MAAM 2026 Annual Conference: Full Schedule

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8:00am EDT

Breakfast

Wednesday October 7, 2026 8:00am - 8:45am EDT

Start your day with a boost! A light breakfast with coffee, tea, and morning bites will be available. Add this meal to your personal Sched schedule to sign up. It’s the perfect time to ease into the day, connect with colleagues, and plan your schedule.

Wednesday October 7, 2026 8:00am - 8:45am EDT
Trayes Hall, Douglass Student Center 100 George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Type 2

8:00am EDT

Conference Check-In & Registration Desk

Wednesday October 7, 2026 8:00am - 5:00pm EDT

Lobby, Douglass Student Center

Upon arrival, stop by the registration desk to check in, pick up your conference badge, and grab any event materials you’ll need. Our team will be ready to answer questions, help you get oriented, and make sure you’re set for a great conference experience.

Sponsors

Click Netherfield

Wednesday October 7, 2026 8:00am - 5:00pm EDT
Lobby, Douglass Student Center 100 George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Type 2

8:00am EDT

Exhibitor Hall Open

Wednesday October 7, 2026 8:00am - 5:00pm EDT

NJC Lounge, Douglass Student Center

Explore the Exhibitor Hall to discover the latest products, services, and resources tailored for museums and cultural institutions. Connect with industry leaders, ask questions, and find innovative solutions to support your work.

Wednesday October 7, 2026 8:00am - 5:00pm EDT
NJC Lounge, Douglass Student Center 100 George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Type 2

10:15am EDT

Coffee Break

Wednesday October 7, 2026 10:15am - 10:30am EDT

NJC Lounge, Douglass Student Center

Sponsors

Inc.

Solid Light

Wednesday October 7, 2026 10:15am - 10:30am EDT
NJC Lounge, Douglass Student Center 100 George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Type 2

10:30am EDT

A Shared Approach: Building Partnerships to Recruit, Train, and Place Volunteer Staff

Wednesday October 7, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT

TBA

Feedback Survey

Somerset County, New Jersey is home to many small, all-volunteer historic house museums struggling to find and train volunteer staff. The Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission, with the support of local museums, developed the Somerset County Docent Training Program - a countywide initiative to recruit, train, and match volunteer docents with open positions. Grounded in museum education best practices and emphasizing inclusive storytelling, the program provides foundational training in interpretation and visitor engagement. This presentation will explore the program’s design, implementation, and outcomes, including how one museum was able to double their open hours within 6 months of participation; as well as discuss how the program can be replicated with similar partnerships between museums and local government agencies.

Session Takeaways:
•Learn how local government agencies can bring museums together to develop collaborative projects and shared solutions.
•Explore how Somerset County, NJ, created a Docent Training Program to help small museums solve one of their most pressing and ongoing challenges – staffing.
•Examine program outcomes, including how participation helped one museum double its open hours within six months.
•Gain practical guidance on the key components needed to replicate a similar volunteer training and placement program in your community.

Moderators

Kaitlin Bundy

Manager, Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission

Kaitlin Bundy is the Manager of the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission where she has worked to advance local arts, cultural and history programs and services to benefit Somerset County residents, local cultural organizations, and tourism for over 10 years. She is President... Read More →

Speakers

Sean Blinn

Commissioner, Jacobus Vanderveer House and Museum

Sean Blinn serves on the Jacobus Vanderveer House Commission and participated in the Somerset County Docent Training Program pilot as a site-based trainer. Sean is an independent consultant based in New Jersey, with experience in strategic planning, evaluation and audience research... Read More →

Katie Himics

Program Coordinator, Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission

Katie Himics currently serves as Program Coordinator with the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission. In this role, Katie oversees and organizes several annual county events, develops new programs highlighting the arts and local history in the community, presents ongoing professional... Read More →

Marissa Jackson

Founder & Principal Consultant, Ahali Consulting

Marissa Jackson is the founder and principal consultant of Ahali Consulting, a learning design and community engagement firm that partners with nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and school districts to design and build sustainable, community-owned programs and resources... Read More →

Marianne Sales

Docent, Abraham Staats House

Marianne Sales participated in the inaugural Somerset County Docent Training Program cohort in 2025. Marianne comes from a successful 34-year career in promotions at Macy’s; retiring after spending the last 20 years presenting to groups of store associates nationwide. She proudly... Read More →

Wednesday October 7, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
TBA 100 George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Type 3, Leadership and Operations

Company Panel

10:30am EDT

Engaging Communities in Civic Learning through Museums and Historic Sites

Wednesday October 7, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT

TBA

Feedback Survey

Museums serve as vital hubs for civic action, reflecting their communities through exhibitions and programming. This session demonstrates how cultural sites use collections to inspire student programming. Participants will be introduced to the Exploring Civics Toolkit, an adaptable framework for museum practitioners that bridges historical narratives with civic themes to foster community engagement. Representatives from four diverse sites will share Toolkit-informed strategies and activities that empower students to explore their roles in their community. Attendees will learn practical methods to encourage students to advocate for positive change while gaining a deeper appreciation for the diversity inherent in the American experience.

Session Takeaways:
•Have a more complete understanding of possible civics driving questions and themes inherent in Museum collections and exhibitions
•Be able to access the Exploring Civics Toolkit for use at their own institution to cultivate civic mindset and action through collections and exhibitions
•Understand how they might implement similar programming at their own institution

Moderators

Gerrie Hall

Assistant Vice President of Education, Intrepid Museum

Gerrie Bay Hall is the Assistant Vice President of Education at the Intrepid Museum. With more than two decades of experience in humanities education, museum learning, and public history, she plays a central role in developing inclusive, content-rich learning experiences for K12 school... Read More →

Speakers

Hannah Gaston

Director of Education, Liberty Hall Museum & Arboretum

Hannah Gaston, the Director of Education at Liberty Hall Museum & Arboretum, leads a team of museum educators who bring the historic home and grounds to life for over 10,000 school children each year. She is passionate about making small historic house museums relevant and compelling... Read More →

Karina Filipowski

Curator of Education & Community Engagement, Macculloch Hall Historical Museum

Karina Filipowski is the Curator of Education & Community Engagement at Macculloch Hall Historical Museum, where she is inspired daily by the history, art, and garden at this historic house in Morristown, NJ. She works with teachers and community partners to create programming and... Read More →

Greer Luce

Curator of Education & Public Programs, Morven Museum & Garden

Greer Luce is the Curator of Education and Public Programs at Morven Museum & Garden. She manages the museum’s public events, family and school programming, and community partnerships. Prior to Morven, Greer worked as Chief Communications Officer at the New Jersey Historical Commission... Read More →

Wednesday October 7, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
TBA 100 George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Type 3, Education & Programs

Company Discussion/Roundtable

10:30am EDT

Objects and Manuscripts and Books, Oh My!: An Interdepartmental Approach to Collections Control and Access

Wednesday October 7, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT

TBA

Feedback Survey

Museum collections are not static, despite their typically stationary nature. Each item requires active, never-ending tasks to manage condition and utility. How can museums ensure that current and future generations of visitors continue to engage with their collections when maintenance and access are challenged by geography, funding, and environmental conditions? This panel will share how Historic Hudson Valley overcame these challenges and used interdepartmental partnerships to establish physical and intellectual control over historical collections originally held in disparate locations. Audience takeaways include strategies for developing their own collections management practices and utilizing cost-effective methods to meet project and organizational needs.

Session Takeaways:
•Identify strategies to adapt existing infrastructure and cultivate staff capabilities
•Innovate ways to use lower-cost technology to create high-impact solutions
•Understand benefits and challenges of interdepartmental communication, collaboration, and prioritization
•Gain insight on the relationship between providing visitor access to and ensuring protection of historical collections

Moderators

Priscilla Brendler

Executive Director, Greater Hudson Heritage Network

Priscilla Brendler is the Executive Director of Greater Hudson Heritage Network. Her work in the museum field spans thirty years and includes expertise in strategic planning, program production, historical interpretation, organizational restructuring, development and fundraising... Read More →

Speakers

Caitlin Monaco

Archives and Collections Manager, Historic Hudson Valley

Caitlin Monaco is the Archives and Collections Manager at Historic Hudson Valley, overseeing curatorial and archival holdings across multiple historic sites. Prior to this role, she was the Assistant Archivist for the Archdiocese of New York. Caitlin holds a MA in Museum Studies from... Read More →

Patira Puttharuksa

Senior Director, Property Stewardship, Historic Hudson Valley

Patira Puttharuksa is the Senior Director of Property Stewardship at HHV, overseeing the Buildings, Grounds, and Security departments. She brings more than a dozen years of experience managing capital project budgets at the American Museum of Natural History and managing contracts... Read More →

Wednesday October 7, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
TBA 100 George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Type 3, Collections Stewardship

Company Panel

10:30am EDT

The Art of Reinvention: Innovation and Growth at the Delaware Art Museum

Wednesday October 7, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT

TBA

Feedback Survey

The Delaware Art Museum turned decades of deferred growth into a bold reinvention—boosting earned income by 250% while advancing accessibility and community engagement. These investments enabled DelArt to address long-standing needs while rethinking its business model, in part, by reconfiguring spaces and strengthening its community connections. This interactive panel discussion shares the practical tools and creative partnerships behind the transformation, offering attendees strategies to increase earned revenue, improve accessibility, and strengthen community engagement.

Session Takeaways:
•Examine practical tools for identifying, diversifying, and maximizing earned revenue, including rentals, retail, admissions, and programming
•Develop a “toolkit for reinvention” by identifying at least one specific strategy (e.g., creating low-effort engagement opportunities, considering new ways to activate public spaces, or reassessing core value) to pilot at their home institution.

Moderators

Heather Morrissey

Director of Operations and Engagement, Delaware Art Museum

Heather Morrissey is an innovative museum leader. At DelArt, she oversees security, visitation, retail, studio and community programs, rentals, and facilities. She has spearheaded major initiatives including the transition to in-house security and expansion of services that generated... Read More →

Speakers

Nadjah Pennington

Cultural Programs Coordinator, Delaware Art Museum

With experience in community programming, engagement and outreach, Nadjah manages community-focused events, collaborating with artists and stakeholders to ensure successful programming. As Co-Founder of NadjNJea LLC, she provides outreach and engagement, promoting dialogue on local... Read More →

Kim Barnhart

Events and Venue Services Manager, Delaware Art Museum

With over 10 years experience in customer service and hospitality, Kim has sold and managed venue rental events generating over $400,000 in revenue annually. Her client experience ranges from initial contact through post-event services including tours, event walkthroughs, building... Read More →

Wednesday October 7, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
TBA 100 George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Type 3, Fundraising & Revenue

Company Panel

12:00pm EDT

MAAM Meet & Eat

Wednesday October 7, 2026 12:00pm - 1:30pm EDT

Trayes Hall, Douglass Student Center

Join fellow conference attendees for lunch, conversation, and updates from MAAM leadership. We also introduce both new MAAM board members and our 2026 Fellowship awardees.

Wednesday October 7, 2026 12:00pm - 1:30pm EDT
Trayes Hall, Douglass Student Center 100 George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Type 2

1:45pm EDT

Beyond the Museum Walls: Partnering with Local Tourism for Greater Reach

Wednesday October 7, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT

TBA

Feedback Survey

Heritage and cultural travelers are hungry for authentic stories, and museums have them. But getting those stories in front of visitors takes more than great exhibits. Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs)—local and regional tourism pros—can help. This interactive roundtable explores how museums and DMOs can team up to boost visibility, share resources, and bring more travelers through your doors. We'll dig into why these partnerships matter, what they look like in practice, and how to deepen your own relationships. Come ready to share your experiences and leave with practical ideas to put into action.

Session Takeaways:
•Understand the role and priorities of DMOs and how museums can align with them.
•Explore practical strategies for initiating or deepening DMO partnerships.
•Share success stories and challenges from participants to build collective knowledge.
•Identify specific steps for integrating museum programming into local tourism ecosystems.

Moderators

Heidi Schlag

Principal, Heritage Tourism Studio

Heidi Schlag is a marketing consultant with 25 years of experience with heritage and cultural organizations, including as Director of Marketing and Communications for the C&O Canal Trust. She now runs Heritage Tourism Studio, helping museums and nonprofits grow their tourism impact... Read More →

Speakers

Jody Brumage

Archivist and Museum Manager, Heritage Frederick

Jody Brumage is an archivist and public historian with a passion for connecting residents and visitors to the Frederick County, Maryland, area with the region's rich and diverse past. He currently manages the Frederick County Archives and Research Center, helping researchers engage... Read More →

Jake Wynn

Senior Marketing & Communications Manager, Visit Frederick

Jake Wynn brings a dual background in public history and tourism marketing, formerly serving as Director of Interpretation at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine. He now promotes Frederick, Maryland’s rich cultural landscape to regional and national audiences.

Wednesday October 7, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
TBA 100 George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Type 3, Marketing & Communications

Company Discussion/Roundtable

1:45pm EDT

Experimental Spaces: Practical Advice from a VR Prototype

Wednesday October 7, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT

TBA

Feedback Survey

How can virtual reality technology benefit museums? What outcomes justify the investment of significant financial and staff resources? For staff at the Intrepid Museum, virtual reality seemed like the key to unlocking unrestored, inaccessible ship spaces. The Museum prototyped a virtual reality experience centered on digital recreations of the ship’s engineering compartments, the most asked-about unrestored spaces on Intrepid. This panel brings together staff from different departments to share what they learned from the development of Explore Intrepid: Engines and Boilers.

Session Takeaways:
•Explore the opportunities and challenges of “digital restoration”
•Understand digital accessibility needs and the role of iterative feedback and updates
•Assess the value of on-site use and app store distribution

Moderators

Ephraim Kozodoy

Museum Specialist, Intrepid Museum

Ephraim Kozodoy is a museum professional with three years of experience working on exhibition research, writing and design. At the Intrepid Museum, his responsibilities include oral history narrator research and interviews, media and content development, and collections research and... Read More →

Speakers

Chris Malanson

AVP of Exhibitions and Experience Design, Intrepid Museum

Chris Malanson is an award-winning multidisciplinary Exhibition Designer known for creating immersive, accessibility focused installations that engage diverse audiences through multimodal experiences. With over 30 years of design expertise, he specializes in developing content driven... Read More →

Charlotte Martin

Director of Access Initiatives, Intrepid Museum

Charlotte Martin (she/her) has over 15 years of experience working in museum education and accessibility. At the Intrepid Museum, she and her team develop specialized and inclusive programs and resources for visitors with disabilities and collaborate across the institution to embed... Read More →

Tim Leitner

Exhibits AV & Lighting Technician, Intrepid Museum

Tim Leitner oversees the lighting and audiovisual media that bring exhibits to life at the Intrepid Museum. He began his career in New York City recording studios, engineering records for major artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel and Cyndi Lauper. He diversified into TV... Read More →

Wednesday October 7, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
TBA 100 George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Type 3, Technology

Company Panel

1:45pm EDT

From Content to Connection: Developing Student Activities for Deeper Engagement

Wednesday October 7, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT

TBA

Feedback Survey

he award-winning tour, Gilded Not Golden, contextualizes concepts like wealth disparity, labor conflicts, and capitalism on public tours of a Gilded Age home, Clayton. But how do you translate these challenging themes and complex narratives for younger learners? Beyond translation, how do you get those students to make deeper connections? To address these questions, staff developed participatory activities asking students to make connections between Gilded Age Pittsburghers, their resources, and impact. This session will share the process of developing these activities and give you tools to implement similar programs at your museum.

Session Takeaways:
•Develop hands-on activities for visitors to prioritize participatory learning over passive learning
•Create programs that respond to school curriculum with their institution’s mission and collection in mind
•Identify potential collaborators, both within and outside of their institution
•Evaluate and adjust activities to fine tune the experience and maintain relevance

Speakers

Dalena Collins

Learning and Interpretive Manager, The Frick Pittsburgh

Dalena Collins is the Learning and Interpretive Manager at the Frick Pittsburgh. Her work focuses on accessibility, centering unrecognized stories, and interactive interpretation. Dalena earned her MA in Public History, which sparked her passion for all-things museum education. She... Read More →

Stacey McSorley

Manager of Youth and Family Programs, The Frick Pittsburgh

Stacey is a Pittsburgh-based informal educator committed to facilitating meaningful experiences through artmaking, play, and community. Stacey received training in multicultural arts education from Eastern Illinois University, where she received an MA in Community Arts. They currently... Read More →

Wednesday October 7, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
TBA 100 George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Type 3, Education & Programs

Company Discussion/Roundtable

1:45pm EDT

Tough Conversations: Exploring Deaccessioning Dilemmas and Solutions

Wednesday October 7, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT

TBA

Feedback Survey

What are the "pain points" that make deaccessioning such a challenge? Co-presenters and audience members will work together to examine the social, emotional, and practical inhibitions associated with deaccessioning. They will explore how institutions can work through these challenges to create solid policies and practices that support financial, environmental, and operational sustainability.

Session Takeaways:
•Understand and gain insights into the deaccession process
•Consider how deaccessioning can support institutional sustainability
•Evaluate their own deaccession "pain points" and consider how they might be overcome

Speakers

Katie Lowe

Preservation Specialist, Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts

Katie, a public historian with ten years of experience in museums, community programming, non-profit work, and education, has held positions at The Holocaust Awareness Museum & Education Center, Pennsbury Manor, The Mercer Museum, The Zebulon B. Vance Birthplace, Old Salem Museum... Read More →

Candace Hesselbart

Collections Management Librarian, Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia

Working for over a decade with collections materials in their management, processing, care and maintenance, and interpretation, Candace has held roles at at the Athenaeum of Philadelphia, Upper Moreland Free Public Library, Tredyffrin Public Library, the Victoria Mansion Historic... Read More →

Wednesday October 7, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
TBA 100 George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Type 3, Leadership & Operations

Company Discussion/Roundtable

3:00pm EDT

First-Timers & Friends Coffee Break

Wednesday October 7, 2026 3:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

NJC Lounge, Douglass Student Center

Recharge and reconnect! Enjoy fresh coffee, tea, and light refreshments while you mingle with fellow attendees, catch up on sessions, and make new connections. This is your chance to stretch your legs, swap ideas, and fuel up for the next round of learning and inspiration. First-time attendees—and those returning after five or more years—are especially invited to connect with MAAM Board Members during this break.

Wednesday October 7, 2026 3:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
NJC Lounge, Douglass Student Center 100 George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Type 2

3:30pm EDT

Green Legacy: How Historic Sites Can Lead The Environmental Charge

Wednesday October 7, 2026 3:30pm - 4:45pm EDT

TBA

Feedback Survey

New York City is home to 8.5 million people. It is also home to over 7 million trees, covering approximately 22% of the city. Lack of tree cover contributes to summer temperatures that are 20-30 degrees hotter than spaces with canopies. At King Manor Museum in Jamaica, Queens, we see first hand how our green space provides a cooler space during heat waves than anywhere else along Jamaica Ave. We are working with the Forest For All Coalition and Melting Metropolis to not only educate, but provide courses for action with our community.

Session Takeaways:
•Gain a better understanding of the importance of hands-on action events to create an intergenerational community.
•Understand the impact of external partnerships in organizing and supporting museum-based programming.
•Gain a better understanding of the impact of urban green spaces as a call for climate action.

Speakers

Veronica Alt

Education and Program Coordinator, King Manor Museum

Veronica Alt has almost 15 years of experience in historic homes, historic ships, and art museums. At King Manor Museum, Veronica is enthusiastic about collaborating with the local community to develop educational programs and expand the museum’s outreach. She is committed to fostering... Read More →

Wednesday October 7, 2026 3:30pm - 4:45pm EDT
TBA 100 George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Type 3, Leadership & Operations

Company Panel

3:30pm EDT

HueArts & Cultures Northeast: An Initiative Centering Museums That Preserve Our Stories

Wednesday October 7, 2026 3:30pm - 4:45pm EDT

TBA

Feedback Survey

This session will share key findings from the HueArts & Cultures initiative, demonstrating how mapping can illuminate networks of cultural memory, and explore how museums of color anchor community stories in the land itself. Participants will gain insights into how these institutions have been reshaping the museum field by linking storytelling, place, and cultural preservation.

This initiative examines how these museums function as gathering grounds where land, community, and cultural memory intersect. Session speakers will discuss how institutions of color steward stories embedded in place while fostering cultural continuity, community voice, and social change.

Session Takeaways:
•Explore how digital mapping and national research can reveal geographic patterns, networks, and collective impact among museums of color.
•Identify community-centered practices that connect museums’ missions to place, cultural memory, and social justice.
•Apply insights from the HueArts & Cultures initiative to strengthen storytelling, placekeeping, and community engagement within their own institutions.

Moderators

Stephanie Cunningham

Executive Director, Museum Hue

Stephanie Cunningham is the Executive Director of Museum Hue. She spearheaded the organization’s HueArts & Cultures initiative, which includes an online platform and three comprehensive research reports that document the pedagogy, practices, impact, and challenges of over 700 arts... Read More →

Speakers

Silvermoon LaRose

Assistant Director, Tomaquag Museum

Silvermoon LaRose is a citizen of the Narragansett Tribe and Assistant Director of the Tomaquag Museum. She has worked in tribal communities for over 20 years. Silvermoon serves on the Rhode Island State Council for the Arts. As an artist educator, she fosters Indigenous empowerment... Read More →

Vashti DuBois

Founder and Executive Director, The Colored Girls Museum

In 2015, DuBois opened The Colored Girls Museum to "honor the stories, experiences and history of Colored Girls throughout the African Diaspora.” It is the first memoir museum of its kind offering visitors a multi-disciplinary experience in a residential space. TCGM initiates the... Read More →

Brenda Simmons

Founder and Executive Director, Southampton African American Museum

Brenda Simmons is the Founder and Executive Director of the Southampton African American Museum, which after a sixteen year Labor of Love officially opened Juneteenth 2021, and is the first African American site to be historically designated in the Village of Southampton but also... Read More →

Wednesday October 7, 2026 3:30pm - 4:45pm EDT
TBA 100 George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Type 3, Collections Stewardship

Company Panel

3:30pm EDT

QuickTakes from the Field

Wednesday October 7, 2026 3:30pm - 4:45pm EDT

TBA

Feedback Survey

QuickTakes feature a series of brief presentations from multiple speakers, each sharing an innovative idea, project, case study, or practical lesson. This rapid-fire format allows attendees to hear a variety of perspectives and leave with actionable ideas in just one session.

Franklin’s Spark: Reimagining a Historic Rotunda Through Immersive Storytelling, Brad Baer, Founder and CEO, Crafted Action: How do museums activate iconic architecture while honoring history, scholarship, and visitor expectations? This session explores the creation of Franklin’s Spark at the Franklin Institute—an immersive projection experience celebrating Benjamin Franklin’s 320th birthday and launching the nation’s Semiquincentennial. Attendees will learn how a cross-disciplinary team transformed a beloved rotunda into a dynamic storytelling environment using light, sound, and narrative design without permanent construction. The session shares practical strategies for balancing preservation with innovation, engaging new audiences, and delivering high-impact experiences within real-world museum constraints.
Making Your Web Content Findable: Case Studies in Improving Content Search and Findability, Erin Carty, Web Producer, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum: Visitors don’t want to spend a lot of time searching for the resources or information they need, so how do you ensure they can find what they need quickly? The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum was running into this exact problem. Our main website had a frustrating user experience when searching for resources and information, so we needed to improve it. This presentation will go over two case studies that helped make resources easier to find on www.ushmm.org, data on how visitors access our resources, and what’s next for improving content findability.
The White Gloves Gang Past, Present, and Future: Increasing Hands-On Support and Networking for Collections Projects, Nancy Beatrice Bateman, Senior Registrar and Director of Collections, National Building Museum: Is your museum’s collection in need of care that you don’t have the staff, supplies, or expertise to provide? White Gloves Gang is a MAAM initiative that supports small and mid-sized museums with collections projects through a day of hands-on service near the Annual Meeting. After decades of bringing together the museum community through professional volunteerism, MAAM plans to grow the program by increasing the number and scope of events through like-minded partnerships. Join us for a discussion on WGG’s past & present, learn how to request & offer support, and help brainstorm ways to expand moving forward.
Beyond the Frame – Everything Paper: Methods, Materials & Techniques, Jonathan Schoff, Head Preparator, Delaware Art Museum: Everything Paper – Methods, Materials & Techniques represents an important opportunity for the field of collections care. By addressing immediate challenges in the handling and conservation of works of art on paper, while also building a long-term resource for professionals worldwide, this workshop initiative has the potential to advance both practice and sustainability. With the support of PACCIN, partner institutions and sponsors, it will serve as a model for how collaboration and shared expertise can strengthen the stewardship of collections for the future. Attendees will learn about this new, U.S.-wide initiative during this Quick Take presentation.
Big Dreams: Building the Aerospace Workforce within a Museum, Jennifer Elliott, Manager, Youth Leadership and Alumni Programs, Intrepid Museum: Museums are known for showcasing artifacts from the past, but what if they could also be used to help build the future? In a world where women make up less than 20% of the aerospace workforce, the Intrepid Museum aims to show young women in New York City what real opportunities are available to them in the aerospace field. Hear how this museum uses the collections, content, partners and programming to help build out a diverse workforce in a bold new era of aerospace and STEM careers.

Speakers

Brad Baer

Founder and CEO, Crafted Action

An architect, designer, and entrepreneur, Brad Baer has spent more than two decades helping organizations transform ambitious ideas into experiences worth building. His work has been trusted by nine Fortune 100 companies, leading cultural institutions, universities, and nonprofits... Read More →

Erin Carty

Web Producer, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Erin Carty is a web producer at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM), in the Museum Experience and Digital Media (MEDM) division. She owns the main Museum website, www.ushmm.org, where she develops content, oversees maintenance and improvements with developers, trains... Read More →

Nancy Beatrice Bateman

Senior Registrar and Director of Collections, National Building Museum

Nancy Bateman is the Senior Registrar and Director of Collections at the National Building Museum. She manages five full-time collections specialists, oversees 30,000 square feet of gallery space, and is responsible for the Museum’s permanent collection of over 600,000 artifacts... Read More →

Jonathan Schoff

Head Preparator, Delaware Art Museum

Jonathan Schoff has been Head Preparator at the Delaware Art Museum since 2008. He oversees installations, gallery construction, lighting design, and the coordination of exhibition design and graphics for both permanent and rotating exhibitions. Working with a diverse collection... Read More →

Jennifer Elliott

Manager, Youth Leadership and Alumni Programs, Intrepid Museum

Jennifer Elliott has been at the Intrepid Museum for over a decade now working in various education roles with K-12 students and teachers, and most recently working with teens. Born and raised in Florida she has Bachelor’s degrees in both theater and astronomy from the University... Read More →

Wednesday October 7, 2026 3:30pm - 4:45pm EDT
TBA 100 George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Type 3

3:30pm EDT

The Active Power of Touch: Multisensory experiences increase visitor engagement

Wednesday October 7, 2026 3:30pm - 4:45pm EDT

TBA

Feedback Survey

How can "Please Touch" replace "Hands Off"? This session explores The Active Power of Touch, a landmark exhibition at the Peale Museum curated by a blind professional using a nonvisual curatorial process. By centering tactile engagement from the outset—spanning sculpture, textiles, and kinetic art— this exhibition disrupts traditional museum norms to foster deep visitor connection. We will examine the journey from nonvisual artist selection to the practicalities of tactile installation. Attendees will learn how welcoming touch transforms visitor behavior, inspires sighted artists to create multisensory work, and creates a truly inclusive environment where blind and sighted visitors engage as equals.

Session Takeaways:
•Nonvisual Curatorial Frameworks: Strategies for selecting and organizing artwork through both tactile and visual aesthetics.
•Tactile Installation Logistics: Practical methods for securing works in clay, metal, and wood to allow for safe, high-traffic hands-on exploration.
•Fostering Universal Engagement: touch facilitates intergenerational and cross-ability dialogue among visitors, moving accessibility from "specialized" to "universal."

Speakers

Cheryl Fogle-Hatch

Founder, MuseumSenses LLC

Dr. Cheryl Fogle-Hatch founded MuseumSenses LLC, a consulting firm that helps museums develop multi-sensory exhibits for everyone. Selected projects include: The Active Power of Touch and the Founding Fossils exhibits at The Peale Museum; The Please Touch tour at Macculloch Hall Historical... Read More →

Andie Townsend

Assistant Director of Operations and Programs, The Peale Museum

Andie Townsend (they/them) is the Assistant Director of Programs and Operations at The Peale, Baltimore's Community Museum. As the program coordinator, they support local artists, curators, collectives, and organizers in creating and presenting a wide range of exhibitions and events... Read More →

Wednesday October 7, 2026 3:30pm - 4:45pm EDT
TBA 100 George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Type 3, Exhibitions

Company Panel

8:00am EDT

8:00am EDT

8:00am EDT

10:15am EDT

10:30am EDT

10:30am EDT

10:30am EDT

10:30am EDT

12:00pm EDT

1:45pm EDT

1:45pm EDT

1:45pm EDT

1:45pm EDT

3:00pm EDT

3:30pm EDT

3:30pm EDT

3:30pm EDT

3:30pm EDT

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