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  • Thursday, October 08, 2020 9:30 AM | Executive Director (Administrator)

    For Immediate Release
    Museums Alaska
    P.O. Box 756960, Fairbanks, AK 99775-6960
    Phone (907) 474-5484
    Home page: https://museumsalaska.org

    DATE: Thursday, October 8, 2020
    CONTACT: Della Hall, Executive Director
    director@museumsalaska.org

    Four awards announced at the Museums Alaska Annual Meeting on September 25th celebrated significant contributions to Alaska’s collecting institutions. Given by Museums Alaska, the awards are the result of a statewide nominating and peer review process. Three individuals—Anjuli Grantham, Kas Spahr, and Patricia Relay—along with the Juneau Douglas City Museum and Koniag, Inc. were honored.

    The newest award established this year honors those that roll up their sleeves to help museums succeed, through their service or philanthropy. Two awards were given for Museum Champion. Anjuli Grantham, Curator of Statewide Services at the Alaska State Museum, was honored for her service to all museums in Alaska. When presenting her award, Amy Steffian said, “Anjuli is our go to person for help with all things related to museums. Whatever your question she will help you find an answer or someone to talk to. She is a marvelous connector.”

    Tom Panamarof was present to receive the second award for Museum Champion on behalf of Koniag, Inc. Koniag is the regional ANCSA corporation for the Kodiak area and one of the founding and governing organizations of the Alutiiq Museum. Their nomination letter said:

    The Alutiiq value of sharing at the forefront of Koniag’s leadership. In classical Alutiiq society hunters gave away their catch to make sure everyone was fed. The most imminent need was addressed first before food or resources were stockpiled. Hunters knew that acting generously created strong communities and that together hard work and respectful action would lead to future prosperity. Koniag, Inc.’s value of Sharing the Catch, comes from this tradition. The corporation’s philanthropy is based in a deep cultural understanding that success comes from providing for others.

    Koniag was honored for their pivotal support of the Alutiiq Museum over the past two years, and particularly through the pandemic.

    The Award for Excellence in the Museum Field went to the Juneau Douglas City Museum for the Funter Bay Project. This annual award is given in recognition of an outstanding museum program, project, or initiative from the past year. These are efforts that have had a significant impact on an organization or a community and are a model for others in the museum field. Funter Bay is on Admiralty Island, opposite the City of Juneau. It is the place where Unangan people from the Pribilof Islands and the Aleutian Islands were interned during World War II. The Juneau Douglas City Museum is working to preserve and share this little known chapter of Alaskan history and to expand Funter Bay Marine Park to include the cemetery where Unangan people were buried and add interpretive signs to the park. Their nomination letter said:

    The public, tribal, and private partners who have come together to document and share this history are incredible. JDCM staff have worked tirelessly to ensure that the story that they are sharing is the story that the Pribilof residents want to share.

    They have created an exhibit for their museum in partnership with Unagan people and are also planning an oral history project to further document their experiences.

    Kas Spahr, who has dedicated two decades of volunteer support to two Anchorage area museums, received the Volunteer of the Year award. This award acknowledges the crucial roles volunteers have in Alaska’s museums. It celebrates a person who has made a significant contribution through their gift of volunteer service. Spahr was honored for her dependable, twice-weekly, presence first in the Anchorage Museum and more recently at the Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum, particularly in their collections departments.

    Lastly, the Presidents’ Award went to recognize an outstanding individual advocate for all Alaska museums. Patricia Relay, Director of the Valdez Museum & Historical Archive, was honored for her many years of dedication to all Alaska museums. Relay has been recognized by the American Alliance of Museums as a 5-time attendee in 2018 for her participation in Museums Advocacy Day in Washington, DC and continues to engage state and national leaders on the importance of museums in our communities. Monica Garcia-Itchoak, when presenting the award, stated: “Patty is a leader in our state. She is the first one to pick up the phone, send an email, write the template letters, and educate us on the necessary step in raising our voices for museums across the state.”

    Museums Alaska is a statewide professional organization supporting Alaska’s collecting institutions and their staff members and volunteers. The non-profit organization supports the improvement of museum services and promotes public awareness of the value of the state’s museums and cultural centers. A nine-member volunteer board governs Museums Alaska with funding from memberships, grants, gifts, and sales.

  • Wednesday, August 26, 2020 3:21 PM | Executive Director (Administrator)

    Museums Alaska invites nominations for four awards  and recognition to be given out at this year's Annual Meeting, September 25th. The deadline to submit a nomination is August 31st, 2020.

    Nominations may be submitted for:

    AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE MUSEUM FIELD

    Nominations for the Award for Excellence may be made for exceptional exhibits, collections care, planning, marketing, publications, significant improvements to physical plant, conservation, etc. To nominate an individual, museum or program, write a description explaining who or what you are nominating, how many people it affected, what contribution was made to the museum field, and any other significant details.

    VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD

    Nominations for the Volunteer of the Year Award acknowledge the crucial roles volunteers perform in our museum communities. Help us celebrate their importance to our success by nominating any volunteer, whether docent, a community supporter, or a member of your Board of Directors. They do not need to be members of Museums Alaska. Please nominate your volunteer by describing the tasks this volunteer performs, what the hourly time commitment has been, and how long this volunteer has been contributing. Describe contributions to other organizations if they are significant to cultural heritage.

    PRESIDENT'S AWARD IN HONOR OF LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

    Nominations for the President’s Award in Honor of Lifetime Achievement recognize the contributions of an individual over a career. Help us celebrate their contributions by nominating an individual who is departing the field, from all sectors of the field. They do not need to be members of Museums Alaska. Please describe your nominee’s work over the years, their impact on an institution or community, and the legacy they leave behind. Describe contributions to other organizations if they are significant to cultural heritage.

    MUSEUM CHAMPION - *New this year*

    Nominations for Museum Champion may be submitted to recognize any museum donor, funder, or contributor for outstanding support of museums in Alaska, in funding or in in-kind support. Help us celebrate the support museums receive each year. Nominations may be for individuals, foundations, corporations, cities, or other supporting entities. They do not need to be members of Museums Alaska. Please submit a nomination by describing the impact to the field.

    Submit a nomination using this form.

    Find the full list of past awards here.

  • Thursday, August 20, 2020 2:06 PM | Executive Director (Administrator)

    Museums Alaska is proud to share our 2020 Annual Report. Click the link below to download and view the report.

    Download and view full report (PDF)

  • Thursday, June 11, 2020 10:44 AM | Executive Director (Administrator)

    To the Alaska Museum Community,

    The start of 2020 has seen enormous challenges for museums because of an ongoing worldwide pandemic. And, in recent weeks we have witnessed our country’s struggles with racism. We know these are extremely difficult times. The uncertainty of museums depends on all of us shifting our mindset and leaning into uncomfortable conversations. As museums across the state begin to reopen, we have an opportunity and responsibility to be brave and stand in solidarity.

    Alaska is no different – racism towards the Alaska Native Peoples is alive. The majority of the museums throughout the state steward many Indigenous peoples’ objects and stories. We must recognize and acknowledge the land these museums sit on. Museums are spaces for gathering, learning, and connection. We ask you to join us in collectively stepping up and leading within our institutions.

    In 2017, the Museums Alaska Board of Directors and staff have prioritized diversity, equity, inclusive, and accessibility work. It is part of our core values and purpose. Museums Alaska has been fortunate to seek out keynote speakers who shape the roles museums can play in fostering racial justice. In 2017, Sean Kelley from Eastern State Penitentiary spoke about going beyond neutrality in museums; In 2019, Cinnamon Catlin-Legutko addressed decolonization in museums calling out systemic racism perpetuated by oppression in our institutions. We know there is still more to do, and we are committed to supporting museums across Alaska in this work.

    Museums provide safe and brave platforms to hold space for difficult community conversations. It is a time for museums to look outward and be community-led and to pause and connect to the rich history of Alaska and tell those untold stories. Our mission is to strengthen Alaska’s museums which empowers us to stand in solidarity with each of us and enables us be truth-tellers in our organizations.

    We want to hear from you. What are you doing to shift the conversation with your Board of Directors, with your staff, with your strategic partners, members, patrons, funders, and sister museums? How can we effectively share best practices and examples of museums creating unity, equity, and social justice? Below is a list of resources compiled from the 2019 Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion conference held in Kodiak. This list is not comprehensive, and if you have additional resources you would like to see added, please forward to director@museumsalaska.org.

    We support you during these difficult and challenging times and commend you for your resilience and commitment to the preservation of culture, history, art, and science. Please stay safe, healthy, and in good spirits.

    Sincerely,

    Della Hall 
    Executive Director       
    Museums Alaska 

    Monica Garcia-Itchoak
    Board President   
    Museums Alaska

    Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, & Inclusion Resources

  • Friday, June 05, 2020 2:48 PM | Executive Director (Administrator)

    For Immediate Release

    Museums Alaska
    P.O. Box 756960, Fairbanks, AK 99775-6960
    Phone (907) 474-5484
    Home page: https://museumsalaska.org

    DATE: Friday, June 5, 2020
    CONTACT: Della Hall, Executive Director
    director@museumsalaska.org


    Alaska Museum Week, a statewide celebration of Alaska museums and cultural centers will take place next week, from June 7 through June 13. Coordinated by Museums Alaska, the event is designed to raise awareness of collecting institutions as stewards of culture and history, centers of education, community anchors, economic engines, and employers. According to Della Hall, the executive director of Museums Alaska, all museums in the state are encouraged to participate.

    “We are inviting museums to participate in a daily theme, to help show the many ways they serve our state. Monday we kick off the week with activities for kids, then move through a series of other themes like connecting from home, technology, and life in Alaska.”

    Not ready to visit a museum or perhaps the museum in your community remains closed to the public due to the coronavirus pandemic? Hall notes that curators, educators, and exhibit designers have been very busy creating novel opportunities for engagement. You can visit many museums from a smartphone.

    “There are more than 100 museums and cultural centers in Alaska, and many remain closed as they plan efforts to reopen safely. But that has not stopped this very creative community. Museums have met the moment by developing virtual programming. There are films, tours, exhibits, gatherings, arts activities, and collections all available online.”

    You can listen to an oral history of the Great Alaska Earthquake at the Alaska Jewish Museum. You can browse airplane photo at the Alaska Aviation Museum, enjoy student artwork at the Valdez Museum, or explore historic photos of Sutton at Alpine Historical Park. You can attend a live daily presentation from Seward’s Sea Life Center or write poetry with help from the Juneau Douglas City Museum. Wonder what’s showing this summer? Take virtual tours of galleries in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Kodiak, Sitka, and Whittier. To learn about the many online offerings the Alaska State Museum and Museums Alaska created a directory called Museums from Home. It is available at https://museumsalaska.org/Museum-From-Home. Also look for museum week hashtags on social media—#AKmuseums, #AKmuseumweek, #AKmuseumsmatter.

    “In many ways, these digital opportunities are expanding the reach of Alaska’s museums,” said Hall. “They are dissolving barriers and inviting people across the world to learn about our state and its remarkable people. They are building connections at a time of disconnection.”

    Museums Alaska is a statewide professional organization supporting Alaska’s collecting institutions and their staff members and volunteers. The non-profit organization supports the improvement of museum services and promotes public awareness of the value of the state’s museums and cultural centers. A nine-member volunteer board governs Museums Alaska with funding from memberships, grants, gifts, contracts, and sales.

  • Wednesday, May 13, 2020 4:19 PM | Executive Director (Administrator)

    The following article was written by Emily Pastore, the Archives and Collections Manager at Sealaska Heritage Institute.

    SHI

    The Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI) is a private nonprofit founded in 1980 to perpetuate and enhance Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian cultures of Southeast Alaska. The SHI archives are a key part of that mission, and they have a duty to both preserve and provide access to the materials in the collections. This is a delicate balance to find, the best way to preserve materials is often to safely pack them out of the light and away from interested hands, but if we never share the materials in our collections, is there really a point to keeping them? The Tlingit term Wooch Yáx̱ means spiritual and social balance and is one of the core Tlingit values; SHI seeks to maintain balance in all ways, including in the archives.

    The SHI archives began small, but over the years the collections have grown and are valuable resources to the Alaska Native, academic, and general communities, and include the most Tlingit language recordings in the world. Part of the mission and goals of SHI is to make all of our resources available worldwide. With this in mind, we began the transition to Proficio by Re:Discovery in 2017; the Wooch Yáx̱ project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services MN-00-17-0034-17.

    Until recently, SHI had used PastPerfect Museum Software and Archon to maintain electronic records of the art and ethnographic object collections and the archival collections. While PastPerfect met our needs for years, with the expansion of our object collections and a need to provide public electronic access, it was time for a change. Archon, which is no longer supported software, also needed an update.

    Seiki Kayamori

    Seiki Kayamori Photograph Collection. PO 072, Item 7. William L. Paul Sr. Archives, Sealaska Heritage Institute, Juneau, AK.

    Proficio has the capacity to serve as a database for objects, archives, and library materials. This provided a unique opportunity for SHI to showcase both the art and ethnographic collections and the archival collections in a single database. The database has comprehensive searching and browsing capabilities, as well as the ability to attach digital objects and related media. With one search, patrons can find both objects and archival records related to their research from the comfort - and safety - of their home.

    With the onset of COVID-19, SHI closed in-person reference appointments and Proficio has become a vital way to connect with our patrons in a virtual environment. Researchers can now explore our art and ethnographic collections, which have never been publically accessible online, as well as updated archival records; there are online exhibits and highlighted objects and collections, which can easily and regularly be updated. There is still work to be done, digital photograph collections are being incorporated and many finding aids need to be expanded, but these are exciting projects we will incorporate into our now-remote internship program this summer.

    With Proficio, SHI is also able to incorporate indigenous knowledge directly into the records. Tlingit, Haida, or Tsimshian words for items can be added; and authority records and lexicons can be modified to include the indigenous languages. Additionally, we invited two Tlingit elders to travel to Juneau to record footage of them discussing various objects, including identifying the appropriate Tlingit name for the objects and explaining their use in Tlingit culture. These videos are attached to the object records in Proficio and are highlighted in the current online exhibit, Wooch Yáx̱: Sealaska Heritage Institute’s Art/Ethnographic Collection Inventory and Indigenous Knowledge Project. Also included are audio clips with the pronunciation of the object name in Tlingit.

    Chilkat Robe

    2017.018.001 Chilkat Robe from circa 1900

    Proficio provides an innovative way for SHI to maintain the balance between preservation and access. Items that rarely come out of the vault due to preservation concerns, such as ancient Chilkat robes, are viewable world-wide in the online platform. This increased access is a major benefit for Alaska Native artists practicing their work anywhere in the world by providing a resource for inspiration and study. This database is the first time that SHI’s art and ethnographic collections have been accessible online, and many people may not have been aware of how to request a reference appointment to view the objects, or indeed, what objects were stored in our archives at all. An online representation of an object is not the same as viewing it in person, and SHI looks forward to reopening to in-person reference in the future, but for now Proficio allows SHI to expand reference services in a time when in-person research is impossible.

    It is a delicate balance to preserve materials and make them accessible and useful, and Proficio is a new tool for SHI to use to maintain that balance. We invite you to check out the new database and explore the different collections; we would also appreciate if you completed this short, 5-minute survey about your experience. Enjoy, and contact us with any questions at SHIarchives@sealaska.com!

    Emily Pastore

    Emily Pastore is the Archives and Collections Manager at Sealaska Heritage Institute.

  • Wednesday, May 13, 2020 3:44 PM | Executive Director (Administrator)

    For Immediate Release
    Museums Alaska
    P.O. Box 756960, Fairbanks, AK 99775-6960
    Phone (907) 474-5484
    Home page: https://museumsalaska.org

    DATE: May 13, 2020

    CONTACT: Della Hall, director@museumsalaska.org

    Eight of Alaska’s collecting institutions, in seven different communities from Sitka to Fairbanks, have been awarded $72,917 in grants. The awards will support collections care projects through funds created by Rasmuson Foundation and administered by Museums Alaska.

    Established in 2013, the Collections Management Fund supports projects that advance the preservation of museum collections with awards of up to $15,000. The fund provides critical support for the care of objects documenting Alaska’s cultural and natural heritage. In May, Museums Alaska selected seven projects to fund. The funded projects include conservation of indigenous watercraft, upgrading an archive database, and a pest management consultation.

    For future grant opportunities, eligibility information, application deadlines, and submission directions, please visit the Museums Alaska website.

    Museums Alaska is a statewide professional organization supporting Alaska’s collecting institutions and their staff members and volunteers. The non-profit organization supports museums and cultural centers in Alaska and enhances public understanding of their value. A nine-member volunteer board governs Museums Alaska with funding from memberships, grants, gifts, and sales.

    COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT FUND AWARDS SPRING 2020

    Alutiiq Museum & Archaeological Repository—$11,153.66 for Integrated Pest Management Consultation

    American Bald Eagle Foundation—$1,869.70 for Diorama Room Barrier Project

    Pratt Museum—$11,854.95 for Condition Reporting Community Collections

    Resurrection Bay Historical Society, Inc.— $8,150 for Conservation of Iditarod Racing Bib and Kuspuk

    Sheldon Jackson Museum—$4,425.00 for Conservation Support Intensive

    Sheldon Museum and Cultural Center, Inc.—$14,976.00 for Archives Upgrade Project

    Talkeetna Historical Society—$5,487.24 for Fulfilling Collections Assessment Program

    University of Alaska Museum of the North—$15,000 for Conservation Assessment of Indigenous Watercraft Collection

  • Wednesday, April 22, 2020 1:37 PM | Executive Director (Administrator)

    Six of Alaska’s collecting institutions, in five communities from Unalaska to Cordova, have been awarded $16,870 in grants. The awards will support the acquisition of artwork through a fund created by Rasmuson Foundation and administered by Museums Alaska.

    The Art Acquisition Fund invites museums and culture centers to submit proposals to purchase recent works by contemporary Alaskan artists. Now in its eighteenth year, this initiative has helped institutions across Alaska enhance their collections, interpret contemporary themes, and support hundreds of visual artists. This spring, six museums received a total of $16,870 to purchase 10 pieces of artwork from 9 Alaskan artists—including works in media of oil on canvas, watercolor, beach wild rye grass, copper, fur, ink, and skin.

    Museums Alaska is a statewide professional organization supporting Alaska’s collecting institutions and their staff members and volunteers. The non-profit organization supports the improvement of museum services and promotes public awareness of the value of the state’s museums and culture centers. A nine-member volunteer board governs Museums Alaska with funding from memberships, grants, gifts, and sales.

    ART ACQUISITION FUND AWARDS APRIL 2020

    Alutiiq Museum & Archaeological Repository

    Alutiiq Hatby Candace Branson $1,800.00

    Not Even a Nibbleby Cheryl Lacy $1,200.00

    Anchorage Museum

    Nkenaghch'/Good Words to Never Forgetby Ted Kim $5,500.00

    Clausen Memorial Museum

    Seal Habitatby Lisa Schramek $120.00

    Endangered Attractionby Don Cornelius $650.00

    Ilanka Cultural Center

    Backbone of Our Ancestorsby Jennifer Younger $2,200.00

    “Falling Rain" Quyak Atmak (Kayak Backpack) by Christine Belgarde $1,000.00

    Kodiak Historical Society

    Self Portrait with Lancet Fishby Brenden Harrington $3,800.00

    Museum of the Aleutians

    Miniature Unangan Grass Basket on bottle form by Agnes Thompson $300.00

    Miniature Unangan Grass Thimbleby Agnes Thompson $300.00

  • Thursday, April 09, 2020 3:05 PM | Executive Director (Administrator)

    The American Alliance of Museums (AAM) has honored Museums Alaska’s Executive Director Della Hall with its Advocacy Leadership Award. Hall received the award from AAM President and CEO Laura Lott at a Museum Advocacy Day event held in Washington, DC on February 24th. Hall attended the event as part of Museums Alaska’s ongoing efforts to share the importance of museums and their work with legislators at all levels of government. She was joined by more than 300 museum professionals from around the country.


    This was the first year that AAM gave the Advocacy Leadership Award, and Hall was one of two museum professionals recognized for their efforts to speak up for museums. Hall was acknowledged for coordinating advocacy efforts when budgetary cuts threatened the Alaska State Council on the Arts, the Sheldon Jackson Museum, and the University of Alaska Museum of the North. Her efforts helped to galvanize supporters statewide and protect the institutions.

    Hall was grateful for the recognition. She said, “This was truly a statewide effort and every voice made a difference. This demonstrates how important it is to speak up on behalf of our museums, to help legislators understand the powerful educational and economic value of museums.”

    Hall came to Alaska in 2013, as an intern with the Alaska State Museum Grant-in-Aid program and has experience with museums across the state. She has worked for the Pioneer Air Museum, University of Alaska Museum of the North, Tanana Valley Railroad Museum, Alaska & Polar Regions Collections & Archives at University of Alaska Fairbanks, and Western History Association. She joined the Museums Alaska Board of Directors in 2015 and stepped down to become Executive Director in 2017. She served on the Alaska State Historical Records Advisory Board and is a current board member for the Coalition of State Museum Associations.

    Museums Alaska is a statewide professional organization supporting Alaska’s collecting institutions and their staff members and volunteers. The non-profit organization supports the improvement of museum services and promotes public awareness of the value of the state’s museums and cultural centers. A nine-member volunteer board governs Museums Alaska with funding from memberships, grants, gifts, and sales.

  • Wednesday, April 08, 2020 12:24 PM | Executive Director (Administrator)

    Museums Alaska is pausing all of its grant programs, including the Art Acquisition Fund and Collections Management Fund, until further notice. Current applications will be reviewed, but no new applications will be accepted. We are working with our funders to determine the best ways to support museums during the current public health crisis and future opportunities.

    Please contact us if you have any questions.

© 2023 | Museums Alaska | All Rights Reserved

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907-371-4348

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      99501


Thank you to Rasmuson Foundation for their generous support of Museums Alaska and the entire museum field.

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