Public Session Track!
A new feature to this year’s conference, these sessions have been specially designed by the Houston museum community for their local public to provide a greater understanding of the mission of museums and the vital role they play in the civic, educational and social life of communities.
SUNDAY, MAY 22
Committed to Collections
2:45 – 4 P.M.
Location: Convention Center, Room 360 E/F
Have you ever wondered how museums build, organize and care for objects in their collections? Gain insight on the fascinating collections process from the perspective of a curator, a collections manager and a conservator and the unique roles they play in acquiring and preserving museum objects. Learn more about what makes an object collectible, and why and what distinguishes a museum collection from a private or personal collection.
Moderator:
Lisa Rebori, Vice President of Collections, Houston Museum of Natural Science
Presenters:
Amy Fulkerson, Collection Manager, The Witte Museum, San Antonio, TX
Jill Whitten, Conservator, Whitten & Proctor Fine Art, Houston
Michelle White, Associate Curator, Contemporary Art, The Menil Collection, Houston
Why Museums Matter: An Open Discussion for Parents and Caregivers
3:30 – 4:45 P.M.
Location: Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Today’s museums are committed to serving as partners in education, stewards of lifelong learning, and centers of discovery. Designed for parents, this session will examine how children learn in museums and the cognitive, social, and physical developmental benefits of museum experiences. Featuring a panel of educators from art, children’s, health, and other museums, parents will learn the true value of museums for their children, family, and community.
Moderator:
Victoria Ramirez, W.T. and Louise J. Moran Education Director, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Presenters:
Susie Wilkening/James Chung, Reach Advisors and author of “Mother Lode: Five Ultra Moms and Why You Want them to Visit Your Museum,” Museum, January/February, 2011
Kris Bergquist, Family Programs Manager, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Cheryl McCallum, Director of Education, The Children’s Museum of Houston
Becky Seabrook, Vice President, Education, The Health Museum
Chance Sanford, Director of Education, The Houston Zoo
Governance Best Practices for the Museum of Tomorrow
4:15 – 5:30 P.M.
Location: Convention Center, Room 360 E/F
Join leaders from other museum boards and experts on governance for a panel discussion on the ever-changing role of a museum board member in today’s fast-moving environment, and an overview of resources available to improve the quality of board governance. Explore the key differences between corporate boards and museum boards. Hear directly from other museums’ board members and take away specific techniques and ideas on how you can continue to contribute to your museum’s success. Open to any and all museum board members, trustees and directors, and equally valuable to senior staff who interact with board members and participate in governance processes.
Moderator:
Kenneth L. Mattox M.D., Chair, The Health Museum
Presenters:
Edward R. Allen, III, Board Chair, Contemporary Arts Museum Houston
Anthony Hall, Board Chair, Houston Endowment Inc.
Judy Nyquist, board member, Houston Arts Alliance
TUESDAY, MAY 24
Museums Need You: Partnering to Enhance and Enliven Our Community
11:45 A.M. – 1 P.M.
Location: Convention Center, Room 360 E/F
Attention AAM Volunteers and Corporate friends! Calling all Downtown business neighbors! Join us for a brown bag session while the American Association of Museums Annual Meeting is in Houston to explore ways to further engage with Houston’s vast and diverse museum community. Museums are an integral part of our community and an important part of a healthy civic life. From volunteering to the development of unique partnerships to young professionals groups – there are many, many ways to get involved at museums. We need you!
Moderator: Marci Dallas, Director of Development, Holocaust Museum Houston
Presenters: Richard Graber, Director of Programs & Services, Houston Arts Alliance; Sarah Atwood, Director of Development, Houston Zoo; Reema Tandan, Associate Director of Development, Holocaust Museum Houston; Karla D. Newton, Director, Community Relations & Promotions, The Greensheet and President of the Corporate Community Relations Council - Houston Chapter; Donna Boyer, Community Relations Coordinator, Marathon Oil Corporation; Lesleigh Gilmour, Volunteer Services Manager, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; and Krystal Harris, Volunteer & Special Events Manager, Children's Museum of Houston.
Community Service Project
Saturday, May 21
2 – 5 pm
Houston Museum of African American Culture
4807 Caroline St., Houston, TX 77004
Houstonians and the Houston museum community are invited and encouraged to join AAM and the 2011 Local Host Committee in support one of Houston’s newest museums during AAM’s first ever Community Service Project.
One of Houston's newest museums, the Houston Museum of African American Culture (HMAAC), in the Houston Museum District, is kicking off a major public art project, and the Houston community, alongside conference attendees, will help get this important programming off the ground. Artists commissioned by HMAAC will design “paint-by-number” murals that AAM and community volunteers will “fill in.” with guidance from the artists and HMAAC volunteers. The murals will be inscribed to recognize the contributions of the AAM volunteers and community members, and later installed at community centers throughout Houston. By participating in this service project, volunteers will help HMAAC expand the scope and impact of its mural project reaching as many areas of the community as possible.
To participate, RSVP to albert@aamhouston.org or call 713-353-1570 by May 15.
Art Car Parade
Sunday, May 22, 2011
9 am – view the cars during line up
1 pm – Parade rolls out
Eleanor Tinsley Park off of Allen Parkway
Fantastic, Fun and FREE! Houstonians, make plans to attend the 2011 Houston Art Car Parade and help us kicks off the American Association of Museums 105th Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo and officially welcome AAM attendees to town! Part folk art, part fine art, part wholly artistic expression of every kind, the Art Car Parade is entirely monumental, thoroughly spectacular and not to be missed!
What started out in the late 1980s as a 40 car parade seen by an estimated 2,000 people is now the largest Art Car Parade in the world. A celebration of the drive to create, the parade today attracts more than 300,000 spectators, 250+ vehicles and other entries (anything on wheels is welcome – unicycles, lawnmowers, cars, go-carts, bikes, etc.) and artists from 23 states and Canada and Mexico.
The parade runs along Allen Parkway, from Waugh to Bagby, just west of downtown, on Sunday, May 22. While the parade rolls out at 1 pm (and usually concludes around 3 pm), folks are encouraged to come early (as early as 9 am) to view the magnificent works of art up close and meet the artists.
AAM will provide transportation to and from the parade for conference attendees, with several drop off and pick up time options. AAMers, for details on how to get to and from the parade and convention center, click here. Don’t forget, you must reserve your seat on the Art Car Parade bus by emailing parade@aam-us.org.
