Museum Institute at Great Camp Sagamore

The Museum Association of New York (MANY) has officially opened registration for the 2019 “Access and Identity: Leading for the Future” Museum Institute at Great Camp Sagamore.

The Museum Institute is a retreat for museum professionals held at Great Camp Sagamore in the heart of the Adirondacks. Participants learn in collaboration with presenters who use their own experiences, successes, and challenges to start and inspire conversations.

The lead presenter will be Tonya Matthews, Ph.D., Director of Inclusion at the American Alliance of Museums. Dr. Matthews is a national thought-leader in museum engagement, free-choice learning, and equity and inclusion in STEM. She is the founder of the STEMinista Project, an initiative to engage girls’ interest and skills in science and technology careers. Most recently, Matthews served as President and CEO of the Michigan Science Center, a museum providing hands-on science education and experiences for children and young adults in Detroit and across the state of Michigan. She served on the AAM board of directors between 2013-2018 and as past chair of both AAM’s diversity committee and the board’s nominating committee, has been integral to diversifying AAM’s board.

Erika Sanger, Executive Director, Museum Association of New York, Erika joined MANY after serving twelve years as the Director of Education at the Albany Institute of History and Art. There, she provided vision for the development of programs for adults, children, schools, and families, focusing on object-based learning and digital initiatives. She has led the institute’s “digital renaissance,” most notably with the launch of a new website and creation of interpretative strategies around hand-held digital devices and interactive media.

Andrew Marietta, VP, Regional Development, New York Council on NonProfits, Andrew will be presenting best practices in board fiscal responsibility, fund development, and board/executive directors responsibility divisions to comply with New York State’s non-profit laws. A participant from last year’s session said that they learned more from Andrew in one morning than they did in a semester of study at their MPA program. His presentation might be Garet Livermore, Independent Museum professional with 30+ years in the museum field, Garet is the immediate past director of Great Camp Sagamore, and former VP for Education at the Fenimore and Farmer’s Museums. He has also taught at the Cooperstown Graduate Program.

Sonnet Takahisa, Teaching and Learning Consultant, Arts and Cultural Strategies, Inc. Sonnet is immediate past VP of the Newark Museum, was the founder of the New York City Museum School, Assistant Director of Education at the Brooklyn Museum and was on the original Excellence and Equity: Education and Public Dimension of Museums committee in 1992. Sonnet is interested in discussing and sharing her thoughts and work towards Diversity, Equity, Access and Inclusion over the past 25+ years.

Bruce Whitmarsh, Executive Director, Chemung County Historical Society. Bruce has been the Director of the Chemung County Historical Society since the fall of 2010. Prior to that he has worked in history museums in North Dakota, Virginia and Washington, DC. He is interested in how museums are part of their community and how they can play an active role in areas like economic re-development, tourism, and educational enrichment.

Registration is now open online, by email info@nysmuseums.org or by calling (518) 273-3400. Space is limited and early registration is advised. The MANY office is located at River Street, Troy. For more information on the Museum Association of New York, call (518) 273-3400, or visit their website.