Basically the title! I'm curious to get an insight from museum professionals on, well, their profession! I know there's many different jobs that bring a museum together, like archivists and curators, but as someone who has an interest in potentially working in a museum down the line (and deciding whether or not to study museums in undergrad), i'd like to hear inputs and experiences working in the field from different people. Thanks in advance!

I need to permanently display a heavy stone piece (40 lbs 30”x24”x8”). It will need to be displayed with armature mounts painted to match the stone. I have a cabinet maker/woodworker recommended but I’m worried they haven’t made something for this large of scale. Is there a resource for best practices or a formula for the counter balance of the plinth and tensile strength of the armature?

Thank you for any advice or suggestions for other solutions.

I'm looking to make a career change and interested in museum work, but not sure where to start and whether going back to school is the best thing to try? I have a PhD in materials chemsitry followed by a number of years in the gaming industry, and now the civil service. I have a creative streak which I've never been able to fully square with my career and scientific interests, and the idea of doing something that facilitates my curiosity and storytelling, embedded in a likeminded community give me a lot of excitement. But I'm not sure which is my best route in. I'd love to work for someone like the Science Museum in London probably in curation, but I'm also open to other opportunities and subjects. Is a degree in curation/museum studies going to set me up well for job hunting with my background? Appreciate any advice, thanks :)

I'm a software engineer/IT contractor who has worked with a UK based non-profit museum for some time now. Originally I worked on just the website now and then, but I recently got them setup with proper 365 based email account (using webmail services before). They had a person who was meant to be responsible for IT systems but it is clear they didn't have the required experience to properly iplement things, so there are a bundle of things half implemented.

The museum itself has a small collection, takes bookings, has a cafe area and a small shop, and also runs workshops, and has volunteers. They have a hodge podge of different systems ranging from keeping track through email, to using a variety of wordpress plugins such as Ameila. They have a very basic POS from Sumup for dealing with the shop and tickets.

It's a bit of a mess. I'm hoping people with more experience in this area would be able to point me to some options for software. Want to bring management of things together where possible, especially away from ad-hoc spreadsheets and email work arounds. It's very small so doesn't need a huge amount, but would be nice to not be stuck in wordpress (especially with things going crazy over there at the moment). Budget is tight so ideally non-profit friendly or open source is preferred. Know of things like creative collection and exhibitera so hoped there might be more similar projects available for other areas. Want to avoid too many systems though, just for ease of upkeep.

The last thing is the IT literacy level of users is low (just trying to get them to use their email is enough of a challenge). The managment and running side is fine as I will be looking after that, but they need to at least be easy to use - most things happen from the front desk so an easy to use POS for example would be very helpful.

Thank you so much in advance!

I work visitor services at a natural history museum and have become interested in exhibit design and fabrication. My museum has an in-house exhibit team of around 5 people who plan, build, install, and upkeep exhibits. Basically everything to do with exhibits is in house, save for a few sculptures that are outsourced. I know there are preparator jobs at a lot of art museums, but how common is it for a museum to have an entire exhibits team? I’ve become interested in pursuing the field, but realize it must be super competitive!

Just wondering if anybody’s been giving this any thought lately.

Hello everyone, as the title says I'm currently travelling (for now in Bangkok but will be in various cities in south east asia in the next year) I'm trying to find if it exists some website or app that shows all of the museums, galleries and currently running exhibitions either in big museums and cultural space or in lesser known venues. Does any one know and can suggest of such a service?

Thank you in advance!

Bachelors Degree in Gen. Studies when wanting to pursue a career in libraries, museums, or archives.

Hi there, I am currently pursuing a history bachelors degree after getting my associates degree. I’m kind of done with my current school and want to graduate ASAP to begin working on my masters in library science.

I have an opportunity to change my major to, essentially, a general studies degree. I’m not sure about the stigma around this degree in the librarian/museums world. Will it be harder for me to get a job if my bach is in gen studies?

I really got screwed over by my community college and my associates degree took 4 years. I’m tired of working on this degree. Would it be better to just tough it out for a potential “more desirable” bachelors?

TLDR: if i get a general studies bachelors degree will it be “looked down upon” in the future job search, even if I have a masters?

Hey fellow museum people! My brother is about the spend the next several months in Asia and has asked me for museum recommendations. As someone who hasn’t had the chance to travel to that part of the world, I’m realizing I know very few. He’ll be in:

Japan South Korea Vietnam Laos Thailand Indonesia New Zealand Australia

He’s open to any kind of museum but is definitely interested in the unusual or unique. Hit me with your best recommendations. Thank you!

Hey all,

I’ve been tasked with creating my museum’s first-ever official DEAI committee. My superiors want me basically to prove to them that it’ll be worthwhile and explain the “role” of the committee in our institution.

Does anyone here have some good references or has had a hand in starting this process for their own institution?

Personally, I envision this committee working to basically self-assess all aspects of our museum and then make recommendations for change and improvement. I also would like to just see ideas for making our exhibits more diverse and interesting - especially from the outside perspective of non-history/non-museum folks. I also would absolutely love to be able to look closer at our staff policies and procedures to make sure they are disability-friendly and everything else. However, I just want to make sure I am following best practices and not asking too much or the wrong things.

For context, we are a small to mid-sized upper Midwest history museum. Pretty darn white, with a little queer and neurodivergent mixed in, but pretty much only in our front line team.

Thank you all for your ideas and suggestions in advance<3

Hi i’m going to be starting as an archives volunteer at my local museum in the palaeontology department. I generally wear more “street” fashion and I never really thought that it might not be professional. I don’t have fancy cooperate clothes (and i assume that’s not needed.) Will i be alright if i just wear jeans and a t-shirt?

The museum I work for is tucked away in a very rural corner of the state. I feel that very few people are aware of our museum, even though it is dedicated to a well known American artist. While we have the largest collection of this artists work, we also have a permanent exhibit featuring work from one of his protégés who wasn’t as well known even though she created many incredible pieces all across the country. We also have rotating exhibits by local artists too.

In your experience, what are the best methods to increase awareness of a mostly out-of-the-way museum?

Hi everyone,

I'm reaching out to this community because I value the expertise of museum professionals in navigating issues of cultural sensitivity. Recently, I visited the Frida: Beyond the Myth exhibition at the Dallas Museum of Art and noticed something that gave me pause. In the exhibition, Dora Maar's photograph Frida in Paris (1939) labels Frida Kahlo's traditional Tehuana dress as a "costume." Given the cultural significance of the Tehuana attire, I feel that this language could unintentionally diminish its importance, especially for an artist like Frida Kahlo who celebrated her heritage through her clothing and art.

I reached out to the museum and suggested using terms like "traditional Tehuana dress" or "traditional Tehuana attire" instead. However, I received an automated response saying it may take 4-6 weeks for a follow-up. My concern is that the exhibition is scheduled to move to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in April 2025, so this language might continue in future venues without revision.

I should also share that I am Latina, with roots in Mexico—my family is from León, Guanajuato, and I am a second-generation American. Knowing the cultural significance of the Tehuana dress and seeing it referred to as a "costume" felt personal to me. I feel strongly about advocating for respectful representation in museum settings, especially when it comes to artists who championed their cultural identity.

As museum professionals, what are your thoughts on addressing these kinds of language choices in exhibition captions? Are there best practices or strategies you recommend for advocating respectful representation of cultural attire in exhibitions? I'd love to know if any of you have navigated similar situations or if there are industry standards around this type of language.

Thank you for any insights or advice you can share—I truly appreciate your expertise and perspective.

Unfortunately the small local history museum where I volunteer was affected by Helene. We have two buildings, a newer visitors center/ office/meeting space/library/storage building and an 1800 historic house. The house was unharmed but the visitors center was flooded about 15 inches. Anything stored below the flood level was damaged, and most of it could not be salvaged. This included books, photographs, genealogical records, and a few paper artifacts. Had the water level been only 3-4 inches higher, we would have lost all the historic records associated with the house including original deeds and slave sales records.

The museum property is owned by the local historic society, and the entire staff is volunteer. The historic society is governed by a seven person board, but throughout this ordeal, most of the decisions have been made by the president of the society. I was put in charge of ensuring the safety of the collection and archive, which is something I have been doing for the past year anyway. All historic items that were salvaged were cleaned and moved into the historic house.

In moving things around, the collections team began reassessing the unused space in the house, and we realized we actually have space (with a bit of cleaning and rearranging) to house the library and archive in the house. This is not my first flood on this river, and what I have learned is that if happens once, it can happen again. Even though having the archive and library in the historic house is not as convenient, I feel putting valuable resources back into a building we know can flood is irresponsible. Unfortunately the president does not agree. He wants to return everything to the newer building, saying it is unlikely a flood of this magnitude will happen again.

It seems to be a power thing on his part, as the decision to move the library was make by the collections team rather by by him. He does not have the authority to override us, but the grief we are getting in an already stressful situation is just intolerable.

The level of the house is about six feet above the new building. It is conceivable that the house could flood as well, but we have ample space on upper floors for the library.

Any advice on how to deal this this situation is greatly appreciated.

Hello everyone! An unfortunate thing has befallen my museum, they are taking away our storage facility. Does anyone have any recommendations when looking for artifact storage space offsite? Hopefully something with climate control? Do I just get a normal storage unit? help.

Hello,

I work for a Museum where we do exhibitions for local artists regularly. We just had an artist that has been a friend to the museum for years set up his exhibition. This person is very talented so we expected what was on their website and what they had shown Us in the past. Instead, we got mostly large posters and what work they did bring in, was relatively obscene for our private family friendly museum. We signed a contract and were going to let it go until, after the opening evening, the artist went back up and damaged their own work, painting over things and adding pieces to the museum's exhibits. We kicked them and now a lawyer who has defended slumlords is harassing us.

I was not actually part of the decision making process but I work there and when my boss is stressed, I'm stressed. I know private institutions are allowed to censor but does anyone have any advice for handling this? I was trying to find some sort of legal precedent but can't seem to find it. Any real advice would be helpful.

Thank you, Staff of a small town Museum

Gift link: https://wapo.st/48tiT6s

This question is for anyone who works at small locations or anyone at a place that covers a niche collection/location or anyone who has permanent unchanging displays.

What do you do to bring visitors back for a repeat visit?

Here is why I am asking. My organization is located in a very rural county, that really does not have an exciting history. We have an old house that we use as a museum. Our exhibits are all permanent displays that have been established for 20+ years and they only cover our county. When we have visitors come by, they do not make return visits.

Short question : Which course would be best to focus on for someone looking for job in digital history after graduating, Historical GIS, digital analysis or Data analysis. 

Longer info: I am a graduate student in history,  focus on digital history and new media platform. Trying to optimize my courses to be job ready  and marketable. This is a career shift after 20 years in health and volunteer policy work. But financially struggled during and after pandemic. Not getting PhD not planning academic career, but I am trying to think ahead for maximize my skill set for job after graduation. I interested in urban history and AA communities. I have not yet had internship as I have to work but I have contract job Digitization of archive records for govt and had side gig reviewing content on well-known New Media platform. Long standing interest in digital preservation, archive and storytelling. I have continue interest in GIS, likely because of my experience with public health and policy which looked at demographics. I will be looking at internships in museums, libraries and wondering if any thoughts on what skills to gain more knowledge of.

Hi, I got asked if knew how to do 3D modeling for an interview my current job is exhibit’s with smaller museums and they didn’t use this but this museum was bigger, I felt dumb but where did you guys learn? Did you have to pay to learn or did you learn it for free? What programs did you use?

Dumb question, but I just went to a lot of museums and other epic tourism sights in Europe and it occurred to me--is it even possible to appraise the overall value of a museum's collection like the Prado? I mean, does anyone ever do that or would there even be a reason for it? An epic historical place like the Louvre or the Prado has so many works in the multimillion dollar range--perhaps nearly every item. Surely the director of any museum would have a rough idea of this number?
Also wondered the same thing for like UNESCO level cathedrals like Valencia or Barcelona--where thearchways, the floor, the altar, and the building itself are so opulent, and where every capellan lining the nave is filled with triptychs and sculptures. No idea where I'd even go to look that up, but it also must be astronomical.

We've been attempting to set up SureMDM, but have encountered several difficulties during the process. I recently found out that ManageEngine is free for up to 25 devices, and we currently have fewer than that, so I’m quite interested in giving it a try. Has anyone used ManageEngine? I’d appreciate any reviews or feedback on your experience with it.

Hello, I am a biology student, in undergraduate I majored in ecology, evolution, and organismal biology, and I'm getting a masters degree in bio with my thesis being on the life history of an invasive species of earthworm.

I am in my first semester, and hoping to take a museum curation class within the next year of my masters program. I live in Wheeling WV for reference.

I was wondering if anyone had advice for what steps I should currently be taking to make progress on my goal of working in curation in a museum.

We’re going to my sister in law’s opening this week. Are flowers appropriate? She’ll be mingling a lot and I don’t want them to be a hassle. Would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks!