REUNITING WITH RISK: A DAY AT THE MMST50 UNCONFERENCE

Letter from the Editor | Jordan Fee 

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In 1969, a small group of students gathered in the Royal Ontario Museum as part of a new program offered by the University of Toronto. The program itself was named Museum Studies, and it sought to prepare a new generation of museologists through direct, hands-on training in a cultural institution. Little did they know that 50 years later, this small, specialized program would grow into a thriving community of alumni that stretches across the globe.

The Official Logo of the MMSt50 Conference

Last week, the Museum Studies program celebrated its 50th anniversary in the Claude T. Bissel building, which has housed the program since the year 2006. Students and professionals of all ages were invited to engage with one another in a series of workshops and discussions in the Inforum. 

Although everyone was happy to be in such an enthusiastic group, the conference was not fluffy or wistful. Rather than simply using this occasion as a platform for blind optimism, the MMSt50 committee – led by alumni Melissa Smith – chose to center this special day around the topic of risk. More specifically, the event attempted to shed light on how museums can become more open to risk, and how we as museum professionals can create environments where risk is encouraged.

Faculty Dean Wendy Duff addresses the crowd at the beginning of the Unconference.
Photograph courtesy of Jordan Fee.

To begin the day, participants engaged in a series of discussions about the definition of risk, which was followed by a rapid-fire series of discussions, each of which were led by a specific museum professional. These facilitators came from a wide variety of backgrounds, from historic houses, to municipal government, to the world of business and marketing. Cheryl Blackman, Director of Museum and Heritage Services for the City of Toronto, brought some incredible energy to these discussions, encouraging all of the participants to surround themselves with people who they can trust. It seems like taking risks becomes much easier when you can rely on your team for advice, support and hard work.

There were also commentators who chose to speak about risks not only facing museums, but also the human population at large. The MMSt50 celebration took place on the same day as the Global Climate strike, which saw an unbelievable turnout in Toronto. Doug Worts, who bills himself as a Culture and Sustainability Expert, took to the floor to ask pressing questions, such as “What cultural impacts are museums trying to achieve?” and “How might we change our actions to make a greater impact outside of our institutions?” 

A group of students, alumni and faculty members discuss risk at the roundtable.
Photograph courtesy of Jordan Fee.

As the day went on, more and more people got in touch with one another, and became more comfortable with bringing new ideas to the table. A group exercise led by Cara Krmpotich,  Director of the Museum Studies program, asked the group to make commitments about the kinds of risks that they would take after returning to their respective places of work. More importantly, this exercise asked other people in the room to commit their own time and resources to helping others in the room to take risks. This led to an extensive conversation about precarious work in museums, support groups and professional development events. There was an exciting energy pulsating in this room, and it was quite apparent that new bonds were being formed as we spoke. 

To cap off this exciting day, Katherine Ott, curator at the National Museum of American History, gave an incredible talk about risk, inclusion, power and memory in museums. Some of the most impactful statements made by Ott were related to museums as places of healing, therapy and wellbeing for those who have experienced past traumas. 

Katherine Ott at the Royal Ontario.
Photograph courtesy of Jordan Fee.

In keeping with the theme of risk, Ott was careful not to spare words about the brutal nature of the world today. The lecture was inspiring in a way that few others can be. In the end, this talk reminded us that we are all much more powerful when we support one another, and that we can make a difference if we pool our resources. In the words of Katherine Ott: “Just be your beautiful selves! We’re all in this together.”

MAKING MUSINGS PART 5: IT TAKES (MORE THAN) TWO

Letter from the Editors | Kathleen Lew & Amy Intrator

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This is the fifth and final post of a series in celebration of the Master of Museum Studies program at the University of Toronto's 50th anniversary (MMSt50). To reflect on Musings' past, present, and future, we invited all previous Editors-in-Chief to return to Musings to write special Letter from the Editor posts. These articles highlight the significance of Musings both within the MMSt program, and for writers' professional careers. Kathleen Lew and Amy Intrator are the fifth (and outgoing!) Editors-in-Chief of Musings from 2018-2019.

As the first ever Musings Editor-in-Chief team, this year has been an extremely rewarding exercise of collaboration. We hope this practice of community– among Musings Executive, Contributing Editors, MMSt, and wider museum communities– continues with future years of blogging.

Musings' 5th Birthday Party: Amy Intrator [Left] and Kathleen Lew [Right]. Photo courtesy of Musings.

In Summer of 2018, we sat at a coffee shop in Kensington market and talked at length about our goals for Musings. This included creating a writing environment in which Contributing Editors felt comfortable asking each other for guidance and insight, further integrating ourselves into the MMSt community, and continuing to collaborate with institutions. Soon enough we had updated the Musings interface and logos, incorporated two new response-based columns (Program Reviews and Muse News), and were reaching out to fellow MMSt students, faculty, and alumni to join our community.

Part I of the Musings team celebrating #MuseumSelfieDay! Check out these awesome photos from @ROMtoronto to @pompeii_sites. #museumselfie #PhiladelphiasMagicGarden #templeofRamsesVI #MuseumSelfieDay2019 pic.twitter.com/j843TjLUKQ

— Musings MMSt (@musingsmmst) January 16, 2019

We made some major strides this year, but absolutely none of this would be possible without our committed Contributing Editors. We started our tenure as Editors-in-Chief as a duo, but our team grew larger and stronger as the year went on. In September, we were lucky to have Jordan Fee join Musings as the Communications Officer (you may recognize his handiwork if you frequent our Instagram page). We know it’s impossible to do justice to our amazing writers in a short blog post, but here is a list of some of our must-read articles written by some marvelous Musers:

1. Rebecca Barrett - WEIRD HERITAGE: 6 OF TORONTO'S QUIRKIEST LANDMARKS
2. Keelan Cashmore - ACCESSIBILITY: MORE THAN A BUTTON ON A DOOR
3. Elizabeth Cytko - MANAGEMENT SKILLS, ENVIRONMENTAL SCANNING AND GOSSIP: ALUMNI CHECK-IN WITH DEBORAH ROBICHAUD
4. Rachel Dice - MORE THAN CLOTHES
5. Jordan Fee - "I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT RIGHT NOW": HOW ANTHROPOCENE SUCCEEDS IN STAYING SILENT
6. Evelyn Feldman - ALLOWING "PUSSY" IN THE LIBRARY: ART CONTROVERSY ACROSS GLAM SPACES
7. Alexandra Forand - WE NEED TO TALK, OR NOT: LANGUAGE IN MUSEUMS AS A FORM OF CONTROL
8. Carly Hall - LET'S TALK ABOUT "POWER AND POSSESSION: THE ETHICS OF COLLECTING"
9. Casarina Hocevar - FINDING FOODWAYS, PART I.
10. Maddy Howard - WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS
11. Selin Kahramanoglu - MONSTERS ON DISPLAY: AN EXHIBITION AT THE THOMAS FISHER RARE BOOK LIBRARY
12. Samantha Kilpatrick- A FUTURE TO IMAGINE FOR
13. Amelia Smith - WHERE'S THE T? TRANSGENDER INCLUSION IN THE MUSEUM
14. Samantha Summers - DANCING THROUGH LIFE: MMSt ALUM JOHN DALRYMPLE ON HIS WORK AT CANADA’S NATIONAL BALLET SCHOOL
15. Joanna Wreakes - MUSEUMS OR NOT? PART 3: SUBWAY SERIES STOCKHOLM

In addition to being Editors-in-Chief, we both continued our true passion project: writing for Musings! Here are a couple of our articles that we’re especially proud of...

Kathleen - GLOSSY GAL PALS MAKE THEIR OWN MUSES

Amy - EXHIBITING BANKSY: ACCESSIBLE ART OR VIOLATION OF ARTISTIC INTENT?

This year, three of our Contributing Editors created columns that addressed some of the most pressing issues in museums today. Amelia started Not Your Average Cistory, a column that aims to bridge the gap between Transgender Studies and Museum Studies. Ally started Breaking the Glass Case, a column dedicated to exploring the relationship between Indigenous communities and cultural heritage organizations. Evelyn started GLAM Guide, a column that looks at the intersections between galleries, libraries, archives, and museums. All of these columns are necessary additions to the Musings roster, and we can’t wait to see the future direction of the columns as they continue to evolve over time.

Having a team that consistently delivered awe-worthy content made it easier to expand our focus to include more outreach and professional development. For our first-EVER writing workshop, held in November, Sarah Hill from Lord Cultural Resources led a workshop about risk-taking and digital strategies. The workshop went so well that we offered a second one in March, led by Pym Buitenhuis, the Director of Marketing at Rotman School of Management, which focused on transferable writing skills. The workshops were possible thanks to the support of the MMSt50 organizing committee, who have been hard at work all year to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Master of Museum Studies program. The partnership with MMSt50 is proof that collaboration makes Musings stronger.

Celebrating the past, present, and future of Musings! Photo courtesy of Musings. 

Although parting is such sweet sorrow, we are immensely grateful that we got to throw a 5th birthday party for Musings and celebrate the blog’s contributions over the past 5 years with Contributing Editors, alumni, faculty, and MMSt students. It is an enormous privilege to be a part of Musings’ legacy. We had the opportunity to celebrate this legacy with the Making Musings series, where we reconnected to all past EICs and continued to learn from the inspiring accomplishments of Jaime, Madeline, Natania, and Serena. We can’t wait to watch Musings evolve over the next 5-years and challenge the museum field to become a more critical, inclusive space.

Thank you to all of our readers for joining us on this year-long journey. These two Editors-in-Chief can’t wait to become two of Musings' most passionate readers and strongest advocates.

Source.

MAKING MUSINGS PART 4: WORTH THE RISK

Letter from the Editor | Serena Ypelaar

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This is the fourth post of a five part series in celebration of the Master of Museum Studies program at the University of Toronto's 50th anniversary (MMSt50). To reflect on Musings' past, present, and future, we invited all previous Editors-in-Chief to return to Musings to write special Letter from the Editor posts. These articles will highlight the significance of Musings both within the MMSt program, and for writers' professional careers. Serena Ypelaar was the fourth Editor-in-Chief of Musings from 2017-2018. 

When I first considered running for Musings Editor-in-Chief, you could say I was wary of risk. For one thing, I had never spearheaded a major publication, let alone one representing a graduate program at the University of Toronto. I’d been on the editorial team for CLIO, uOttawa’s undergraduate history journal, but nothing matched the scale of the journey on which I was about to embark.

Was I nervous to put myself out there in a leadership role? You bet. Did I do it anyway? Yes, and I sure am glad I did.

Why had I considered the Editor-in-Chief role a risk? Namely because it involved leaving my comfort zone in a big way. It was a huge responsibility but also the most beautiful challenge. Stepping outside the comfortable and trying to take Musings new places – this was how I spent much of my second year (2017/2018) in the MMSt program, resulting in irreplaceable experiences, friendships, and memories.

Contributing Editor Julia Zungri [Left] and 2017/2018 Editor-in-Chief Serena Ypelaar [Right]. Photo courtesy of Serena Ypelaar/Musings.

I felt drawn to the role thanks to my deep love of writing and a strong sense of excitement. Some of my priorities as Editor-in-Chief were to broaden Musings’ community presence and connect more with audiences; increase inclusivity and further question the “status quo” of museums; and create a unified editorial structure that allowed for multiple rounds of edits and collaboration between team members. I was blessed with a talented and wonderful colleague in the role of Musings Administrator, Amy Intrator (one of Musings’ current Editors-in-Chief alongside She’s My Muse superstar Kathleen Lew), and we got a lot done!

Armed with a new social media strategy and revamped Instagram presence, we were able to connect with more institutions across digital networks. One of the most enjoyable promotional campaigns I ran involved sending personalized messages to museums across Canada to introduce their staff to Musings, encourage them to read and engage with our content, and propose possible collaborations. The goal was to expand our network; we received encouraging responses from professionals who were interested, as well as MMSt alumni who were happy for the chance to reconnect. This outreach project was experimental at best, but putting myself and the blog out there was beyond rewarding when I realized how many relationships we could create and nurture.

Risk reared its head yet again in February 2018, when I moderated MUSSA’s first major panel at the iSchool, Women in Leadership: Challenges, Successes, and the Future. It was terrifying, and I was extremely nervous to host a discussion with four accomplished museum leaders in front of a crowd, but I’m so happy I put my trepidation aside. If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have had the valuable opportunity to learn from inspiring women leading museums and expand Musings’ visibility further beyond the walls of the Bissell Building.

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Musings is happy to provide coverage for the @mussa.ischool Women in Leadership Panel, which took place yesterday! Check out our #WeekendEdition recap of the event! (Link in bio) 👭 (photo: Charlotte Gagnier)

A post shared by Musings - MMSt Student Blog (@musingsmmst) on Feb 10, 2018 at 6:01pm PST

Musings returned to the iSchool Conference in March, this time to discuss digital relevance. In a panel comprising Contributing Editors Emily Welsh, Sadie MacDonald, Kathleen Lew, Amy Intrator, and myself, we spoke about current events, commemoration, social media presence, and difficult legacies. We wanted to face up to some of the toughest topics to anchor Musings in timely and necessary museological dialogues, and we published a paper in the iJournal to that end.

Our panel at the iSchool Conference! Photo courtesy of Nicholas Ypelaar.

Blogging was second nature by the time my term ended, so I decided to ride the wave and start a new blog of my own, The Mindful Rambler. The team and I (including MMSt/Musings alumni) discuss interpretation/storytelling with a focus on history, literature, art, and biography. My time at Musings is the reason the blog exists at all; I still love writing articles that (hopefully) provoke thought, and I’m always trying to learn new things.

Musings has given me so much insight into cultural institutions, writing, and partnerships. Working at the Inuit Art Foundation, I’ve used that knowledge to collaborate with galleries and host Edit-a-Thons for the Inuit Art Quarterly Profiles, an online resource featuring Inuit artists from across Canada. Focusing on community events and digital education, I’m often reminded that collaboration is integral to success: Musings itself is built on collaboration. If you’ve been involved in any way, thank you.

Part of the Musings 2017/2018 team. Back [from left]: Emily Welsh, Julia Zungri, Kristen McLaughlin, Katlyn Wooder, Kathleen Lew, Amy Intrator. Front [from left]: Jennifer Lee, Leore Zecharia, Sadie MacDonald, Serena Ypelaar.
Photo courtesy of Serena Ypelaar/Musings.

Leading Musings was unlike anything I’ve ever done. It was also a fulfilling creative opportunity. Change is scary. Risk is scary. But only by taking calculated risks can we reap the rewards, a lesson I plan to take with me throughout my career.

As a team effort, Musings is a testament to collaboration in the Master of Museum Studies program, now 50 years old. I absolutely loved working with my colleagues, the Contributing Editors who make Musings great. Congratulations Jaime, Madeline, Natania, Kathleen, and Amy! The Editor-in-Chief legacy is truly unique, and I feel incredibly honoured to be counted among the ranks with you all.

Happy 5th birthday, Musings! Here’s to many more.

MUSEFLASH: STAYING AND STRAYING FROM THE MUSEUM AT MUSINGS SECOND WRITERS WORKSHOP

Weekend Edition | Amy Intrator

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This year, for the first time ever, Musings is hosting a series of writing workshops for Contributing Editors and fellow MMSt students. For each workshop, a professional shares their writing advice and helps bridge the gap between our current academic writing and our future writing as museum professionals. The workshops are part of MMSt50 programming, which celebrates 50 years of the Museum Studies program at the University of Toronto.

The workshop facilitator, Pym Buitenhuis, presenting at Musings Writers Workshop. Photo courtesy of Amy Intrator.

On March 6th, Musings hosted our second Writers' Workshop, which focused on transferable writing skills. For more coverage about our first workshop on digital strategies, be sure to read Samantha’s article. Our workshop facilitator, and trusty guide, was Pym Buitenhuis. Pym is both a graduate of the program (MMSt Class of 1989), as well as the current Director of Marketing at Rotman School of Management. Right from the get-go when Pym shared her career journey from museums to the corporate world, it became clear that she had a wealth of professional experience to share with students.

Pym sharing her career journey from museums to the corporate world. Photo courtesy of Amy Intrator.

Considering Career Paths

One of the themes throughout the workshop: a Museum Studies degree might take you in surprising directions. People might assume that a Museum Studies degree means that you’re striving to be a curator. However, Pym mapped out some of the various routes that graduates of the degree might take from further education, to ancillary industries like graphic design, to the great beyond of work outside of the sector.

A map of some of the possible careers after graduating from Museum Studies from ancillary sectors to general management. Photo courtesy of Amy Intrator.

Transferable Skills

It can be dizzying to consider the various routes, inside and outside the museum sector, that Museum Studies graduates might pursue, but Pym helped us consider how our studies are building a foundation that will serve us in various roles.

Pym detailed the skills she found most transferable between the program and the world of work under the following categories:

1) A holistic understanding of organizations

2) An understanding of both marketing and communications

3) An understanding of leadership and management styles and practices

Pym provided a clarification between the role of marketing (a.k.a. paid media) and communications (a.k.a. earned media), and it was during this discussion that it became clear that museums need professionals who can pivot between the two forms of communicating ideas. Museums sit in the “sweet spot” between marketing and communications, as staff need to both inform their audience in a compelling manner, as well as persuade the public that their museum is a place worth visiting and investing time.

Pym provided additional tools for communicating ideas in writing, but most importantly, she provided me with a sense that the Museum Studies program has fostered professional skills that will serve me in my career, whether I choose to stray or stay within the walls of a museum.

MAKING MUSINGS PART 3: THINGS I LEARNED WHILE EDITING MUSINGS

Letter from the Editor | Natania Sherman

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This is the third post of a five part series in celebration of the Master of Museum Studies program at the University of Toronto's 50th anniversary (MMSt50). To reflect on Musings' past, present, and future, we invited all previous Editors-in-Chief to return to Musings to write special Letter from the Editor posts. These articles will highlight the significance of Musings both within the MMSt program, and for writers' professional careers. Natania Sherman was the third Editor-in-Chief of Musings from 2016-2017.

It’s been a few minutes Lovely Musings’ Readers! I bet you weren’t expecting to see me here again! I am honoured to contribute an article for MMSt50. Aaaaaand a little intimidated to be following two amazing former EIC’s (who just happen to be two of my #GLAM industry girl-crushes). I hope I can do Madeline and Jaime proud by sharing some of my experiences during and after my time as the 2016-2017 Musings' Editor-in-Chief.

The Musings Panel at the 2017 iSchool Conference. L to R: Musings writers Kristen McLaughlin, Erika Robertson, Natania Sherman, and Chris Wai. Photo courtesy of Anja Hamilton.

I knew I wanted to write for Musings as early as my orientation at the iSchool. But I didn’t know what I was getting into when I ran for Musings EIC, until I was suddenly standing in front of a room of 21 expectant student writers all looking to me to train and support them. No pressure, right?

In 2016, the blog was at the crossroads between being an upstart student blog and a professional industry platform. The number of contributing editors had quadrupled, and the blog was gaining attention from industry professionals both locally and internationally. The increased attention meant that editing was a constant pressure! Correcting spelling and grammar is hard enough. I also responded to external copyright questions, scheduled a variety of museological content, and coached writers on how to get the most impact with each article.

OMA Conference Selfies, L-R: Anja Hamilton, Kate Seally, Natania Sherman and Emily Berg.
Photo courtesy of Natania Sherman.

Balancing the blog, school, and my 3 jobs, meant that I was always juggling different priorities. With a team of 21 contributing editors, I was reliant on Musings’ roster of volunteers. I was so grateful that my cohort committed to producing exciting content. Editing Musings taught me that a group of people with a passion for what they do can produce something much greater than what I could do on my own.

Some of my proudest moments as Musings’ EIC were attending the Ontario Museum Association (OMA) Conference in 2016, sharing an article recapping the experience, and leading our own panel discussion about Musings at the iSchool Conference in 2017. These experiences highlighted how writing for Musings could develop connections between students and professionals. The iConference opened up lots of interesting discussions about the future of Musings. Imagine a Musings podcast or Youtube channel, more press opportunities, more outreach to industry professionals. Your academic workload is your only limit, future EIC’s!

I’m also extremely proud of a column I created called She’s My Muse dedicated to women in museums. This project gave me an outlet for my feminist values and it’s been exciting to see that after I graduated some students have chosen to re-interpret the byline. Many writers in my cohort were able to push the boundaries of their chosen bylines in very creative ways ranging from developing an interactive conservation flowchart to writing a three part series examining the conservation issues around the Dakota Access Pipeline. I’m glad I was able to foster an environment where writers could be their most creative selves, and I gained so much knowledge on a range of subjects by reading their work. I hope that you, Lovely Readers, feel the same!

Since graduating from the iSchool, I have have worked in collections management, first at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection and currently, as Collections and Services Manager at the TIFF Film Reference Library where I manage library operations and over-85 special collections. Unlike my Musings predecessors, I no longer write for social media professionally. However, the skills I gained from Musings have helped my career. Editing Musings was a crash course in writing for an audience. Although I rarely use social media at work, I do write annual reports, prepare project pitches, publish artifact descriptions to the web, and correspond with my colleagues. Musings has a niche audience of graduate students and museum professionals, and I spent most of 2016-2017 thinking about what kind of writing voice could best engage that audience. After a year of focusing on writing for the Musings’ audience, it became much easier to engage with different “audiences” such as senior staff and board members in the workplace.

Becoming the Editor-in-Chief for Musings also prepared me for taking on management positions in cultural organizations. At Musings, I had the difficult role of being in a mentorship position with my peers while also learning “on the job” myself. Turns out, coaching Musings writers was the ideal practice for coaching interns and direct reports in the workplace. When I made the transition to leadership, I already had some experience knowing when to ask my colleagues the hard questions and when a strategic coffee outing was necessary (answer: always, coffee is essential). I learned that management is not about already knowing the answers, but about learning as you go and being willing to listen to your colleagues.

Source.

I want to end my article by thanking the faculty and staff at the iSchool. Musings was my outlet and my community during the 2 years of my graduate degree and I’m so grateful that the iSchool fostered student initiatives like Musings. Here’s to another 50 years of the MMSt program!

MAKING MUSINGS PART 2: STRENGTHENING A FOUNDATION, SHAPING A PROFESSIONAL TRAJECTORY

Letter from the Editor | Madeline Smolarz

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This is the second post of a five part series in celebration of the Master of Museum Studies program at the University of Toronto's 50th anniversary (MMSt50). To reflect on Musings' past, present, and future, we invited all previous Editors-in-Chief to return to Musings to write special Letter from the Editor posts. These articles will highlight the significance of Musings both within the MMSt program, and for writers' professional careers. Madeline Smolarz was the second Editor-in-Chief of Musings from 2015-2016.

This is my 25th article for Musings, and quite likely my last for a long time.

I was a Musings’ contributing editor under the leadership of pioneering Editor in Chief (EiC) Jaime Clifton-Ross from 2014-2015 before becoming EiC of Musing myself from 2015-2016. I’m the second EiC to write a retrospective of my time with the blog in celebration of Musings’ 5 years of outstanding history, and I’m both thrilled and proud to have the privilege to return.

I knew I had massive, if not astronomical shoes to fill taking on this role following Jaime. You’ve already read her wonderful reflection piece, so you know what I’m talking about! Though altering the formula she had perfected in any way terrified me, the number of contributing editors grew and the number of columns we published did as well. As much as my contributors (patiently) allowed, I did my best to be an involved and supportive EiC. For example, my dear friend and Historic Kitchen writer Leah Moncada let me taste-test her cooking escapades, while another equally lovely friend and Sew What writer Anya Baker interviewed me for a piece discussing curating personal style.

L to R – Leah Moncada, Anya Baker, and Madeline Smolarz at the 2016 MMSt Year End Party hosted at Campbell House.
Photo courtesy of Madeline Smolarz.

As I cast my mind back to some of my other memorable moments of my time as EiC, my most ambitious blog post was definitely “3 Exhibitions In 1 Day, Brought To You By Canada’s National Museums.” I remember having this thought as I conceived of the trip from Toronto to Ottawa; as I sat on the train,; as I tromped around Ottawa in winter,; and as I wrote that beast of a post. No one else had ever written a review of three exhibitions at once, and as tricky as it was to bring all of those threads together at times, it was such a thrill of a challenge that I’d do it all over again!

Ottawa in the winter is no joke, but I would climb mountains of snow to spend a day in one of Canada’s national museums any time. Photo courtesy of Madeline Smolarz.

Musings has without a doubt positively impacted my professional life. Musings gave me the opportunity to transform my academic skills to writing and editing for the public about something I sincerely loved in an accessible, entertaining, and educational manner. I believe that every piece of writing I’ve produced since, from exhibition text to emails to colleagues, has been coloured by the way in which my Musings’ experience elevated my abilities. The social media skills I gained were also immensely useful. After completing the MMSt program, I started working at the Craigleith Heritage Depot, where I had to establish a media presence from scratch. I would’ve been overwhelmed if it wasn’t for my year overseeing the Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages my predecessor Jaime had already established.

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Starting off #snbTO at @gardinermuseum with "Silent Knight"! #musingsmmst #lego #sculpture

A post shared by Musings - MMSt Student Blog (@musingsmmst) on Oct 3, 2015 at 4:16pm PDT

Above is the first of several posts I shared to Musings’ Instagram when I led the first live-gram session in its history during Nuit Blanche 2015.

I’ve since taken my writing and social media abilities to Ruthven Park National Historic Site - where I led nearly all communications as Operations Coordinator - and to the City of Kingston, where I currently work overseeing operations at three museums and historic sites. The portfolio of excellent writing that I cultivated, the skills that were fostered by my roles with Musings, and the passion for leadership that I developed have absolutely been a huge benefit and confidence-booster for me as I’ve pursued my career in Ontario’s museum world thus far.

Madeline Smolarz on the job at the City of Kingston’s MacLachlan Woodworking Museum in July 2018.
Photo courtesy of Francesca Pang.

As I can now not seem to live without blogging, I’m currently serving a three-year term (2016-2019) as the Communications Chair of the Group of Ontario Emerging Museum Professionals (GOEMP) Committee; one of my responsibilities is overseeing the GOEMP Website’s Blog. At the time of writing this blog post, we’ve partnered with Fleming College’s Museum Management and Curatorship program to share 4 exceptional pieces of writing by current students on various museological topics. To borrow Marie Kondo’s phrase, it sparks joy in me to broadcast emerging museum professionals’ voices in this way, and I hope to continue to have a hand in it for many years to come in order to keep paying my experience forward.

L to R – Alison Ward, Lisa Terech, Diane Pellicone, Madeline Smolarz, and Will Hollingshead representing the 2016-2019 GOEMP Committee at the 2017 Ontario Museum Association Conference in Kingston, Ontario.
Photo courtesy of Lisa Terech.

I’d like to close with some thank yous, just like I did in my farewell blog post published on April 9, 2016.

Dr. Irina Mihalache: You are the ultimate champion of Musings, and the blog certainly wouldn’t be what it is now without your support. I will always consider you to be one of my most influential mentors. Thank you for your guidance.

Jaime Clifton-Ross: I wouldn’t be who I am today without the chance you gave me to write for Musings in 2014, and for your incredible friendship the past number of years. You are my sister in spirit and truly the patron saint of bloggers! Thank you for everything.

L to R – Madeline Smolarz and Jaime Clifton-Ross. Photo courtesy of Kellen Ross.

Musings’ Editors in Chief from 2016-2019: You folks are trailblazers, and I look at everything you’ve done for the blog with such happiness. Thank you for picking up the torch.

Till we meet again.

MOVING FORWARD WITH BOLDNESS: RISK, REDEFINITION AND RESERVATION IN THE MUSEUM

Jordan Fee | Weekend Edition

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Risk in a professional setting is often perceived as something unwanted – something to avoid at all costs. We want to be calculated in our decisions, and to be sure of their successes. Rather than seeking risk out, many of us choose to cast doubt upon it.

Such is the mythology of risk.

However, on February 7th, the Museum Studies Students Association (MUSSA) took yet another step towards dispelling such myths. As part of the 50th Anniversary of the Museum Studies Program (MMSt50), MUSSA invited four incredible panelists – Jim Shedden (Manager of Publishing at the Art Gallery of Ontario), Shaniqua Liston (Operations Manager at Kingston Penitentiary Tours), Kathleen Brown (Chief Operating Officer of Lord Cultural Resources), and Karen Carter (Founding Executive Director of Myseum of Toronto) - to speak on their respective approaches to risk in professional settings.

From left to right: Melissa Smith (Moderator), Shaniqua Liston, Jim Shedden, Kathleen Brown and Karen Carter.
Photograph courtesy of Kesang Nanglu. 

Guided by moderator Melissa Smith, the panelists riffed and responded to questions such as: How do you define risk in your own setting? What is the biggest risk that you have taken in your career? and do types of museums tend to take more risks than others?

"At Kingston Penitentiary, we try to do something new everyday." -Shaniqua Liston
Photograph courtesy of Kesang Nanglu.

While we tend to think of risk as something that is intensely consequential, each of the speakers took time to underline - and celebrate - the smaller risks that are taken by a number of institutions on a daily basis. Speaking of the tours provided at the Kingston Penitentary, Shaniqua Liston noted that risk in her institution generally requires a constant negotiation with her visitors, each of whom bring their own unique perspectives to the institution’s history. Kathleen Brown also shed some light on this endeavour, noting how she, as an entrepreneur, takes risks everyday when consulting with her clients. Adding some humour to this discussion, Jim Shedden noted how in the museum business, many risks are in fact taken for us, rather than by us.

A member of the audience asks the panelists a question. Photograph courtesy of Kesang Nanglu.

So, it is clear that there is such as thing as risk-in-practice. However, as we know, taking risks isn’t only about acting, it’s also a question of approach. Many of the panelists spoke about a psychological approach to risk-taking, noting how important it is to prepare both ourselves and others for risk. Karen Carter offered some particularly insightful comments on her mental approach to risk-taking, where convincing others to take risks usually requires “translating a road-map” that she has already planned out in her head.

Ultimately, much of the discussion revolved around negotiating with risk. Some institutions can take bigger risks than others, and some are much more risk averse when it comes to exhibitions and collections. Also, some professionals in the field might have a much different understanding of risk, associating it with failure and loss, rather than excitement and learning.

Following the panel, attendees enjoyed food, drink and conversation. Photograph courtesy of Kesang Nanglu.

While museums may seem like calculated reservoirs of information and knowledge, we should all try to break the mold of purely logical thinking. Yes, we all want to be successful professionals, and rightly so. But being a successful museum professional isn’t just about following past practices; it's also about establishing new practices that help to extend the power of the museum and reach new audiences. Risk is about thinking outside of the box, being bold, and overall, getting outside of your comfort zone. Speaking of her own practice, Karen Carter noted how she is most comfortable when she is uncomfortable. (“I abhor comfort.”) I believe that we should all take a page out of her book, and approach situations that unnerve us and challenge our beliefs.

MAKING MUSINGS PART 1: REFLECTIONS FROM A PAST EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Letter from the Editor | Jaime Clifton-Ross

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This is the first post of a five part series in celebration of the Master of Museum Studies program at the University of Toronto's 50th anniversary (MMSt50). To reflect on Musings' past, present, and future, we invited all previous Editors-in-Chief to return to Musings to write special Letter from the Editor posts. These articles will highlight the significance of Musings both within the MMSt program, and for writers' professional careers. Jaime Clifton-Ross was the first Editor-in-Chief of Musings from 2013-2015. 

I remember this one humid day quite well. It was late August in 2013 and I had just moved to Toronto a couple of weeks before. I nervously entered the iSchool to meet Dr. Mihalache to discuss my research assistant position. She greeted me warmly and I instantly felt at ease. I was incredibly surprised to find out that the sole project for my assistantship was to transform the existing MMSt blog into a thriving platform that served as the voice of the Master of Museum Studies students.

I began this somewhat daunting task by researching other blogs and obsessively tinkering with the back end of blogger (Musings’ Content Management System). I scoured the internet in hopes of learning as much as I could about web design and I also taught myself some basic coding. I spent the next few months developing content, writing the preliminary mission/vision/mandate, and researching blogging best practices. While I couldn’t put my finger on it, this project had ignited something in me.

By January 2014, I had convinced 4 other students to join me as contributing editors. Together we came up with a series of columns and created a rigorous content calendar that included a new post every weekday. Despite how challenging it was to maintain this busy content calendar, everyone managed to post one blog a week. I credit the team’s commitment and collaborative spirit as the reason why Musings took off so quickly.

“The Original Musings Team”. From left: Brittney Sproule, Meaghan Dalby, Alexandra Jeffrey, Jaime Clifton-Ross, Lauren Williams, and Katherine Hannemann. Photo courtesy of Jaime Clifton-Ross.

After two semesters of working on Musings, I secured an internship in the web department at the Royal Ontario Museum. My task was to conduct an environmental survey of museum blogs and identify best practices. I also wrote a series of blog posts and learned a lot about social media. This helped energize me for my second year as Editor-in-Chief, which had become an elected role with student council rather than an assistantship. Equipped with far more knowledge about blogs and web engagement, I set out to recruit the second year of contributing editors and guide them in best practices. Much to my surprise, we had several new students join the team, increasing our number from 6 to about 20. Musings was no longer a small operation, but rather an organized and vital part of the MMSt program.



My experience working on Musings first and foremost helped guide me towards a career in online communications and engagement. It helped me uncover my natural skillset and gave me the confidence to pursue my current professional pathway. The hands-on experience I gained in leadership, project management, writing, community engagement, web design, and social media marketing is what has shaped my career the most. It also broadened my knowledge and experience, which helped me to transition from the museum and non-profit sectors to the field of sustainable community development.

Upon reflecting on the blog posts I wrote during my time with Musings, one in particular stood out. The Curated Garden: A Museum? showcased Butchart Gardens, a historic site in Victoria, British Columbia. In this post, I recounted the history of the site and reflected on how museums come in different shapes and forms. While re-reading this post, I was reminded of how certain museum practices, namely interpretive planning and marketing, are adapted from other sectors. This also made me think about how other sectors can learn from museums, namely on how to communicate important subjects such as climate change, social justice, biodiversity loss, etc.

“Butchart Gardens” by Jenna Lee. Source.

I currently work as the research curator for a small research team in the School of Environment and Sustainability at Royal Roads University in Victoria, BC. Our research spans many subjects under the umbrella of sustainable community development—including climate change adaptation and mitigation, biodiversity conservation, community vitality, social capital and agency, as well as communications. I wear many hats in my role, however my main task is to develop effective methods to communicate our research findings beyond traditional academic channels (i.e. peer-reviewed journals and conferences). Academic research is not often circulated to the public widely nor is it often formatted into accessible mediums, which is why I think academia can learn a thing or two from the museum field. To tackle this gap and to develop best practices for academics, I draw on museum practices while experimenting with visual communications, social media content curation, web content development, and video production. I’ve even had the opportunity to curate two research exhibits, one of which just opened at the Royal Roads University Library Showcase space last week.

“Wind Turbine in Field of Sunflowers” by Gustavo Quepón. Source. 

While my experience with Musings certainly helped me secure my master’s internship and my first job in the field, the biggest reward were the lifelong friendships I formed. I am also so thankful to all the wonderful contributing editors who made, and continue to make Musings what it is today.