Upcoming BC Museums Association Workshops to Take Place Across the Province

The Fernie Museum plays host to a two-day exhibition development workshop this June, courtesy of the BC Museums Assocation. | Image: Tourism Fernie

This May and June, the BC Museums Association is offering a series of workshops in Rossland, Fort Nelson and Fernie, designed for those working in the museum sector. More information and registration for all sessions can be found here.

Setting the Stage for Learning: How to create visitor-focused programs at your museum

Monday, May 13, 2019 (9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.)
Location: Rossland 

Creating innovative, responsive programs for visitors is key to building new audiences and converting occasional visitors into returning visitors and members. The morning session is facilitated by Kim Gough, Learning Program Developer at the Royal BC Museum, and you will work in small teams to work through steps of the Design Thinking process to build skills in creating new programs with visitors, not just for them. This process is scalable for different types and sizes of institutions. Design Thinking uses elements like empathy, ideation and experimentation to arrive at innovative solutions that suit visitors’ needs and expectations. $40 for BCMA members; $90 for non-members

On the Ground with Objects: Learning and Programming at Your Museum

Friday, May 17, 2019 (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)
Location: Fort Nelson

Are you looking for easy – and creative – ways to make your museum come to life?  Join the BC Museums Association for a 3-hour workshop presented in partnership with the Northern Trails Heritage Society. Participants will be led in a practical, hands-on workshop that introduces simple and easy-to-implement “object-based activities” into your galleries. The goal is for everyone to come away with practical activity ideas and program plan templates for developing fun, immersive programs that will make your museum come to life! $10 for BC Museums Association and/or Northern Trails Heritage Society members; $50 for non-members

Exhibition Development: Planning Successfully & Designing with Purpose (Two-Day Workshop)

Wednesday, June 26 (10:00am – 4:30pm) & Thursday, June 27 (9:00am – 3:00pm)
Location: Fernie 

This two-day workshop with exhibition expert Tim Willis will explore how to plan exhibits successfully and the secrets to simple, effective design and teach you how to tell a story well, so that it truly connects with visitors.

Day One:  Planning Successfully, Designing with Purpose

This day is about thinking critically about exhibitions and their potential to connect with visitors. We will focus on planning effectively before moving into practical principles of exhibition design for small museums. Optional evening social sponsored by Heritage BC.

Day Two:  Interpretation and Writing for Exhibitions

On day two, the focus will be all about telling a story well. Participants will look at the art of interpretation and how successful exhibitions move beyond simply conveying information; see how great storytelling connects with the visitor as a person; and explore the principles of writing for exhibitions. Optional afternoon tour of the Fernie Museum.

Workshop participants will also receive free print copies of the BCMA’s Exhibit Development Tools for Small Museums. You are guaranteed to come away not only with a sense of being inspired, but also a set of practical tools for easy implementation at your museum or gallery.

Registration fee is $110 for BCMA members; $200 for non-members; workshop fee includes coffee and lunch on both days. Registration fee is $110 for BCMA members; $200 for non-members; workshop fee includes coffee and lunch on both days.