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 UA&M (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 2022, with content repeated in 2023 in another region. 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 6, 2022 at the Summit County Historical Museum, Coalville
- Part B: February 3, 2022 at the Alf Engen Ski Museum, Park City
PRESERVATION IN STORAGE AND DISPLAY
- Part A: April 7, 2022 at the Uintah County Heritage Museum, Vernal
- Part B: May 5, 2022 at the Duchesne County Library & History Center, Duchesne
ENVIRONMENT AND BUILDING SYSTEMS
- Part A: July 7, 2022 at the Utah Wing Commemorative Air Force, Heber
- Part B: August 4, 2022 at the Park City Museum Collections Center, Park City
RISK MANAGEMENT, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS & DISASTER RESPONSE:
- Part A: October 6, 2022 at the Field House Museum, Vernal
- Part B: November 3, 2022 at the Wasatch County Library, Heber
Webinar Series
Webinars will occur monthly in 2022 on the following dates, between 11 am and 1 pm. Find link to register for these online sessions here.
- January 20, 2022: Digitization and Collections Care
- February 17, 2022: Handling Procedures Manual
- March 17, 2022: Collections Move
- April 21, 2022: Thinking in Systems: Preservation Site Assessments
- May 19, 2022: Exhibition Planning and Installation
- June 16, 2022: Preservation of Outdated Media
- July 21, 2022: Preservation and Collections Hazards
- August 18, 2022: Preservation through Partnerships: Care of Culturally Sensitive Objects
- September 15, 2022: Collections Management Systems/Databases
- October 20, 2022: Emergency Planning: Pocket Response Plan
- November 17, 2022: Seismic Storage
- December 15, 2022: 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.
Oral History
Interested in oral history? This workshop is a great place to begin!
Oral History is a powerful tool to understand your community history. This workshop provides a focused introduction to the art and craft of oral history: what it can and cannot tell us about the past, as well as the nuts and bolts of executing a successful oral history project. Participants will find out more about funding sources for oral history projects. Workshops are presented jointly by Utah Humanities and Utah Division of State History.
Well organized, informative, upbeat, inspiring... Lots of great ideas and resources... A broad range of information presented in a very digestible way.... I feel prepared to apply this information!
– Workshop Attendees, Salt Lake City
Upcoming Workshops
To schedule a workshop for your community, please contact Megan van Frank at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Cost & Registration
These half-day workshops are free but registration is requested.
Presenters
Jedediah Rogers is a Senior State Historian at the Utah Division of State History and co-managing editor of the Utah Historical Quarterly. Megan van Frank directs community history and museum programming for Utah Humanities.
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 2023.
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.
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 | 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 2022. 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).
