American Association for State and Local History’s Reimagining the Historic House Museum workshop 

DESCRIPTION: The one-day workshop includes an analysis of the most important opportunities and threats facing historic sites in America based on the latest social and economic research, with a discussion on how they may relate to the participants’ house museum. We share a series of field-tested tools and techniques drawn from such wide-ranging sources as non-profit management, business strategy, and software development. Drawing from innovative organizations, we profile historic sites that are using new models to engage with their communities to become more relevant, are adopting creative forms of interpretation and programming, and earning income to become more financially sustainable. A key component of the workshop is a facilitated brainstorming session to reinvent an event or program. Working with an actual house museum not only puts theory into practice but demonstrates the value of multiple perspectives for analysis.

INSTRUCTORS: Ken Turino, Manager of Community Partnerships and Resource Development, Historic New England, Boston, MA. Ken is also on the faculty of Tufts University in the Museum Studies Department where he teaches courses on Exhibition Planning and Historic House Museums. Ken is the editor with Max van Balgooy of Reinventing Historic House Museums: New Approaches and Proven Solutions for AASLH in 2019.

Max van Balgooy, President, Engaging Places LLC, Rockville, MD. Max is also on the faculty at The George Washington University and frequently presents sessions and workshops on historic house and strategic planning topics.

COST: $200 AASLH Members / $325 Nonmembers. Click here to register and learn more.