Heritage Workshops

Collections Stewardship

Utah Collections Preservation program!

Utah Humanities and the Utah Division of Arts & Museums are working together to establish the Utah Collections Preservation (UCP) program, providing preservation training to humanities collections stewards statewide. Starting in 2022, this program will support comprehensive preservation training for collections stewards through webinars, in-person workshops, preservation assessments, and the focused training of seven Collections Preservation Team members. This program is supported by the State of Utah and the National Endowment for the Humanities through a Preservation and Access Education and Training grant.

Questions? Contact Marie Desrochers, Preservation Outreach Coordinator, at the Utah Division of Arts & Museums (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

In-Person Workshop Series

The following series of workshops will be held in 2023. These in-person, full-day workshops complement the webinars and provide hands-on training. Each workshop occurs in two parts and registrants are expected to attend both Part A and Part B (which happen a month apart). Find links to register for in-person workshops here and information about cost and travel stipends below.

ACCESS AND ARTIFACT HANDLING

Part A: January 5, 2023 at the Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum, Blanding
Part B: February 2, 2023 at the Grand County Library, Moab

PRESERVATION IN STORAGE AND DISPLAY

Part A: April 6, 2023 at the John Wesley Powell River History Museum, Green River
Part B: May 4, 2023 at the Emery County Archives, Castle Dale **RESCHEDULED TO September 13, 2023**

ENVIRONMENT AND BUILDING SYSTEMS

Part A: July 6, 2023 at the USU Prehistoric Museum, Price
Part B: August 3, 2023 at the Helper Auditorium & Museum, Helper

RISK MANAGEMENT, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS & DISASTER RESPONSE:

Part A: October 5, 2023 at the Canyon Country Discovery Center, Monticello
Part B: November 2, 2023 at the USU Eastern Library, Price

Webinar Series

Webinars will occur monthly in 2023 on the following dates, between 11 am and 1 pm. Find link to register for these online sessions here.

January 19, 2023: Digitization and Collections Care
February 16, 2023: Handling Procedures Manual
March 16, 2023: Collections Move
April 20, 2023: Preservation Site Assessments: Thinking in Systems:
May 18, 2023: Preservation through Partnerships: Care of Culturally Sensitive Objects
June 15, 2023: Preservation of Outdated Media
July 20, 2023: Preservation and Collections Hazards
August 17, 2023: Integrated Pest Management
September 21, 2023: Collections Management Systems/Databases
October 19, 2023: Emergency Planning: Pocket Response Plan
November 16, 2023: Seismic Storage
December 21, 2023: Security for Collections and Access

Cost & Registration

Monthly webinars are FREE. There will be a small $10 registration fee for the two-part in-person workshops to cover materials. Scholarships are available to offset costs associated with travel to each workshop. If you are interested in applying for a workshop scholarship, please fill out this google form.

Presenters

Workshops will be taught by conservators and preservation experts from Utah.

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 those 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 in 2023-2024 | Dates TBD

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

Month 1: Telling Our Stories: Introduction to Museum Interpretation
Month 2: Finding Our Stories: Researching Collections & Communities
Month 3: Designing Our Stories: Well Structured Exhibits
Month 4: Writing Our Stories: Exhibit Labels
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. Stay tuned for dates and application details in 2023. For questions, contact Megan van Frank at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Presenters

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

STEPS-Utah Project

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) partnered on a pilot program based on the American Association for State & Local History’s (AASLH) Standards and Excellence Program for History Organizations (STEPS) that offered seven Utah history museums a two-year enrichment opportunity designed to help them achieve success in six areas of institutional practice. The program was recognized with a nationally-prestigious AASLH Award of Excellence. Learn more about the Utah project here and stay tuned for another cohort rolling out online.

If you have questions, please contact Megan van Frank (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

“StEPs has helped our organization to slow down a little, proceed at optimum speed for our circumstances, focus on things that are important and relevant to us, and lift our eyes to the ultimate goal which is to operate with best practices and serve our community. We now understand that strength comes not from frantic activity, but from being settled on a firm foundation of best practices and standards.”

- StEPs-UT participant

Upcoming Workshops

The StEPS-Utah pilot comprised hands-on workshops, onsite projects, and mentor support. The curriculum is currently being revamped for hybrid delivery. Watch for the opportunity to participate in the future.

Cost & Registration

Participation in the program is by competitive application. Program fees are nominal. See an example of the program schedule, benefits, and curriculum here.

Presenters

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