Housekeeping in the museum or historic house is a vital activity. Dust building up on an object is not only unsightly, it will also cause damage. An unkempt museum or historic house is not appealing to the visitor nor is it healthy for the staff and collection. Yet cleaning collections can be risky as well.
This course will provide the participants with a foundation as to how to clean objects and facilities safely. We will explore a variety of subjects, including health and safety for the staff and the objects, cleaning methods for a large variety of collection types common in cultural institutions and the importance of documenting what you do. Join us for this four week course. Join us for Keeping Keeping Historic Houses & Museums Clean beginning March 2, 2026.
Join us beginning February 2, 2026 for the 4 week course Managing Previously Unmanaged Collections.The process of securing the collection and making it accessible needs the mindset of a collections manager as well as the one of a project manager. This course helps you to get a grip on your unmanaged collection by developing a plan to tackle it, defining achievable goals by creating logical exits and finding ways to keep the project going even if you are limited in time, staff and money. The course textbook, Managing Previously Unmanaged Collections, will be supplemented by a variety of readings and assignments.
Join us beginning March 30, 2026 us for the four week course Moving Museum Collections.
Moving Museum Collections provides a how-to for planning and managing a collection move to avoid the many pitfalls associated with a move project. The course will help you clarify your project, develop a work plan, prepare a communication scheme, define proposals for vendors, organize staffing and establish packing protocols.