Seattle EMP Connection

A short update...

2009-05-03T12:47:00.000-07:00

I promise that I'm still here! While I know it's been a while since I've been able to update the blog, I'm still here! I have been working on my masters thesis, which has been time consuming, so I apologize for not updating more often. I hope to get at least one update a week posted for the next few months. Also, if you're interested in contributing to the blog, please let me know! We can put together a user profile so you can post to the site as well. If you don't want to post an article but have something you'd like to say, please feel free to use the "Comments" link to share your thoughts about a particular topic or to share a topic that you want to learn more about. I can always research new topics and try to connect you with someone who might be able to share their knowledge and expertise about what you're interested in learning more about.

As many of you know, this is a challenging time for museums and non-profits. The economy and fundraising concerns have been a top priority in the museum community. Museum boards and managers are having to make very tough decisions regarding budget cuts to face the uncertainty that lays ahead. There is a wealth of information about what AAM is doing in Washington DC to help museums maintain funding. If you're interested in learning more about this, click here to access AAM's website for more information. While these are certainly important issues that need to be discussed, and I will continue to post information on how museums can weather the storm, there are also many other museum issues to discuss as we continue moving forward in the museum community.

One issue that I've currently been looking at is the issue of museums 'going green.' With the Obama Administration, there has been more of a focus on the dangers of climate change and global warming. Creating an awareness of our carbon footprint is something that museums are beginning to take a look at within their mission statements, architecture, and practices. If you'd like to learn more about this topic, there's a great blog called "Sustainable Seattle" (click here to check it out). This blog addresses a wide variety of sustainability concerns in Seattle, but also talks about the role of area museums and what some organizations are doing to address this issue.

Another museum issue that is especially relevant in the Pacific Northwest is the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act ("NAGPRA"). Because the Pacific Northwest has such a rich Native American heritage, NAGPRA plays a large role in how many of the museums in the area are dealing with their collections. To learn more about this topic, be sure to visit the National NAGPRA website by clicking here to see the "Museums" homepage. There is a great wealth of information as far as how NAGPRA may affect your collection and even some fundraising opportunities to make sure that your museum is able to comply.

In closing, I'm hoping to get more information on this site about these issues and other museum topics. Also, I would like to plan a get together this summer by having a speaker come to discuss a topic that would be of interest to those in the area. If you have any ideas on a possible topic or speaker, please let me know by clicking on the "Comments" section.

Emotional Exhibition Opens at Wing Luke Museum

2009-01-02T22:58:00.000-08:00

The Wing Luke Museum has a new exhibition featuring Korean Americans who are making peace with "The Forgotten War". The exhibition is up through May 17th, 2009. Marian Liu of the Seattle Times wrote the following:

"Many Korean Americans don't talk about the Korean War — especially Korean immigrants, who fear that talking about the past will conjure up old pain.

But their silence creates a hole for others.

The newest exhibit about the war at the Wing Luke Museum attempts to fill that hole in. It opens with a quote: "... my life seemed a lot like lots of other kids around me. But there always seemed to be this tension and anxiety, which was sort of blowing through my family like an unhappy wind. And there were silences ... "

The words are projected through two layers of sheer gauze, onto an opaque third sheet, as if to bring ghosts to life.

"It's not spoken of between generations," said Yul-san Liem, 31, a third-generation Korean American. "And it's not something you learn about in school."

Together with her father, Ramsay Liem, Yul-san ran a team of artists, creating a multimedia representation of war experiences with themes such as war memories, legacies and reconciliation. The Wing Luke Museum will have the exhibit up until May 17.

Ramsay Liem, a Boston College professor of psychology, first became aware of this disconnect while working with Korean-American youth who were trying to help Koreans during the 1995 North Korea famine. Talking with them, he realized how little they knew about the Korean War.

The war started in June 25, 1950, when North Korea invaded South Korea with more than 90,000 troops. The United States — in a war against Communism — joined South Korea, while China and the Soviet Union supported the North. When the armistice was signed on July 27, 1953, both sides claimed victory. By the end, 3 million civilians had lost their lives — 10 percent of the population, not including combat losses on both sides. In addition, 10 million Koreans were separated as a result of the dividing line between the North and the South at the 38th parallel.

Ramsay rounded up more than three dozen interviewees to speak about the war. Thirteen of these oral histories are illustrated through audio, visual or interactive art.

"This is really the culmination of my career as a psychologist," said Ramsay, 65. "It enables me to engage in a rather unique way of promoting a process of feelings, and it allows me to get involved in a really critical part of my own history as a Korean American."

Many pieces are haunting; others, quite hopeful. One piece is about going to swim practice only to have bullets ricochet into the lake, announcing the outbreak of war. In another, the speaker explains the history of the popular dish "Boodaechigae," a spicy stew made up of a mishmash of foods, including spam, sausage, cheese, kimchee and soup. During the war, the spoiled remains and leftovers collected from the meals of U.S. soldiers were sold to starving Korean civilians. Accompanying the video demonstrating how to make the dish is a rice-paper illustration of three starving children.

For many, said Ramsay, the interview process was both painful and cathartic.

"These were stories they never talked about, but in some cases, it was as if the stories were pouring out," said Ramsay. "They felt a great deal of relief, to be finally speaking about what happened to them and the continued effect of war on their lives."

The Liems — who come from a line of activists working toward the reunification of Korea — hope the exhibit will fill the void left from years of silence. They've incorporated aspects into the exhibit that look toward the future. In one, a puzzle, museum-goers can pick out a puzzle piece and fill it with their own thoughts on the war.

Another installation is a bridge, called "The Bridge of Return." It alludes to an actual bridge — "The Bridge of No Return" — crossing North Korea to South Korea. The Liems' bridge, however, is covered with white fabric tied in knots. In Korean shamanism, untying knots signifies healing. At the museum, people can cross the bridge, untie a knot, write a hardship on it, and then drop the message down the middle of the bridge before reaching the other side.

"Some students write about failing math, but some Palestinians who visited wrote about a wish for peace in Palestine," said Yul-san Liem. "There is the possibility of recovering from multiple divisions. ... It's the power of the collective. When you cross over the bridge, you cross over from pain."

New Photography Exhibit at Henry Art Gallery

2009-01-02T22:52:00.001-08:00

If photography is your thing, be sure to check out the Henry Art Gallery's new photography exhibit "Outta My Light". Here's what Michael Upchurch of the Seattle Times had to say about the exhibit:

"Photography, in the digital age, has become a surprisingly simple business for amateurs: point, click, upload on computer ... and send to distant friends or relatives.

But the dozen works in "Outta My Light!" — now on display at the Henry Art Gallery — emphasize that photography can be a lot more complicated than that, depending on the photographer's tools and intentions.

As guest curator Bridget Nowlin points out in her introduction to the exhibit, "Only two components tie all images together in this unique art form: light and time. One does not need a camera, paper, chemicals, or a lens to create a photographic image, but without light, there can be no photography (literally 'light-writing'). ... The same is true for time, for without the time involved in an exposure, there would be no final image."

The show is drawn mostly from the Henry's Joseph and Elaine Monsen Photography Collection; the Monsens are longtime Seattle photography enthusiasts who have donated much of their prize collection to the museum. It spans the entire range of the medium's history, from the 1840s to the present.

I had a chance to walk with Rowlin through the exhibit as she pointed out what sparked her interest about the selections she made. The idea, she says, wasn't to do a historical overview, but to examine how photography is "more than one medium." If you're curious about the methods behind photogravure, albumen printing vs. carbon printing, or the hazards of using wet collodion negatives, this exhibit is for you.

Here are a few we looked at:

"Trichomanes Radians (Common Maidenhair Fern)" by Anna Atkins (1843). The steps behind this "photogram" are simplicity itself. Place a plant specimen on paper. Cover it in glass to keep it flat. Then expose it to sunlight. But for how long? "It just depends on the sensitivity of the paper," Nowlin says. "And also it depends on the amount of light. Here in Seattle we have a lot of clouds, so sometimes the exposure can be a couple of minutes long. But if you have a sunny day, it can be a couple of seconds long. Atkins was working in England ... so I imagine it was a little bit longer. These were scientific studies she was doing." The potassium ferricyanide with which the paper was treated gives this pale plant silhouette its blue background color.

"Forêt de Fontainebleau" by William Drooke Harrison (circa 1865). Nowlin chose two prints from the same negative to illustrate a point about albumen prints vs. carbon prints. The image is of a male figure peering into in a sylvan scene — but the albumen print has a yellowing glow to it, while the carbon print is all sharp, shadowy blacks. "This is really a perfect example of the different qualities one can get," Nowlin says. "The artists can choose how they want to express the final print." The carbon print is much more stable. The albumen print would continue to yellow, she says, "if not properly cared for."

"Gathering" by Robert ParkeHarrison and Shana ParkeHarrison (1994). This mixed-media work ("Painting is certainly one component," Nowlin points out) has a lot going on in it. But its starting point was a photograph of Robert ParkeHarrison, in suit and tie, seemingly holding up a wild assemblage of junk — chairs, a handsaw, a rake, a lamp. The husband-and-wife team then worked through "a lot of different processes," Nowlin says, to get from the initial negative to the large-scale end result. The print, mounted on wood paneling, has "a lot of texture to it, and that's from the beeswax that's then put on as the final layer of the work."

Also featured: iconic work by Margaret Bourke-White, Imogen Cunningham and Seattle up-and-comer Isaac Layman."

Viewing Information:
11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Wednesdays and Fridays-Sundays
11 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursdays
Henry Art Gallery, University of Washington, Seattle
$6-$10, free Thursdays (206-543-2280 or www.henryart.org).

Art Heist on Mercer Island

2009-01-02T22:48:00.000-08:00

Mercer Island Police are seeking help in the Oct. 25 theft of seven pieces of art, valued at about $70,000, from a home in the 4600 block of East Mercer Way.

The artwork consists of five paintings, a photograph and a piece of glasswork that were on consignment from a local art dealer, said the police department.

Photos of the stolen artwork can be seen at http://www.ci.mercer-island.wa.us/ and clicking on the art theft news item.

Police said the theft took place on a Saturday afternoon between 2 and 3:45 p.m. while the owner was away for a short time.

Police said the Mercer Island home was newly constructed and "had previously been shown to over 120 people to highlight the architecture and art." No suspects have been identified. The police said that physical evidence was recovered at the scene and has been forwarded to Washington State Patrol Crime lab and the King County Sheriff's Office Latent Fingerprint Lab.

Anyone with information regarding the theft is asked to contact Det. Todd Roggenkamp, Mercer Island Police Department, 206-275-7926.

Feel Like Your Museum has Done Something Really Creative?

2009-01-02T22:44:00.001-08:00

AAM's Brooking Paper on Creativity in Museums recognizes innovative accomplishments that produce new ways of thinking and seeing within the museum field. Papers can describe examples of creativity in any aspect of museum operations, from collections, programs and exhibitions to finance, marketing and administration—or anything in between. If you can imagine your peers saying, "What a great idea—I've never heard of anybody doing that!" it's a sign you're headed in the right direction.

The first-prize paper will be published in Museum magazine, and its author will receive $1,000 plus $500 toward travel expenses to the 2009 AAM Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, April 30–May 4. Two honorable mentions will also be awarded. We will publish all three winning papers on the AAM website in May.

Museum professionals and volunteers worldwide may enter. Papers should be approximately 2,500 words; previously published pieces will not be accepted. Deadline is Feb. 2. E-mail submissions and questions to brooking@aam-us.org.

A few suggestions and guidelines:

Visit AAM's website and check out winning papers from previous years for a better sense of basic aspects of the competition.
Be sure to convey the impact of the project.
Format: Submit a Word document—double-spaced, Times New Roman 11-point font, with page numbers—that includes your name, title, institution and contact information at the end.

Funding is provided through the generosity of Dolores Brooking, retired professor of arts administration at California State University, Dominguez Hills, and former director of education at the Spencer Museum of Art at the University of Kansas.

EMP Opportunities at the AAM Annual Meeting

2009-01-02T22:39:00.000-08:00

Mark your calendars for Emerging Museum Professionals (EMPs) Day Friday, May 1, during AAM’s annual meeting. Attend special sessions designed for EMPs and the specific questions that arise early in a museum career. One such session, Trials, Tribulations and Experimentation in My Career, helps EMPs learn how past failures and successes shaped the career paths of other professionals. Also, discover four key skill factors to successful integration of EMPs into the museum field with Emerging Museum Professional 101: Entering a Brave New World and Making it Your Own.

Look for the EMP logo next to session descriptions indicating important programs for EMPs. Visit AAM’s annual meeting website for more information and to register. Check the EMP website in January for fellowship application details.

Upcoming Grant Deadlines

2009-01-02T22:23:00.000-08:00

I hope that all of you had a great holiday season! It has been a long time since I've been able to post, and I've been holding on to some articles and other great information, so I hope it isn't too overwhelming!

First of all, here are some upcoming grant deadlines:

January 15th - IMLS - Museum Grants for African American History and Culture
February 1 - IMLS - National Leadership Grants
February 1 - National Academies - Research Associateship
February 3 - NEH - We the People Challenge Grants
February 15th - IMLS - National Medal for Museum and Library Service

NPR Series on Museums

2008-12-04T22:46:00.001-08:00

Click here for information about a series NPR is doing on museums in the 21st century, including the challenges and opportunities that museums are facing. Should be interesting!

Call for Nominations: AAM EdCom Executive Board 2009

2008-12-02T21:46:00.000-08:00

Call for Nominations: EdCom Executive Board 2009

The Standing Professional Committee on Education (EdCom) is looking for nominations to its Executive Board for the 2009-2011 term. This year, seven board positions – four officers and three member-at-large—will expire with the completion of the 2009 Annual Meeting in Philadelphia. The requirements for being an Executive Board member and a complete description of each officer's duties are described at www.edcom.org, under "About EdCom, Policy and Procedures." Elected officers begin their term in May 2009 following the AAM Annual Meeting.

The following positions are subject to election:

- Vice Chair, Programs, (incumbent-held seat)
- Vice Chair, Membership, (incumbent-held seat)
- Vice Chair, Communications, (vacant)
- Treasurer, (incumbent-held seat)
- Member-at-large (incumbent-held seat)
- Member-at-large (vacant)
- Member-at-large (vacant)

EdCom welcomes and encourages your involvement with the volunteer leadership of the nation's museum education community. We encourage self-nominations. Nominees may run to compete for vacancy or against incumbent. Please complete the following information and e-mail, fax or mail the form by *January 2nd *to:

Nathan Richie
Chair, EdCom Nomination Committee
American Association of Museums
Director of Exhibits and Programs
McCormick Freedom Museum
435 N. Michigan Ave, Suite 754
Chicago, IL 60611

312-222-3211
FAX: 312-222-3209
nrichie@freedommuseum.us

____ I am nominating myself

____ I am nomination someone else. The person who is submitting another
person's name should fill out the following:

Board Position: _______________________________________

Name/Title: _________________________________________

Institution: ___________________________________________

Name of Nominee: _____________________________________

Title/Position: _________________________________________

Institution: __________________________________________

Address: __________________________________________

______________________________________________________

Work Telephone: _________________ Fax: _______________

Home Telephone: ________________

e-mail address: _________________________

Please attach the resume for the person being nominated and a one-page response to the following question:

1) What experience, skills, and concerns would you bring to the National EdCom Board should you become an elected officer?

Wallace Foundation Awards $7.7M to Local Arts Groups

2008-12-02T21:39:00.000-08:00

This article was found on the Seattle Times website (click here to go to the direct link), but I'm posting the article here as well.

Wallace Foundation Awards $7.7M to Local Arts Groups
By: Misha Berson

"A hefty new grant from the Wallace Foundation will expose many Seattle public schoolchildren to the wonders of Bach and Mozart, courtesy of the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra. Another grant will let fans of international dance and theater watch innovative performers from around the world, through the Web site of Seattle's On the Boards.

The Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra and On the Boards are two of nine local cultural groups getting a major boost in their audience-development and outreach efforts, thanks to a $7.7 million grant program announced today by the Wallace Foundation, a New York-based arts and culture philanthropy. The local groups' grant amounts range from $500,000 to $750,000.

The effort is part of the nationwide Wallace Excellence Awards, which uses a "city-based" approach to broaden the audiences and visibility of visual- and performing-arts groups. Past city recipients include Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia and San Francisco, with arts institutions in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn., also receiving Wallace funds this year.

Many of the Seattle grantees will use the audience-development money, allotted over a four-year period, to devise interactive technology and media schemes targeted at children and young adults.

In addition, the Washington State Arts Commission will be awarded $1.6 million by Wallace to "coordinate a skill-development series of workshops and forums for leaders of arts organizations," said Kris Tucker, the commission's executive director. The state agency will redistribute some of its grant to smaller Puget Sound-area arts organizations.

On the Boards artistic director Lane Czaplinski said his organization's grant of $750,000 will support OtBTV, a pilot program offering full-length, high-definition experimental performances online, with the aim of increasing OTB's live audience.

"This is an opportunity to learn and explore the viability and ramifications of watching performance online," said Czaplinski. "We think it's going to be a powerful tool to communicate with young people who are used to processing their world this way."

At the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra, a $500,000 grant will go toward fostering a more traditional, one-on-one approach to bringing music to culturally underserved Seattle children, said Dan Petersen, the orchestra's executive director.

"We're expanding our partnership with the Seattle Public Schools," Petersen said. The goal is to work with 6,000 to 10,000 new students, through performances and participatory programs, over the next four years.

"In elementary schools," he continued, "we can reach out to African-American and Latino populations, who are underrepresented in the orchestra world."

Other Seattle recipients of the Wallace Excellence Award grants:

• Experience Music Project/Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame: $585,000 to expand youth-driven programming.

• One Reel: $560,000 to bring young adults into contact with theater, music and circus arts.

• Pacific Northwest Ballet: $750,000 for Web-site redesign and expansion.

• Seattle Art Museum: $750,000 for social networking and "gateway" activities, among other things.

• SIFF (formerly Cinema Seattle): $750,000 for an interactive community-outreach project.

• Seattle Opera: $750,000 to use new technology to make opera more accessible for young patrons.

• Seattle Repertory Theatre: $750,000 for new three-play packages aimed at under-40 professionals and schoolteachers."

Riding Out the Storm: A Message from the AAM President

2008-12-02T21:26:00.000-08:00

The economic forecasts for 2009 do not give much optimism for the year ahead. It looks like we will face ongoing turbulence in the financial markets, budget shortfalls for state and local governments and many more Americans struggling to make ends meet. On the museum side, navigating this uncertainty is equally as difficult. But you do not have to weather this storm alone.

To help you through these hard times, AAM has resources to help:

On the Web: “Finding Calm in Crisis: A Museum Survival Guide.” AAM has assembled resources to help with financial projections and provide guidance on retrenchment, downsizing and coping with the tough economic times ahead. We will be updating it regularly with new information to help you keep up with the changing landscape.
AAM Webinar: “Museums Rising to the Financial Challenge.” On March 18 and 19 this four-part webinar series will explore issues crucial to museums in these challenging times: retrenchment, fundraising, managing human resources and communications strategies.
2009 Annual Meeting: As the museum community gathers in Philadelphia, we will offer multiple sessions that tackle issues related to the current financial crisis.

There is also opportunity in the coming year. In 2009, a new Congress and a new Administration will begin working on a wide range of issues, including funding for museum programs and the reauthorization of the Institute of Museum and Library Services. There could not be a more critical time for us to make our case on Capitol Hill. With so much at stake, we need to effectively communicate the value of museums to our elected officials. I ask you to join me for Museums Advocacy Day from Feb. 23-24 when we will make our voices heard.

It is the passionate commitment of professionals like you that will see our nation’s museums through this current economic crisis. We know that we don’t have all the answers. Expect us to tap your creativity over the coming months as we face this challenge together.

Sincerely,
Ford W. Bell, DVM
AAM President

20th Annual Muse Awards Competition

2008-11-12T16:16:00.000-08:00

Information from AAM regarding the "20th Annual Muse Awards Competition". AAM Media and Technology Committee give this award to recognize outstanding achievement in museum media. The information is as follows:

"The 2008 Muse Awards competition received nearly 200 applications from a wide variety of museums in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia. Entries included audio, cell phone and interactive handheld tours, interactive kiosks and multimedia installations, podcasts, blogs, games, websites, online collection and image databases, videos and e-mail marketing campaigns. This year we are expecting another exciting round of projects that reflect innovation in the museum media community.

We will accept online applications from museums and producers on the AAM Media and Technology website from Dec. 1, 2008, to Jan. 31, 2009. The cost is $25 per entry.

Visit www.mediaandtechnology.org to enter your project. If you have any questions, please contact us via muse@mediaandtechnology.org."

Thanks for Making our First Event a Success!

2008-11-12T16:05:00.000-08:00

I would like to thank everyone that came out on Thursday for our first Seattle EMP event! We had a great turnout of about 15-20 people who braved a very cold and rainy night to join the group. I had a great time meeting all of you and learning more about you!

After getting your feedback on Thursday, it seems it would be best to have these events quarterly, which would put our next gathering sometime in February or March. I've created a topic thread on our Facebook group page as a place to put any comments or suggestions you might have for our next event. You can also leave your feedback here on the blog as a comment.

Thanks again to everyone who was able to make it! To those of you that were unable to make it this time, your presence was missed and we hope to see you at the next one!

First Seattle / Washington EMP Event - November 6th!

2008-10-25T17:42:00.000-07:00

I'm very excited to welcome everyone to the first Washington Emerging Museum Professionals event! The details are as follows:

Date: November 6, 2008
Time: 5:00-8:00PM
Place: Experience Music Project | Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame
Revolution Bar & Grill (upstairs section)
325 5th Ave N
Seattle, WA 98109

This event is a great opportunity to make connections and meet others in the museum field whom you may not know. I also invite you to bring along any guests you may feel would also enjoy the opportunity to meet fellow museum professionals. I hope you are able to join us, as it would be great to meet all of you in person!

The bar will be offering Happy Hour pricing on drinks. Also, this event coincides with an "All Access Night" at the museum, meaning admission to both the Experience Music Project and Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame is free from 5:00 PM - 8:00PM, so you will be able to check out the museum, if you would like to do so during the evening. To find out what exhibitions are currently running at the museum, please visit www.empsfm.org.

Hope to see you there!

Presidential Candidate Positions on the Arts

2008-10-08T20:03:00.000-07:00

Click here to be directed to the Americans for the Arts Action Fund website where you get can a quick summary on the positions of both presidential candidates on the Arts.

Here's a little information on the Americans for the Arts Action Fund: "Americans for the Arts Action Fund is the bipartisan advocacy arm of Americans for the Arts, engaging citizens in ensuring that all Americans have the opportunity to appreciate, value, and participate in the arts. Arts Action Fund members are citizen activists who are committed to helping make certain that arts-friendly public policies are adopted at every level of government and in the private sector. ArtsVote2008, a program of the Arts Action Fund, was created to secure bold, new policy proposals in support of the arts and arts education in America from candidates in the 2008 presidential campaign."

JOB OPENINGS: Tacoma Art Museum

2008-09-25T15:13:00.000-07:00

Two open positions at Tacoma Art Museum: Education Assistant and Development Services Coordinator

Visit http://www.tacomaartmuseum.org/jobs for complete job descriptions and information on how to apply.

About Tacoma Art Museum:
Tacoma Art Museum is a public-spirited institution with nationally recognized exhibitions and innovative educational programs that attract thousands of visitors annually to its galleries and events. By making connections for viewers that may not be instantly obvious, Tacoma Art Museum has developed a reputation for presenting art in a thought-provoking yet accessible manner. Tacoma Art Museum has also made a strong commitment to Northwest art through its acquisition and exhibition programs.

Education Assistant

This full-time, non-exempt position, which reports to the Director of Education and Public Programs, will provide administrative support to the Education Department. Primary areas of responsibility include management and marketing of all public programs, oversight of the Art Access Pass program, administrative support for the K-12 school tour program including registration and invoicing, and maintaining department records and archives.

Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities

Requires a high degree of computer proficiency and data base management, attention to detail and familiarity with professional office procedures and protocol.
Individual must possess strong interpersonal skills and be diplomatic in working with diverse constituencies.
Flexibility to multi-task and meet deadlines
Ability to work well with staff, artists, schools, and the general public to promote the philosophy and goals of the Education Department and Tacoma Art Museum as a whole.
Ability and willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends.
WA State Driver’s License

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor of Arts degree, preferably in Art, Art History or Art Education
High level of written and oral communication skills
Strong computer skills (Access, Excel, Word and desktop publishing)

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Development Services Coordinator

The Development Services Coordinator is responsible for processing incoming major gifts donations to the museum, coordinating major gifts acknowledgment letters and benefits delivery, and coordinating the museum’s newly created prospect research program, among other vital duties supporting the overall development operation at Tacoma Art Museum. The Development Services Coordinator reports directly to the Manager of Development Services.

Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities

Database experience (Patrons’ Edge, Raiser’s Edge and/or the MIP system is most desirable). Experience with relational databases is a plus.
Detail-oriented, accurate, and focused.
The ability to memorize and correctly execute processes.
Accurate typing, mathematical reasoning, proofreading, and critical analytical skills.
A high level of computer fluency is desired, especially in Microsoft Office.
Excellent customer service and interpersonal skills and a donor-centered approach to fundraising.
Strong interpersonal and written communication skills.
Comfortable with writing projects and with seeking and sharing information with colleagues and work-study students/interns.

Minimum Qualifications

Past experience in fundraising.
An interest in the mission of Tacoma Art Museum is a must.
An understanding of internal museum administration is also helpful, but not required.
Bachelor's degree.
Two years professional experience.

Museum Day 2008 - Free Admission to Seattle Museums this Saturday only!

2008-09-23T21:24:00.000-07:00

The Smithsonian magazine will be celebrating its 4th annual Museum Day this Saturday, September 27th. On Museum Day, museums and cultural institutions nationwide open their doors free of charge. You can go online and download the free admission card if you click here. Once you complete the quick online form, you will be instructed to print out the admission card and bring it with you on Saturday to your museum of choice. Enjoy your free visit to one of the following participating museums!

1. Bainbridge Island Historical Museum
2. Bellevue Arts Museum
3. Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture
4. Columbia River Exhibition of History, Science & Technology
5. Experience Music Project|Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame
6. Fort Walla Walla Museum
7. Frye Art Museum
8. Henry Art Gallery
9. Log House Museum
10. Maryhill Museum of Art
11. Museum of Glass
12. Museum of History & Industry
13. Naval Undersea Museum
14. Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture
15. Seattle Art Museum
16. Seattle Asian Art Museum
17. Skagit County Historical Museum
18. Tacoma Art Museum
19. Museum of Flight
20. Washington State History Museum
21. Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center
22. Whatcom Museum
23. Wing Luke Asian Museum
24. World Kite Museum and Hall of Fame

AAM Webinars - Some Great Opportunities

2008-09-19T10:58:00.000-07:00

AAM offers webinars on several different topics that are relevant to almost every career path within a museum. Participants of some of these webinars are eligible to apply for fellowships to reduce the cost of attendance. The great thing about webinars is that you don't have to travel anywhere to take them, and they're a wonderful opportunity to learn more about a specific subject and gather ideas from other AAM members from all parts of the country. Another plus is that you don't have to take off a lot of time from work (unless, you really need a vacation, then it's not such a good thing), it's something that can be done in the comfort of your own home or even your own office, and you don't have to try to cover the expense of flying or a hotel stay.

Some topics to be discussed in the next few months:
1. Education: The value of museums from an educational standpoint.
2. Technology: The idea of handhelds and iPhones in regards to audiotours.
3. Fundraising: Major Gifts and how to keep them.
4. Administrative: Preparing for Disaster
5. PR & Marketing: A specific focus on Museum PR & Marketing

Click here to learn more about each webinar and what fellowships may be available. Just as an FYI, the Education webinar is happening on November 6, 2008, and the application deadline for fellowships is October 3rd. I thought I would throw that in there, since the dates are coming up soon.

AAM Museum Accreditations in the Seattle Area - Your thoughts?

2008-09-08T16:13:00.000-07:00

The American Association of Museums (AAM) Accreditation Committee met at the end of July 2008 and awarded subsequent accreditation to both the Seattle Art Museum and the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture. There are a total of 13 museums in the state of Washington which have been officially accredited by the AAM. The other 11 institutions are:

1. Frye Art Museum
2. Henry Art Gallery
3. Maryhill Museum of Art
4. Museum of Flight
5. Museum of History & Industry
6. Naval Undersea Museum U.S. Dept of the Navy
7. Tacoma Art Museum
8. The Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture
9. Washington State History Museum, Washington State Historical Society
10. Whatcom Museum of History and Art
11. Yakima Valley Museum

Seeing this article in the September edition of AAM's monthly magazine "Aviso," made me think about the process of accreditation and what museums get out of being officially accredited with AAM. After going to their website, I found a lot of information on accreditation. It's a long process that seems to be beneficial both for the museum and for the museum community. What do you think? Is it fair for non-profit institutions who are already struggling to balance staff and finances to also go through the rigorous and time consuming process of accreditation? Have you or someone you know gone through the accreditation process? If so, what did you think about the process and the results?

If you would like more information on how your institution can become an accredited museum, you can contact the Accreditation Program staff at (202) 289-9116 or via email at accreditation@aam-us.org. You can also click here to learn about the steps for accreditation and download application materials.

"Americans for the Arts" Convention - June 2009 in Seattle

2008-08-20T16:45:00.000-07:00

4culture has posted on their website information about the "Americans for the Arts" convention coming to Seattle in June 2009. The theme is "Renewable Resources: the arts in sustainable communities".

The issue of enabling arts organizations to become more sustainable is something that has been coming up more and more frequently. This convention looks like it has some really great tracks that might give local museum administrators some ideas on how to make their institutions more environmentally friendly and how to educate others on the importance of such a large task.

There are currently nine tracks that the convention is organized under: Arts Education, Civic Engagement, Economic Development, Leadership, Career 360, Preserving Diverse Cultures, Private Sector, Public Advocacy, and Public Art.

Click here to visit the "Americans for the Arts" convention page for more details. As more information is available (cost, scholarships, etc.), it'll be posted here!

Wing Luke Asian Museum - 2008 Mayor's Arts Awards Recipient

2008-08-06T14:35:00.000-07:00

The Wing Luke Asian Museum will be a recipient of one of the 2008 Mayor's Arts Awards and will be honored on Friday, August 29th at noon in the Northwest Court of Seattle Center.

The Seattle Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs posted the following information about the award and ceremony on their website:

"Creativity is one of the things that help Seattle lead in so many different areas. I'm pleased to honor the people and organizations making a difference in our community through arts and culture," said Nickels. "The Mayor's Arts Awards allow us to shine a spotlight on the recipients' diverse contributions and share in their inspiring stories."

The Seattle Arts Commission reviewed 229 public nominations and recommended the recipients to the mayor. The recipients of the 2008 Mayor's Arts Awards are:

14/48: the world's quickest theater festival
Coyote Central and Marybeth Satterlee, executive director
Hugo Ludeña, photographer and founder of Latino Cultural magazine
Nonsequitur, comtemporary/experimental music presenter
Cathryn Vandenbrink, regional director of Artspace Projects
Wing Luke Asian Museum

The recipients will be honored at a Mayor's Arts Awards ceremony, noon, Friday, Aug. 29 at Seattle Center's Northwest Court. The Mayor's Arts Awards are presented in partnership with Bumbershoot®: Seattle's Music & Arts Festival and are sponsored by City Arts Seattle, a city magazine discovering creativity throughout Seattle, with support from Seattle Channel.

The outdoor ceremony is free and open to the public and will feature the official opening of Bumbershoots visial arts exhibits. The festival's arts exhibits will open to the public a day early, in a free public viewing from noon to 8 p.m. on Aug. 29.

The Mayor's Arts Awards recognize the contributions made by artists, arts and cultural organizations and community members who make a difference through arts and cultural activities. To reflect the diversity of artistic achievement throughout the city, the awards do not have set categories.

Communications Intern Position - Tacoma Art Museum

2008-07-28T19:44:00.001-07:00

Click here to be directed to the Tacoma Art Museum website where you can learn more about this opportunity.

MUSEUM VISIT: Olympic Sculpture Park

2008-07-25T11:10:00.000-07:00

The Olympic Sculpture Park is an urban oasis located near the Belltown area of Seattle. Just a short walk from Seattle Center, this green space is certainly an area worth visiting. The Park is part of the Seattle Art Museum ("SAM"), even though it is located several blocks away and is free admission.

The main entrance is located in a large building, of which most of the sides are made of windows that open to an outdoor patio area. Upon first entering the building, there are several pamphlets available near the door that contain information about events going at the Park as well as things going on at the Seattle Art Museum and Asian Art Museum. This building also includes the "Taste" cafe, which has a small variety of foods ranging from salads, kids meals, and sandwiches. Many of the items on the menu are comprised of organic foods. The pricing is reasonable, considering the quality of the food ($7 will get you a grilled cheese sandwich with caramelized onions and apples, in addition to a side salad). All of the food containers and uneaten food items can be composted and the Park provides bins for this purpose. The question of museums "going green" will become more of an issue, and it was interesting to see how SAM addressed it within the Sculpture Park.

One entire wall of the building was open on this particular day because it was a really nice outside. This wall leads out to a landscaped patio area where there are seats for people to eat their meals outdoors, if they would like. After walking down a set of stairs, you're lead out to the first sculpture piece. The unique feature of this park is the "Z" path that leads from the main entrance and takes visitors over the train tracks and street, leading you to the waterfront. The pathway can also be used for visitors that require wheelchair access, and the Park does loan wheelchairs to visitors on a first-come first-served basis.

There are chairs and seating areas located throughout the park allowing visitors to truly enjoy the beautiful scenery. The waterfront view is spectacular with the Olympic Mountain Range in the background. There is an area where visitors can walk to a beach and put their feet in the water; however, on this particular visit, a sign was posted that bacteria levels were too high to go in the water.

The permanent collection is unique and consists of approximately 21 pieces (some are on loan but considered part of the permanent collection). The oldest piece dates back to 1965 and the youngest piece to 2007. It is interesting to see how the placement of sculpture pieces had been incorporated into the design of the Park. What was even more interesting was reading the history on how nine acres of industrial land became an urban oasis.

I enjoyed my trip to the Park and spent about two hours there. I highly recommend checking it out, if you have the chance. Also, after going to the Park, I saw this article in the Seattle Times about some of the conservation issues that arise with these outdoor pieces from both the outdoor environment and visitors. Click here to read more about it.

If you have any additional information you would like to share about the Park or about your experience there, please feel free to leave comments!

Museum of Communications - Seattle

2008-07-17T21:04:00.000-07:00

An article in the Seattle Times by Jerry Large about the Museum of Communications. Sounds like an interesting place, and he also offers some very brief commentary about his outlook on the importance of museums in general.

Past Still Calls to Us At Museum
By: Jerry Large

We are awed by really old stuff and really new stuff.

Last weekend, while people were snapping up the new iPhone, I was wandering through a nondescript Georgetown building looking at some of the earliest telephones.

They were technological marvels once, too.

The Museum of Communications also displays Teletype machines, a huge early phone answering system, military field phones, even movie equipment from Bell Labs.

It's operated by volunteers. There are about 100 of them, but a core group of 15 really keeps things running.

The building on East Marginal Way South has the panel switch that brought dial service to Seattle in 1923. It still works.

One of the volunteers described the operation of the wall-sized machine as a ballet of movement. Each phone call set off a dance of rods and levers that led to the desired number.

Younger people may not remember, but until the 1980s, one system owned and operated nearly all the telephones in the country. The Bell System was broken up in 1984.

When the new phone companies started replacing electromechanical switching systems with digital switches, the chief engineer here suggested saving some of the old equipment.

Former and current employees of the telephone industry responded and created the museum in 1985.

Dale Thompson, who gave my wife and me a tour Sunday, was a phone-company engineer for 28 years.

Don Ostrand, the museum curator, started with the company in 1955 and retired in 1990. Ostrand is 71, but volunteers aren't all retirees.

Stephen Jones started helping out a few months ago. He's 37 and worked until recently as an engineer with a cellphone company, but his father and two of his grandparents worked for the Bell System.

They all love the technology, and it's a social thing, too.

When I visited the museum again Tuesday, I rode to lunch with a few of the guys in Ostrand's 1967 Pontiac Tempest. He's restoring the car, which used to belong to his father.

These aren't guys who like to throw things away.

They talked about how the phone company made its equipment to last. It was in the company's interest because the phone on your desk belonged to Ma Bell.

Now the idea is to get you to buy a new phone as often as possible.

Jones was using his wife's iPhone at lunch. It's a year old, ancient, so she gave it to him. She's getting the new one.

My wife and I went in Sunday because it was one of the stops on the Georgetown Art and Garden walk.

Georgetown itself has a lot of history, which some people are trying to preserve as the neighborhood moves upscale.

The museum fits in, telling a story about changing technology, business models and society itself.

Times change. Visiting a museum not only helps you understand how we got to where we are, but that no way of being or doing is set in stone.

The museum is open 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays, or by appointment. www.museumofcommunications.org, (206) 767-3012.

Fellowships for Museum Management Seminar in Seattle in October

2008-07-11T15:23:00.001-07:00

Click here to view information about fellowships being offered to museum professionals who would like to attend the Museum Management Seminar being given by AAM in October.

Here's some general information from the AAM website about the fellowships:

AAM, the AAM Standing Professional Committees (SPCs), and the AAM Emerging Museum Professionals group (EMP) are pleased to announce fellowship opportunities for the upcoming Current Issues in Museum Management seminar (CiMM08). The deadline for all award applications is July 25, 2008. Notification will be made by August 1, 2008. You can download the application from the AAM website.

Requirements
Each fellowship applicant must be:

A current member of AAM at time of application.*
A current member of the Standing Professional Committee to which he/she applies.*
A current full-time museum employee.
In the museum field for a minimum of two years.

*Or must submit a membership application with the required dues along with fellowship application. For information about AAM or SPC membership please visit the AAM SPC website, contact membership@aam-us.org, or call 202-289-9132.

"Museums on Us" Program with Bank of America - Participating Washington State Museums

2008-07-04T05:48:00.001-07:00

The "Museums on Us" Program is a program that Bank of America has run for several years. However, this year the program has been expanded from one month to the first weekend of every month for an entire year.

The way it works is if a visitor shows a Bank of America check, debit card or credit card, they get into participating museums for free.

The participating museums in Washington State are:
1. Tacoma Art Museum
2. The Museum of History and Industry
3. The Wing Luke Museum

This seems like a great way to get new visitors into local institutions. It would be interesting to know a little more about how this program operates on the museum end. Does Bank of America pay participating institutions a certain amount or is it done entirely free? It would be great if more museums could participate, but is there a particular reason why more institutions haven't jumped on this opportunity.

For more information about other participating museums in other states, click here.

Seattle Heritage Cultural Facilities Funding - Grant Deadline August 25, 2008

2008-07-02T04:43:00.000-07:00

The information below was taken from the 4Culture website. This grant sounds like a great opportunity for museum institutions who have a focus specifically on Seattle heritage and culture...

The 4Culture Heritage Cultural Facilities Program enhances the cultural life of King County citizens by funding the purchase, design, construction, and remodeling of heritage facilities, and the purchase of equipment intended to be used for at least 10 years. King County-based cultural organizations and public agencies that provide heritage programs may apply for funding. An organization must demonstrate that it provides significant programmatic activities focused on the identification, collection, evaluation, preservation, restoration, exhibition, and/or interpretation of King County heritage resources.

Quick Facts:

Has invested over $5 million in awards over the past decade
Has an annual application cycle, with awards typically ranging from $2,000 to $50,000
Funds heritage museums and facilities with a 2 year operating history
Helps purchase, construct and remodel facilities for public heritage purposes
Funds equipment for exhibits, collection storage and other heritage purposes
Funds certain construction-oriented planning and design activities
Can provide Emergency/Unforeseen Opportunity awards outside the normal application cycle

The award stats are as follows:

In 2007, $300,000 was awarded to 17 Heritage Facilities and Equipment projects.
In 2007, heritage facility awards ranged from $2,500 to $50,000.
17 projects were funded from a total of 18 applications. The total amount of requested funding exceeded available funds by a ratio of 5 to 3.
Approximately one quarter of the funded projects received the full amount of their request. Applicants are always encouraged to make their request based on actual need.
The panel may choose to provide partial support for a project by selecting the items that most closely match the funding program’s criteria.

For more information and application materials, click here.

Employment Opportunities in Seattle

2008-06-12T18:58:00.000-07:00

The Seattle Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs posts job opportunities for various cultural institutions in the area on their website. I will also post this link under the "Job Search Resources" section on the right hand side of the page.

Click Here to View Job Postings

Independent Study Shows Seattle has Most Arts-Related Businesses Per Capita in the Nation

2008-06-12T17:39:00.000-07:00

According to a recent study, Seattle is a great place for those who want to work in arts. Seattle was first in the nation in the number of arts related businesses per capita. The article from the Seattle Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs website is below or you can click here to read it on their website. Towards the end of the article, there are some really interesting bullet points about the growth of employment in arts-related businesses:

Seattle has Nation's Most Arts-Related Businesses Per Capita

Seattle ranks first in the nation in the number of arts-related businesses per capita. The city is home to 4,065 arts-related businesses that employ 21,025 people, according to Creative Industries 2008: The 50 City Report released today by Americans for the Arts.

"This study confirms what we in Seattle have known for years. Seattle is a creative capital that attracts creative people and industries which add to our reputation for innovation," Mayor Greg Nickels said. "Arts-related businesses contribute significantly to our economy and quality of life."

Among the nation's 50 most populated cities, Seattle ranked in the top 10 in the three other categories measured by the report. Seattle is eighth in the total number of arts businesses. The city ranked third in arts employees per capita (per 1,000 residents) and finished 10th for the total number of arts employees. The study found Seattle's arts-related businesses and arts employment increased 13.6 percent from 2007. The full report with rankings for all 50 cities is available at: www.AmericansfortheArts.org/CreativeIndustries.

Combining Dun & Bradstreet data and geo-economic analysis, the study tracks and maps the presence of arts-related entities in six creative industries: museums and collections; performing arts; visual arts and photography; film, radio and television; design and publishing; and arts schools and services.

These creative industries range from nonprofit museums, symphonies and theaters to for-profit film, architecture and advertising companies.

"Seattle's creative sector is a cornerstone of economic development and tourism," said Michael Killoren, director of Seattle's Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs. "We're a national hub of cultural and economic innovation, and our creative edge attracts good companies, skilled workers and visitors."

Arts-centric businesses represent 4.3 percent of all businesses and 2.2 percent of all jobs in the United States, according to the report which underscores the arts as a robust economic growth sector.

More than 612,000 arts-related businesses employ 2.98 million people nationwide.
Arts-centric businesses grew 12 percent from 2007 compared to the growth of 10.7 percent for all U.S. businesses.
Employment growth by arts-centric businesses since 2007 was 11.6 percent, more than four times the rise in total number of U.S. employees of 2.4 percent.

"This study supports our mantra that the arts play a significant role in building and sustaining economically vibrant communities," said Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts, a national nonprofit arts advocacy organization. "It further supports the need for arts education to fuel the creative industries with arts-trained workers and arts consumers."

Current Issues in Museum Management Seminar in Seattle: October 1-5, 2008

2008-06-02T19:33:00.001-07:00

The American Association of Museums will be hosting a seminar titled "Current Issues in Museum Management Seminar: Strategy and Skills-Building," in Seattle October 1-5, 2008. The paragraph below contains all of the information that's available so far, but I'll post more information as I receive it.

"Develop your management skills over 2.5 days of focused, interactive programming, with an emphasis on strategic planning, new business models, decision-making, conflict resolution, professional writing, legal updates, and finance and HR essentials."

Click here to visit the seminar website.

ArtsFund in Seattle Helping Local Nonprofits

2008-05-29T18:17:00.001-07:00

In an article in the Seattle Times, ArtsFund announced that it will be giving nearly $3 Million in funding to 70 different local nonprofits. Curious about how your organization can apply for funding from ArtsFund? Here's information on the grant process with grant deadlines, as well as the web address to get more information on ArtsFund and its mission.

The information below was obtained from the ArtsFund website at www.artsfund.org:

Eligibility

ArtsFund grants are institutionally oriented, operational grants for organizations that present or produce a season of programs. Minimum eligibility requirements for funding consideration include the following:

Note: Meeting the requirements does not guarantee funding. Criteria are subject to change.

Be incorporated as a Washington state non-profit 501(c)(3) organization operating in the performing, visual or related arts.
Have a minimum 3-year record of continuous operation in King or Pierce County.
Have a board of directors consisting primarily of members who are not paid employees of the organization.
Have at least one professional, paid, full-time management staff member (two or more staff members may combine for one FTE).
Have an annual operating budget, averaged over three years, of at least $200,000 if operating in King County, or $100,000 if operating in Pierce County.
Provide more than 50% of its services in King and/or Pierce Counties.
Have an audited financial statement for the year preceding the award year on which an opinion has been expressed by an independent certified public accountant; or, have financial reports for the year preceding the application year, signed by the board treasurer.

Application Deadlines for 2009 Grants:

New Applicants: January 30, 2009
Continuing Members/Members: January 30, 2009
Charter Members: February 27, 2009

AAM 2009 Annual Conference Proposal Submissions

2008-05-24T08:14:00.000-07:00

In an email sent out by the American Association of Museums ("AAM") to all EMPs, they discuss some great opportunities to submit proposals for the 2009 AAM Annual Conference in Philadelphia. The email reads, "AAM is looking for innovative and engaging educational opportunities to offer EMPs. We encourage you to work with a Standing Professional Committee (SPC) or Professional Interest Committee (PIC) to create, develop and submit session proposals. Seeking the guidance of an SPC or PIC will definitely put your ideas on the fast track! There is no better time to contribute breakthrough ideas that inspire, energize and impact the future of your peers."

Session proposal deadline (with SPC endorsement) is July 11th. The At-large proposal deadline is August 29th.

It could be interesting to do a proposal about museums going "green". The topic of museums going "green" has been brought up in the EMP Google Group and it seems like an issue that EMPs will face more and more as businesses and other corporations make more of an effort to be environmentally friendly. Going "green" can be a major challenge for non-profits because it's costly. How can museums work to leave less of a carbon footprint? Where would the money come from to do this? Are there grants and other types of federal assistance available to help museums achieve this goal? Also, would museum donors and friends be willing to help Seattle area museums do this?

Some interesting thoughts!

A First Post for Seattle EMPs!

2008-05-21T19:04:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Seattle / Washington area EMP blog! This blog is a place for Emerging Museum Professionals to gather information about area EMP gatherings, museum conferences and seminars, and job and internship listings. We can also use this website to talk about past, present, and future museum issues pertinent to the Seattle / Washington area, creating an additional resource for our EMP community.

The words"Coming Soon" are in the place of our first EMP event date on the right-hand side of this page, but let's change that to an actual day! It would be great if we could meet in July or August. Would anyone else be interested in meeting at a coffee place or some other suggested venue?

Please feel free to post comments and suggestions on what else might be helpful to see on this website...it's a work in progress!