Blog and Newsletter

MAM member STQRY (formerly OnCell) is hosting a free webinar this Wednesday, October, 28 at 2pm EST. The topic will be Digital Media & Holocaust Museums in a Post-Survivor Era.

The webinar will discuss navigating difficult history and review some case studies of how organizations are implementing digital technology to educate and share stories effectively. I thought this webinar may interest some of your members so feel free to share if you would like! 

Join using this link: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/9616037279948/WN_kys318I4R6G88C0DPakXiQ

Are you interested in learning more about Museums for All, an initiative dedicated to expanding community access? Mark your calendar to join staff from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Association of Children’s Museums on November 19 at 2 p.m. Eastern to learn more about how and why almost 600 museums participate in the program. 

Click here to register for the webinar.

Maine Preservation is pleased to announce that the 1772 Foundation has announced a round of grant funding in 2021 to support historic preservation efforts in the State of Maine.

Maine Preservation is partnering with the 1772 Foundation to provide matching grants to nonprofit organizations with eligible preservation projects. Funding in the form of 1:1 matching grants of up to $10,000 will be made available for the following project types: exterior painting; finishes and surface restoration; fire detection/lightning protection/security systems; repairs to/restoration of porches, roofs and windows; repairs to foundations and sills; and chimney and masonry repointing.

Letters of inquiry will be accepted until November 6, 2020. 

The National Endowment for the Humanities has recently opened applications for its Preservation Assistance Grants for Smaller Institutions. The program is intended to help small and mid-sized institutions improve their ability to preserve and care for their significant humanities collections. NEH is encouraging applications from small and mid-sized institutions that have never received an NEH grant.

More info can be found here: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=329203.

Robert Perret, Special Collections Librarian and Archivist for the University of Idaho, is doing research and conducting a survey regarding the work experience of people with dual roles as archivists and librarians.  If you fit this description and would like to take the survey, please click the link below! 

https://uidaho.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8uo3HsmEwmyQgRv

To apply: https://www.maine.gov/decd/economic-recovery-grants

In addition to the threat to public health, the COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally changed the global business environment, causing severe supply-chain disruptions, reduced consumer spending, and unprecedented losses that are felt across all sectors.  U.S. industries are no exception, with hospitality, tourism, retail, restaurants and bars, entertainment, manufacturing and countless others facing a host of new challenges and barriers that disrupt operations and impede growth. Here in Maine, the closure of the Canadian border, the stoppage of cruise ships, and reluctance of people to travel have impacted our economy, from agriculture to fisheries, to retail, recreation and hospitality sectors.

The State of Maine plans to use CARES Act relief funding to help our economy recover from the impacts of the global pandemic by supporting Maine-based businesses and non-profit organizations through an Economic Recovery Grant Program. The funding originates from the federal Coronavirus Relief Fund and will be awarded in the form of grants to directly alleviate the disruption of operations suffered by Maine’s small businesses and non-profits as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Maine Department of Economic & Community Development has been working closely with affected Maine organizations since the beginning of this crisis and has gathered feedback from all sectors on the current challenges.

Many Maine businesses and non-profits have not been able to access existing sources of relief funding and so have “fallen through the cracks” and need help in order to remain viable. Some of these businesses are from sectors hardest hit from the global pandemic, including those who remained closed for longer periods of time, businesses that have not yet re-opened, businesses that rely on seasonal cash flows, and businesses with decreased revenues due to declines in consumer spending or declining global markets. This program is not meant to be exclusive and acknowledges that nearly every industry sector in Maine has experienced a decrease in revenue.

The money available for these grants cannot wholly replace or repair the economic damage this pandemic has caused. Our narrow mission is to ensure that each dollar has at least a small, direct impact on supporting Maine businesses, Maine non-profit organizations, and Maine’s economy.

Program Goals

This program provides grants for businesses and non-profit organizations that demonstrate a need for financial relief based on lost revenues or expenses related to the disruption of business operations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Grants will be distributed based on a business’s/organization’s demonstrated losses as a pro-rated percentage of the total losses reported by qualified applicants.

The program is not intended to replace lost profits but only to help businesses remain viable. This program is intended to assist in the stabilization of Maine’s economy and accelerate the transition from short-term relief to regaining our state’s focus on Maine’s 10-year Economic Development Strategy, anchored in talent and innovation.

Online Professional Development - Fall 2020

MuseumDev offers 4-week, online courses for museum professionals taught by subject experts with specialized skills and practical experience. Asynchronous courses allow you to finish readings, participate in discussion forums, and complete class assignments on your own schedule. 
Receive certificates of completion.

MEMBER DISCOUNT: Members of MAM can receive 10% off the course price of $199. See the discount code here.

Upcoming courses include:
Collection Management Policies (Oct 2020) - Instructor: Matthew Clouse
Intro to Museum Evaluation (Oct 2020) - Instructor: Emily Kalnicky
Inquiry-Based Learning and Museum Education (Nov 2020) - Instructor: David Bowles
Using Data in Museum Planning (Nov 2020) - Instructor: Emily Kalnicky
Writing for Exhibits (Dec 2020) - Instructor: Kathryn Lasdow
Management of Loans and Exhibits (Jan 2021) - Instructor: Matthew Clouse

For full details, please see https://museumdev.com/

For a full list of discounts provided to MAM members by partner institutions, see www.MaineMuseums.com/MemberDiscounts

The Trustees and staff of Yarmouth Historical Society are pleased to present The Wellcome Prize, a history competition open to high school students in Maine. Students are invited to undertake original historical research about a local history topic related to Cumberland County and write a research paper or create a film about their findings. Entries will be judged on the quality of research and effectiveness of communication. The three winners in each category will be asked to present their work to the public via Zoom in November 2020. First prize winners will receive $1000, second prize $500, and third prize $250.

Eligibility: Any high school student residing or attending school in Maine is eligible to enter. Entrants should be current high school students (grades 9-12) during the fall of 2020.

Timeline: Papers and films must be submitted via email (see below for further details) by 5:00 pm on Thursday, October 1, 2020. Winners will be announced on Thursday, October 15, 2020. Winning students will present a talk on Tuesday, November 17, 2020 at 7:00 pm via Zoom.

Topic: In order to maintain a strong connection to local history, please limit paper and film topics to subjects related to Cumberland County, Maine. Past winners have included papers on Brunswick sea captain John D. Pennell and a history of the Cumberland Fair. We encourage all entrants to consult their local historical societies and/or libraries for appropriate archival materials and resources. Papers and films must be the original work of the student entering the competition. Sources must be cited. Rights to music, archival footage, or copyrighted content in films must be cleared.

Film length and submission:  Films should be 8-10 minutes in length. Yarmouth Historical Society may choose to download and/or share any submitted film on our website or social media channels. Films must be submitted via email with a link to the film on YouTube or Vimeo by 5:00 pm on Thursday, October 1, 2020. Please email submissions to Katherine Worthing: kworthing@yarmouthmehistory.org

Paper length and submission: Written papers should be between 1500 and 2500 words and should include citations and a bibliography of sources consulted. Yarmouth Historical Society may choose to publish any submitted paper in a future newsletter or publication. Papers must be submitted via email by 5:00 pm on Thursday, October 1, 2020. Please email papers to Katherine Worthing: kworthing@yarmouthmehistory.org

Judging and Prizes: Papers and films will be judged by members of Yarmouth Historical Society’s Program Committee using the rubrics available on our website. Prize winners will be notified by email on Thursday, October 15, 2020. Winners will receive their prize money after their presentation on Tuesday, November 17, 2020.

Presentations: The three prize winners in each category will be asked to present their work via a Zoom webinar at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, November 17, 2020. Writers should present their research in a 10-15 minute talk; filmmakers should be prepared to present their films and speak for 5-10 minutes about their process. As this is part of our annual Lecture Series, the presentations will be open to the public. Students may use PowerPoint or other visual presentation tools during the talk.

Background: The Wellcome Prize is named after Elsie Wellcome (1893-1918). Elsie was raised in Yarmouth, attended local schools, and became an involved community member as a young person. She joined the Village Improvement Society, participating in town-wide beautification efforts, and spoke out in support of women’s suffrage. Sadly, Elsie died of Spanish flu at the age of 25 in 1918.

Questions: Please contact Katherine Worthing, Executive Director of Yarmouth Historical Society (kworthing@yarmouthmehistory.org) with questions.

Tate House is a survivor. Fires. Wars. Pandemics. Experience stories of hope and hardship in a new way this summer.  

Tate House Museum in historic Stroudwater has cancelled its indoor tours this season due to the COVID pandemic. Instead, we will provide visitors an alternative way to experience the history of our properties. Starting on July 10th, we will offer a limited number of register-in-advance-onlytours led by experienced docents from the safety of outdoor areas. These “Inside/Out Tours” will focus on the history of the Mast Trade, the Tate family, and the Tate’s 1755 home while viewing the historic Tate House and Means House from our beautiful surrounding riverfront properties. Tours will last 30-45 minutes, include up to 6 people, and will require face coverings and social distancing. Visitors will learn about our historic garden and enjoy views of the Fore and Stroudwater Rivers while imagining the surrounding Stroudwater Village two and half centuries earlier.

Tours will be offered on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through August at 11:00 AM, 12:30 PM and 2:00 PM. Registration and payment is required in advance by calling 774-6177 or by emailing info@tatehouse.org. Cost is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors/students, and $5 for children 12 and under. Tours may be extended through Sept and Oct so check our website www.tatehouse.org and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TateHouseMuseum/ for updates, more information, and future programming.

FMI:

Holly Hurd

Tate House Museum

1267 Westbrook Street

Portland ME 04102

207-774-6177 or info@tatehouse.org