REACHING OUT; REACHING IN: ALUMNI CHECK-IN

Alumni Check-In | Elizabeth Cytko

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University College and King's Circle. Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Cytko

As a new museum studies student, starting this degree can be overwhelming. A few of the things occupying your time include: learning all the theory, discovering free food events, project management, the names of your cohort and participating in extracurricular activities (and yes I am going to pretend riding the TTC counts as extracurricular.)

One of the first things you learn is that there are a lot more jobs in the museum industry than is “advertised” in popular culture. So many jobs, so little time, and how do you even begin to discover the pros and cons of each one?!

Being a student gives you a secret super power, which I suggest you use – Student Status.

via GIPHY

 Professional interviews are one of the best ways to make connections, make new friends, and discover potential paths for your career. Student status means having an excuse as to why you want to reach out to professionals in the field, and ask them what their job is about.

I know this from personal experience. For the past 9 months I have had the privilege to interview alumni from the Museum Studies program. This means I reached out to persons (who often I had never met before!) to ask them what life is like after graduation. The alumni have been friendly, gracious, and eager to share their experience.

Human impact on environment comes in all sorts of forms. Museum preservation is beyond objects, and includes complicated discussions. For example, how could a museum professional raise awareness for the need to preserve native prairie landscapes? Canola Field, Alberta. Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Cytko

Initially, what I had felt to be rather scary and intimidating has turned into a column I look forward to initiating. Who can I ask next? What exciting things are happening out in the field? Even though these alumni are across the continent and working in different museums, many of their concerns are shared. Through interviews, themes such as the environment, decolonization and technology are all repeated again and again. My eyes have been opened to the fact that the museum community is tight knit and comes together to work on some of the most complicated issues.

Some of the alumni have even thrown down challenges for the museum professionals (new and old) to tackle.

Kate Wolforth asks us to consider the waste of exhibitions, and what happens to the signage, packaging, and materials used afterwards. Is it justifiable that so much ends up in the dump?

Roderick MacLean asks how historic sites (and museums in general) can adapt to the longer visitor seasons due to global warming. Will it be the new trend to hire past the Summer season, into the Fall?

And Deborah Robichaud tasks new professionals to incorporate environmental scans into their daily practice, and ask “What are the big issues in the world and how do they affect museums?”

I am excited to present you the new interviews in this upcoming semester, and I hope that you too are inspired to reach out to the alumni network. Remember, in a few short years, you will be an alumnus, and a nervous student might reach out to you!


If you want to reach out to me, feel free to!

elizabeth.cytko@mail.utoronto.ca

THE STUDENT-SUNDIAL CONNECTION

THE GRAD SCHOOL GUIDE

BY: AURORA CACIOPPO

Greetings! I am so pleased to be the contributing editor for The Grad School Guide this summer. As I contemplated what valuable tips should be shared with incoming and/or current grad students, I got seriously sidetracked by S-Town. This podcast, as some of you may already know, is hosted by Brian Reed and was released in March 2017 by the producers of Serial. It’s about John B McLemore, a man who hates his hometown of Woodstock, Alabama. He reaches out to Brian and asks him to investigate a local crime, but once the research begins, an entirely new story is unearthed. Suddenly, Reed (and every listener) gets caught up in the life of John B. Fear not, I won’t reveal any spoilers.

John B often quotes passages found on sundials, an interesting tradition I became fascinated with. As a human who is enrolled in post-graduate education and is also desperately trying to manage every other aspect of my life, I am dedicating my first column of The Grad School Guide to sundial philosophy. I hope that from this time-measuring wisdom, graduate students will be inspired to become true masters of Museum Studies.

Source.

“Vita in motu” - Life is in motion
Accept that everyone is coming from a different stage of their life, and most importantly, different areas of expertise. Do not doubt your abilities. Instead, be confident in what you do know, and try approaching your insecurities with being open to learning about what you don’t know. Show up to as many events as you can. There are countless educational and professional development opportunities, and time moves quickly! Take advantage!

“Be as true to each other as this dial is to the sun”
Get to know your peers! These are the people you will work with during and after your degree. This will be your first network of museum professionals! Recognize your own strengths and weaknesses, offer your help when appropriate, and don’t be afraid to ask for help in return. I have learned so much simply by listening to what my classmates have contributed in lecture, group projects, or while editing their papers. Be open, be interested, and be yourself. 

“Take the gifts of this hour”
The gift of this hour is this: the bathrooms in the Bissell building basement are the best. There are a lot of them, and no one is ever there. You’re welcome.

Source.

“Altera pars otio, pars ista labori” - Devote this hour to work, another to leisure
Explore! Visit museums with your classmates. Discuss what you liked about your visit and what you didn’t. Go over what you failed to understand and share what you did. You’ll quickly learn that each person notices different things. This practice will allow you to get to know your friends better, it will open your eyes to different methods of interpretation, and this process will better prepare you for class discussions and assignments.

“Vivere memento” - Remember to live
Get out of your home, the museum, work, etc., and do something completely unrelated. Try a new restaurant (there are SO MANY in the area – contact me, I will hook you up); go to SkyZone trampoline park; go to a regular park; visit an escape room etc. etc. etc. Live that life of yours!

Source.

“Dum tempus habemus operemur bonum” - While we have time, let us do good
Don’t be too serious. Life as a student is stressful, but it is also a special time where we have the freedom to take chances. Research what you’re passionate about. Find what works best for you. As museum professionals, we have the opportunity to make a difference in the way people understand art, history, and objects. Do good with it.

“Tedious and Brief”
This is one phrase that isn’t found on a sundial; rather, it’s something John B repeats in S Town. Nevertheless, I think it’s something that’s worth reminding ourselves of. Yes, at times, things can seem tedious. But in the grand scheme of things, it is incredibly brief. Take time to remind yourself that it is most definitely worthwhile.

THE GRAD SCHOOL GUIDE TO COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT

COLLECTIONS CORNER

BY: JENNIFER MAXWELL

Do you remember Evelyn Carnahan from the movie The Mummy? She was the librarian working for the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, and she was very proud of her profession. She even journeyed to the City of the Dead and confronted some rather unscrupulous characters, all for the cause of one artefact. That is some collections-development dedication right there!

I have always admired Evelyn Carnahan’s zeal for collections. I love museums/history/artefacts, so entering into Museum Studies was an easy decision. Navigating the Master of Museum Studies programme in search of Collections Management (CM) knowledge and experience has been rewarding, and I have learned a great deal over the past year. Below is some of the best advice I can offer first-year students interested in the field of CM.

I. What is a Collections Manager?

Be prepared to fix inconsistencies in the collections records. Source.

So, what does a collections manager actually do? A great many things. A collections manager is essentially responsible for maintaining physical and intellectual control of collections. But what does that mean? It means that you need to have knowledge of the objects, the storage, handling, conservation, and management of the collection. That’s the short version. I think you will get an idea of the longer version as you spend more time in the MMSt programme.

II. Which courses are the best?

Which course covers topics in collections reanimation? Source.

When it comes time for course selection, Collections Management (MSL 1150H) is the quintessential choice. This course provides both practical and theoretical knowledge on the care of collections in museums, galleries, and similar institutions. But this is not the only course available to CM students.

As collections managers, we can find work in both large and small institutional settings. In larger institutions our work might be more narrowly focused, i.e. strict description and digitization entry. This stands in contrast to smaller institutions where the work involved might be more varied. It is not uncommon for collections managers in smaller institutions to perform curatorial work, research, and educational activities. With this in mind, having practical and theoretical knowledge in collections-related subjects can be immensely beneficial.

From my own experiences, I would recommend courses in archives management, interpretation and mean-making, exhibition and/or curation, as well as conservation/preservation (to name a few). Because CM is an integrated and integral aspect of museum operations, you should be as well-rounded in the field as possible.

III. What about an Internship?

You too can be this fabulous in your internship! Source.

For those interested in the internship course – which I strongly suggest – it is the perfect opportunity to develop skills and experience in CM. That being said, CM internships are not always the most advertised. It’s not enough to rely on the internship course for internship opportunities. While it may be an intimidating notion for many, contacting prospective institutions directly for internship opportunities is recommended.

Do not be afraid to be a bit adventurous too - consider internships in all types of institutions, from corporate archives to independent art galleries! For example, plenty of business corporations keep archives on-site and are fantastic un-tapped resources.

IV. What are the best resources?

All the knowledge! Source.

Rest assured there are plenty of book and article resources available to MMSt students, including some fantastic websites and databases at your disposal. Some of my favourites include the Canadian Conservation Institute, the Australian Institute for Conservation of Cultural Material, and the Collections Management Standards Toolkit. The amount of practical information available through these sites is astounding.

Also, take some time to read curator and museum blogs, as some of these sites offer everyday insights into collections from museums, galleries, and similar institutions. Be sure to visit museum, archive, and art association/council websites, as well. The online museum community is a wonderful place.

Any advice to add or questions to ask? Post them in the comments!