? Join the OMA every Wednesday morning for an informal chat and update. Every week there will be a brief presentation from OMA staff on a theme followed by an open discussion. This is an opportunity for you to connect with the OMA and with your colleagues across the province.

Meeting #6 – Wednesday, May 27, 2020 at 10am
This meeting will be hosted by the Group of Ontario Emerging Museum Professionals (GOEMP). For more information about the GOEMP, visit their website HERE.

Member Check-ins will be held in Zoom Meetings.

• Register in advance HERE.
• After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
• Note: if you do not have a reliable internet connection, you can join by phone (cellular or landline) to hear and participate in the conversation.

Cultural heritage institutions are coping with many challenges as the world deals with the COVID-19 pandemic. While collections are not directly at risk, the pandemic complicates their care. In this webinar organized by the Ontario Museum Association, Irene Karsten shares information and recommendations compiled by the Canadian Conservation Institute to help those responsible for heritage collections. Questions about collections contamination, disinfection of museum spaces, and risks to collections during long-term shut down are addressed, based on the evolving collective knowledge of the public health and infectious disease research communities merged with what we know about keeping collections safe.

Watch the recording HERE.

The last two weeks have shown major changes in what people report will make them feel safe visiting cultural organizations again.

Read the full article HERE.

 

Join Brendan Ciecko (CEO and Founder @ Cuseum), Michelle Mileham (Director of Education @ Tracy Aviary), Laura Houston (Director of Education @ Elmwood Park Zoo) & Christian Ramirez (Public Programs Manager @ Phoenix Art Museum) as they explore various ways to monetize virtual programming and digital offerings. This webinar will explore ways to monetize traditional programming that has been shifted to digital platforms, as well as creative ideas that have generated new revenue streams. This discussion will also address some of the challenges related to reopening that cultural organizations are continuing to face.

You can also view and add to the Coronavirus Preparedness Community Document. This is a living document for organizations to share their best practices.

Watch the webinar HERE.

Deaccessioning is a frequent topic of discussion and debate in the museum field. As US museums face financially uncertain futures, it is important that directors and other staff are prepared to navigate conversations with their boards and other governing bodies about deaccessioning. Join AASLH Standards & Ethics Committee members Sally Yerkovich, Erin Richardson, and Heather Kuruvilla for a conversation about history collections in discussions about museum finances. The conversation will also introduce AASLH’s newest position paper, “Valuing History Collections.”  

Read more and register HERE.

The Virtual Museum of Canada is an investment program that helps Canadian museums and heritage organizations build digital capacity so we can all access a wide variety of stories and experiences.

Join VMC Director Megan Richardson to hear about the exciting changes the program is making to better serve you and your visitors. Learn about some of the benefits of VMC funding, see some inspiring online projects – like virtual exhibits and tours – and get some tips on how to conceive, pitch and develop your own project.

Read more and register HERE.

It's one of the most common questions being asked by Canadian charity fundraisers and marketers. But the truth is that no one truly knows what the "correct" response is. The good news is that data can give us new fundraising and marketing insights to test during this time.

Join this special webinar to learn how the Canadian COVID-19 data collected so far can help you improve your fundraising. CharityVillage is proud to sponsor this session hosted by fundraising experts from NextAfter, Care2 and CanadaHelps!

Read more and register HERE.

Due to Covid 19 many institutions have been closed and will most likely be engaged in a gradual restart of operations, though clearly these will be very different from before the lockdown. The Algonquin College Applied Museum Studies program is surveying institutions to better understand what the fall and winter periods will look like and if it will be possible for institutions to host placement students in the coming school year. The information from this 10-question survey will be invaluable for adjusting the program and being able to support students in making decisions during this time.

More details about the Algonquin College Applied Museum Studies program available HERE.

Complete the 10-question survey HERE.

To help NPOs build their resilience in the face of a crisis, BDO Canada organized a multi-disciplinary task force to assess a full range of operational issues, from financial recovery to human resources.

The result is a nine-part crisis management checklist providing a series of questions for board members to ask themselves, senior management and others so they can mitigate the adverse effects of change and uncertainty during COVID-19.

Use the NPO crisis management checklist to effectively lead your NPO in times of crisis.

Red more HERE.

 

Join Dan Sullivan (Head of Growth and Partnerships @ Cuseum), Tim O’Connell (Director of Membership & Annual Giving @ North Carolina Museum of Art), Julie Knight (Director of Membership @ San Francisco Museum of Modern Art), Sewon Barrera (Digital Marketing Manager @ Exploratorium) & Daniel Vincent (Director of Membership @ Trustees) as they discuss shifts in audiences and membership marketing strategy in light of coronavirus. This webinar will address how organizations can reorient the value propositions of membership and double down on local audience development to survive and thrive in the coronavirus era.

You can also view and add to the Coronavirus Preparedness Community Document. This is a living document for organizations to share their best practices.

Watch the webinar HERE.

Download Free E-Book: The Ultimate Guide to Surviving & Thriving As A Cultural Organization in the 21st Century

 

If you are already an OMA member, please renew your membership when you receive an email reminder. If you are not a member, please consider joining, either as an institution or an individual. You can find information about member categories and benefits on our website.

Please also consider making a donation to the OMA on our website or through Canada Helps.

Your support of the OMA and your participation in events like this webinar make us stronger as a sector, and we appreciate each and everyone one of you.

An OMA membership connects you with our network of over 1000 members, representing 700 museums, galleries, and heritage sites across the province. In addition, an OMA membership provides you with the latest news via the ONmuseums newsletter, eNews alerts, and COVID-19 resources to mitigate impact for Ontario museums, galleries and heritage sites.

 

The OMA has prepared a dedicated webpage of COVID-19 communications and resources, updated as new information and resources become available.

Read more HERE.

For all questions or inquiries please contact the OMA: community@museumsontario.ca or call 416-348-8672 / 1-866-662-8672.

Marie G. Lalonde
Executive Director
mlalonde@museumsontario.ca