StEPs-Utah Pilot

Work together to build on your organization’s strengths!

Utah Humanities (UH), the Utah Division of Arts & Museums (UA&M), and the Utah Division of State History (UDSH) are partnering to pilot a program based on the American Association for State & Local History’s (AASLH) Standards and Excellence Program for History Organizations (StEPs) that offers seven Utah history museums a two-year enrichment opportunity designed to help them achieve success in six areas of institutional practice. Space is limited and applications for the 2018-2020 program are now closed. Learn more about the program here and if you have questions, please contact Jennifer Ortiz at U&AM (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or Megan van Frank at UH (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

“StEPs has helped our organization to achieve basic standards of practice in many areas. Without the program and the support of the other participants and our mentor, I am not sure this would have been possible. We have come together in an amazing way and have a renewed enthusiasm in the future.”  

- StEPs-CT participant

Upcoming Workshops

The StEPS-Utah pilot project commenced with 4-month modules in July 2018 and will continue through June 2020. Each module is comprised of hands-on workshops, an onsite project, and mentor support. Monthly workshops will be held in Salt Lake City. During the course of the program, a cohort of participating organizations will complete all six modules (modules are not available separately). 

Cost & Registration

Participation in the pilot is by competitive application - please note that applications for 2018-2020 are now closed. Program fees are $150 per organization per module = $900 per organization for the 2-year program. See schedule, benefits, and requirements here. 

Presenters

Workshops will be taught by instructors who are experts in the designated area of focus. The program will pair participating organizations with an experienced mentor to help individualize content to the organization’s current needs.

Museum Interpretation 

Tell the Stories of Your Collections & Communities!

Learn how to research, design, and create interpretive exhibits and educational activities. This series of five full-day linked workshops offers staff and volunteers working in Utah’s small museums hands-on learning in curatorial practice and exhibit development. Participants attend the entire series and complete a small exhibit project at their own museum. The program includes reading and project-related assignments, as well as a small stipend to support exhibit development. Museum Interpretation Workshops are presented in partnership with the Utah Division of Arts & Museums.

I appreciate the congenial atmosphere and encouragement, the sharing of ideas, and helping each other on actual projects and not just hypotheticals.

These workshops have been the most valuable thing we have ever participated in. The information was clear, well presented, and easy to understand and get excited about.

– Workshop Participants

Workshop Series 2019-2020 

This series is held over six consecutive months. Participation in all five full-day workshops and completion of a small on-site exhibit project is required:

• November 4, 2019 | Month 1: Telling Our Stories: Introduction to Museum Interpretation
• December 2, 2019 | Month 2: Finding Our Stories: Researching Collections & Communities
• February 3, 2020 | Month 3: Designing Our Stories: Well Structured Exhibits
• March 2, 2020 | Month 4: Writing Our Stories: Exhibit Labels 
• April 6, 2020 | Month 5: Teaching Our Stories: Museum Education 

Participants can access Sample Workshop Materials here.

Cost & Registration 

Training and materials are free, but workshop space is limited and by competitive application. To apply please complete the form here by September 15, 2019. For details or questions, contact Megan van Frank at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 801.359.9670 x110.

Presenters

Megan van Frank (Utah Humanities), Lisa Thompson (Natural History Museum of Utah), and Virginia Catherall (Utah Museum of Fine Arts).

Collections Stewardship

Preservation Services and Training for the Intermountain West!

Funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Regional Heritage Stewardship Program (RHSP) is an initiative of the Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts (CCAHA) that brings vital preservation services to regions of the country with limited access to conservators and preservation expertise. Conducted in partnership with Utah field services providers, the Utah Division of Arts & Museums’ Office of Museum Services (UA&M) and Utah Humanities (UH), the 2019-2020 RHSP Intermountain West project will bring in-person workshops, webinars, and preservation needs assessments to collecting institutions in under-served parts of Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. Learn more about the program here and contact Emily Johnson at UA&M (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) with questions.

2019-2020 Workshop Series & Webinars

These series of workshops are delivered as two full-day sessions taught back-to-back. Each series is offered twice – once in the southwestern region of Utah and the second in the Four Corners region of Utah and Colorado. Please note that days and locations may be subject to change. Registering is the best way to stay apprised of updates.

Series One: Preservation Best Practices & Fundraising for Collections Care

• June 3 & 4, 2019 in St. George, Utah at the McQuarrie Memorial DUP Museum 
• June 6 & 7, 2019 in Green River, Utah at the John Wesley Powell River History Museum 

Series Two: Collections Management Policies, Procedures, & Risk Assessment

• October 14 & 15, 2019 in Cortez, Colorado at the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center 
• October 17 & 18, 2019 in St. George, Utah at the McQuarrie Memorial DUP Museum 

Series Three: Preservation Planning, Environmental Management, & Disaster Preparedness

• May 4 & 5, 2020 in Moab, Utah at the Grand County Library - CANCELED
• May 7 & 8, 2020 in St. George, Utah at the McQuarrie Memorial DUP Museum - CANCELED

FREE Monthly Webinars on various topics - REGISTER HERE

• July 26, 2019, 12-1:30pm (MDT) | Scaling Best Practices to Fit Your Organization
• August 14, 2019, 12-1:30pm (MDT) | Advocacy for Collections Care
• September 25, 2019, 12-1:30pm (MDT) | Intro to Emergency Preparedness & Risk Assessment
• November 12, 2019, 12-1:30pm (MDT) | When to Call a Conservator
• December 11, 2019, 12-1:30pm (MDT) | Collections Management Practices
• January 29, 2020, 12-1:30pm (MDT) | Security for Collections
• February 26, 2020, 12-1:30pm (MDT) | Housekeeping Basics for Collecting Institutions
• May 28, 2020, 11:00am-12:30pm (MDT) | Collection Housing Basics
• June 3, 2020, 12-1:30pm (MDT) | Introduction to Digitization
• June 18, 2020, 12-1:30pm (MDT) | Caring for Archives
• July 8, 2020, 12-1:30pm (MDT) | Integrated Pest Management for Collections 

Cost & Registration

In-person workshops are $20 per day or $35 for the 2-day series per person. If you are affiliated with a Utah museum, you may be eligible for a scholarship to offset your registration and travel costs. Please read guidelines and apply here. Monthly webinars are FREE. 

Presenters

Workshops will be taught by conservators and preservation experts from the Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts, as well as regional specialists as required.