Museums Association of Montana

 "Stronger Together: Building an Effective Advocacy Network,"

by Jenny Buddenborg (Exhecutive Director at Preserve Montana) & Matt Lautzenheiser (Executive Director at Historical Musuem at Fort Missoula)

Thursday, 3/12 from 9:40-10:25 A.M.

Advocacy is most powerful when it is collaborative, strategic, and rooted in strong relationships. This interactive session will explore the fundamentals of effective advocacy, the critical role of partnerships, and why strengthening a statewide network of history, museum, and historic preservation advocates is essential for long-term impact.

Rather than a traditional lecture, this session is designed as a conversation. Participants will be invited to share ideas, challenges, and successes from their own communities. Through guided discussion, we’ll collectively identify ways to amplify our voices, coordinate efforts, and build a more connected, resilient advocacy network.

"Life of Winold Reiss,"

by Peter Reiss

Thursday, 3/12 from 9:40-10:25 A.M.

"From Data to Dialogue - Using Research to Demonstrate Museum Value,"

by Elena Bigart, Emma Keinath-Lopez, Sabre Moore

Thursday,3/12 from 10:35-11:20 A.M.

This session will present findings from a recent mixed-methods study by the Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research on the impacts of museums and paleontological tourism in Montana, followed by a discussion of how museum value can be effectively communicated, using Carter County Museum as a case study.

Drawing on surveys of more than 500 museum visitors at 44 sites statewide and in-depth interviews with 18 museum and paleontology professionals, the research offers a comprehensive look at how museums function as both community anchors and tourism drivers, particularly in rural contexts. The session will begin with a presentation of key findings, highlighting strong public support and high visitor satisfaction, with nearly all respondents viewing museums as important to their communities. Results also underscore museums’ significant economic contributions, demonstrating how visitor spending generates ripple effects across local and state economies. Additional findings highlight the unique role of paleontology museums and the Montana Dinosaur Trail as catalysts for heritage tourism and rural economic development. While the research reveals high learning value, strong word-of-mouth potential, and growing interest in spontaneous, experience-driven travel, it also surfaces persistent challenges, including staffing shortages, limited operational funding, and volunteer burnout.

Building on these findings, the session will then shift to a practical discussion of how museums can translate research data into compelling messages for different stakeholders. Using Carter County Museum as an example, presenters will explore strategies for communicating museum value to boards, staff, visitors, elected officials, funders, and community partners, emphasizing both economic and social contributions. The session will conclude with a Q&A, inviting participants to reflect on how these approaches can be adapted to their own institutions and communities.

"Everyday Treasures: Bringing Collections Storage into Exhibits,"

by Emma Selfors

Thursday, 3/12 from 10:35-11:20 A.M.

A “50 years/50 objects” style exhibit is common among museums celebrating a milestone anniversary. In 2024, the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula took that concept one step further. To commemorate their 50th anniversary, Emma Selfors, the HMFM Curator of Collections, developed an exhibition that put over 500 artifacts on display utilizing the same storage methods that keep these “Everyday Treasures” safe year round. This session will reveal how HMFM took visitors “behind the scenes” to learn more about how artifacts are preserved in museums, allowed for new interactive opportunities, and inspired a companion exhibit that gave artists an opportunity to create original works based on the museum’s collection.

"Waking the Dead:  Living History in Great Falls,"

by Norma Ashby Smith & Dwight Smith

Thursday, 3/12 from 10:35-11:20 A.M.

Waking the Dead is an annual living history event at Highland Cemetery in Great Falls, MT, that has successfully operated or decades celebrating the city's history.  Actors portray notable figures like artist Charlie Russell and city founder Paris Gibson.  Attendees enjoy hayrides while volunteer presenters share stories.  Enjoy a demo by Ashby-Smith and learn how you can bring a similar event to your community!

"Keeping your Doors Open: Balancing Tours and Events to Show off your Museum's Potential,"

by Ashley Kuykendall, (Interim Exective DIrector, Moss Mansion Musuem,) 

Thursday, 3/12 from 1:10-1:55 P.M.

While tourism is vital to a museum, there is an immeasurable benefit to engaging in events and specialty tours that will encourage community members to revisit their local museums. This also helps to ensure that off-season times are just as beneficial as peak tourism seasons. There is considerable value added to a museum when it is able to weave itself into the local community throughout the year with a variety of different experiences for people to continually enjoy.

Staying relevant as a museum is about keeping your community invested in you. Unique approaches to events and tours engage the local population and highlight your importance as an organization and member of the community. Montana museums thrive on tourist season; however, that season alone is not always enough to sustain a museum, so it is important to create engagement with community members, who are there year-round.

"The Art Museum as Civic Space: Connecting Art/History to Contemporary Life,"

by Nicole Maria Evans, Chief Curator & Director of Curatorial Affairs at Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art

Thursday,3/12 from 1:10-1:55 P.M.

This presentation looks at how art museums can activate art and art history to build meaningful connections among objects, audiences, and the communities they serve. Moving beyond preservation alone, it highlights how dynamic curatorial interpretation, exhibitions, and collections can connect artworks to both contemporary life and historical experience—sparking dialogue, reflection, and shared insight. By treating art history as a living, evolving practice and foregrounding accessibility, inclusivity, and community engagement, the talk challenges members to see the museum as an active civic platform: a place that builds public trust, expands and diversifies audiences, and strengthens the museum’s relevance and cultural impact within the community.

"Advocacy for Arts and Culture in 2026,"

by Krys Holmes (Executive Director, Montana Arts Council)

Thursday, 3/12 from 1:10-1:55 P.M.

What's happening with federal funding of arts and culture? How can your museum community prepare for the 2027 legislative session? The Montana Arts Council has been working with our national partners to research the most effective ways to talk about the role of art and culture in our changing social and political landscape--and we have new information to share.

"Accreditation Is Achievable: Real-World Lessons from Museums Across the State,"

by Jessica Kay Ogdin (Executive Director, Yellowstone Art Musuem,)  Geoff Stocking (Browning Kimball Collections and Exhibitions Officer,) Christian Coppedge, (Curator of Collections, Yellowstone COunty Museum)

Thursday, 3/12 from 2:05 -2:50 P.M.

Museum accreditation can feel complex and intimidating—but it doesn’t have to be. This session brings together three museum professionals who have recently completed the accreditation journey and are eager to share what they learned along the way. Two presenters represent art museums that have successfully completed reaccreditation, while the third comes from a local history museum that achieved accreditation for the first time. Together, they will demystify the process, discuss practical strategies, and candidly reflect on challenges, timelines, and institutional impact.

Designed to make accreditation feel attainable rather than overwhelming, this session emphasizes lessons learned, helpful resources, and realistic expectations. Time for Q&A will provide ample opportunity for attendees to ask questions relevant to their own institutions.

In summary, participants will:
Gain a clearer understanding of the accreditation and reaccreditation process
Learn practical tips from recently accredited institutions
Leave with increased confidence that accreditation is achievable for museums of varying sizes and types!

"Cultivate & Create: Celebrate Your Musuem's History!"

by Kendra E. Owen (Vice Chair, Board of Directors, Museum of the Yellowstone)

"Programming that Builds Community,"

by Jennifer Birnel (Director, Montana History Portal)

Thursday, 3/12 from 3:00-3:45 P.M.

The Montana History Portal hosts over 102,000 digital items and plenty of topics to research and discuss in a program with your community. Learn how you can use this free platform for easy program solutions that will engage your community in meaningful conversations.

"Strength in Numbers: A Collective Approach to Resilience and Impact,"

by Katrina Derieg (Curator, Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Montana)

Thursday, 3/12 from 3:00-3:45 P.M.

 The University of Montana Biodiversity Research Collections (UMBRC) are a newly formed collective of three historic natural history collections: the Philip L. Wright Zoological Museum, the MONTU Herbarium, and the UM Paleontology Center. Members of UMBRC’s leadership team will share how they are using this collaborative model to broaden their impact and audiences, build institutional and community support, and increase resilience in a challenging landscape. As a working example of the role of natural history collections, the Zoological Museum will share plans for a resurvey of historical collecting localities to document small mammals across the state for comparative work across time.

"Creating Enduring Partnerships with Sovereign Nations,"

by Nina Sanders (Curator of Indigenous Collections,) Amanda Trum (Cuator of Collections,) & Aaron Rau (Registrar,) Montana Heritage Center

Thursday, 3/12 from 3:55- 4:40 P.M.

Friday, March 13, 2026 Concurrent Sessions

"Breaking News: Exploring Digitized Montana Newspapers,"

by Dan Karalas (Library Manager, Library and Archives Montana State Historical Society)

Friday, 3/13 from 9:00-9:45 A.M.

Go on a trip through digitized Montana newspapers! Learn what digitized Montana newspapers are available, where to access them, and how to best use them to support museum exhibits and help local genealogists, students, and others find information.

"Capital Campaign Readiness,"

by Sabre Moore, PhD (Executive Director, Carter County Museum)

Friday, 3/13 from 9:00-9:45 A.M.

A capital campaign is a massive undertaking and starting the process can be overwhelming. In this session, you’ll learn practical steps and readiness exercises for your staff, board, and stakeholders. We will be using the Carter County Museum expansion and renovation as a case study, but feel free to bring your own questions and examples!

"Rebranding and Renaming: A Case Study from Glacier Art Museum (formerly Hockaday Museum of Art),"

by Alyssa Cordova (Executive DIrector, Glacier Art Musuem)

Friday, 3/13 from 9:55-10:40 A.M.

Glacier Art Museum Executive Director Alyssa Cordova shares details about the experience and process of recently rebranding and renaming a 57-year-old art museum, covering topics including: strategic planning, name selection process, board and community involvement, public response, budgeting and marketing strategies and costs, and lessons learned, one year later.