NEMA Annual Conference 99th Annual NEMA Conference

(continued from page 5) Reading Between the Lines - Interpreting Primary Sources Primary sources are often vulnerable to modern misinterpretations. Once an incorrect interpretation is made, it may then assume a life of its own -- and be perpetuated. This interactive session offers a fresh and unique approach to context and insight when interpreting primary sources. Designed as an educational tool for new researchers and developed from the presenter’s experience with Louisa May Alcott’s family papers and biographies. Facilitator: Jan Turnquist, Executive Director, Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House, MA SEE/change: Seeing Change in How to Offer Online Museum Content to Schools Experience SEE/change, the prototype of a newly launched online curriculum project. Focused on a single work of art, Seven Miles to Farmington by American artist George H. Durrie (1820-1863), the new website brings rich museum-quality learning activities and resources into the home and classroom. Speakers will share their role in the project and the lessons learned along the way—the good, not-so-good, and great. SEE/change is an instructive case study in developing meaningful online learning for museums. Facilitator: David D.J. Rau, Director of Education & Outreach, Florence Griswold Museum, CT Speakers: Clarissa Ceglio, PhD, Assistant Professor of Digital Humanities, UCONN; Leslie Evans, Director/ Curator, Avery-Copp House Museum, CT; Caitlin Monahan, Managing Director of JUL/Julia Balfour, LLC, MA; Karen Wizevich, Ph.D., Program Coordinator/ Senior Lecturer, Johns Hopkins University, MD Using Creative Practice for Effective Museum Activism This session will help museum workers apply the tools of creative practice to their museum’s goals for activism and social justice in order to make any resulting initiatives more effective and meaningful for public audiences. Expect a mix of conceptual grounding, inspiration, hands-on activities, and group reflection. Facilitators: Rainey Tisdale, Independent Museum Professional, MA; Linda Norris, Global Networks Program Director, International Coalition of Sites of Conscience, NY Why Should I Care? Historic House Museums as Sites of Conscience, Engaging Visitors with Difficult Histories Connecticut Landmarks has been actively experimenting with new ways to engage the public in the difficult stories of our unique properties. In 2017 the International Sites of Conscience led our staff in dialogue training. We will share what we have learned throughout our reinterpretation research process. We will also focus on how facilitated dialogue with visitors is impacting our work and how we plan to proceed after our first season engaged in this new methodology. Facilitators: Sheryl Hack, Executive Director, CT Landmarks; Aileen Novick, Program Manager, CT Landmarks; Braden Paynter, Program Associate, International Coalition of Sites of Conscience, NY BOOKSTORE OPEN 10:00 am – 5:00 pm KEYNOTE SESSION 10:30 am – Noon Welcome from Janie Cohen, President, New England Museum Association and NEMA Executive Director Dan Yaeger. KEYNOTE PANEL: TRUTH & TRUST How do museums present the truth? And whose truth do they present? This year’s keynote session includes a multi- disciplinary panel that tackles these and other tough questions in a fast-paced, interactive format with plenty of audience participation. Participants include Edith Tonelli, Cape Cod Museum of Art; Morgan Grefe, Rhode Island Historical Society; Phelan Fretz, ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain; Lorén Spears, Tomaquag Museum. Moderated by Marita Rivero, Executive Director, Museum of African American History, Boston/Nantucket. Hosted by 6 99th Annual NEMA Conference

NEMA Annual Conference 99th Annual NEMA Conference | Page 6