Conferences and Continuing Education

Sharpen your skills by attending training.

The following list is gathered by the Local History Services team. Please send updates as needed.

Sections
Workshops/Courses
On-Demand Workshops
Continuing Education Resources
Conferences/Meetings
Awards

Workshops/Courses

STEPS Enrollment
Self-paced: American Association for State and Local History - The Standards and Excellence Program for History Organizations (STEPS) program helps small- and mid-sized organizations take a leap forward by educating board, staff, and volunteers about museum operations, and providing a structure for meaningful planning. The updated STEPS workbook features self-assessment questions and performance indicators across six critical sections to help organizations improve their practices. New enrollees receive the workbook, access to the STEPS Community, and additional benefits to support their development. Cost: $195 AASLH Institutional/Academic Program Members. Learn more »

Writing Grants for Conservation and Preservation Projects
April 29 @ 10:30 am to 12 pm (CT) - Online: Midwest Art Conservation Center - Prepare for federal, state, regional, and local grant application opportunities. This workshop will introduce essential grant writing strategies to gain funding for preservation and conservation related projects such as obtaining supplies and materials for the basic re-housing of collections, buying storage upgrades, getting monitoring equipment, receiving a general preservation needs assessment survey, providing staff trainings, and having conservation treatments performed on your art and artifacts. Cost: FREE for Minnesota Residents/$75 Non-residents.  Learn More »

Working with Tourism Organizations 
April 29 @ 2 pm (CT) - Online: American Association for State and Local History - Heritage and cultural tourism consultant Heidi Schlag and Visit Frederick’s Sr. Marketing Manager Jake Wynn will discuss how museums can work with their local Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) to attract more visitors, increase visibility, and strengthen community connections. Cost: $25 members/$45 nonmembers. Learn more »

Navigating Uncertainty: Financial Therapy Tools for Reducing Anxiety and Building Well-Being
April 30 @ 1:30 to 3:30 pm - Online: Minnesota Council of Nonprofits - This session addresses financial anxiety in today's uncertain economic climate. It introduces financial therapy fundamentals, distinguishes between financial anxiety and stress, and presents research-based strategies for enhancing financial well-being. Participants will learn practical interventions, including the "worry hour" technique, to manage financial anxiety and support healthy money mindsets. Cost: $50 members/$70 nonmembers. Learn more »

Strategy, Planning, and Outcomes: Bridging your strategy work with ground level impacts
April 30 @ 12 to 1 pm (CT) - Online: Propel Nonprofits - Join us to explore the connections between organizational strategy and service impacts. You will walk away from this webinar with an understanding of the nine gears of effective nonprofits, strategy planning frameworks, and the practical application of outcomes development. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Preparedness Practices and Understanding Government Investigations & Inquiries 101 
May 7 @ 1 to 2:30 pm (CT) - Online: Minnesota Council of Nonprofits - Join this session to learn more about state and federal government investigations and begin to take stock of your organization’s compliance and housekeeping practices, including records management policies, insurance review, and good governance. Cost: Free. Learn More »

The Conservator’s Role in Exhibitions: Preservation, Preparation, and Presentation 
May 15 @ 1 pm (CT) - Online: Artwork Archive - Led by Camille Myers Breeze, Founder of Museum Textile Services, this webinar will explore how conservators play a vital role in exhibition planning—from concept to deinstallation. Camille will cover topics including condition assessments, preventative conservation, collaboration with curators and designers, environmental monitoring, and emergency preparedness. Cost: Free. Learn More »

Fundamentals of Nonprofit Finance
May 21 @ 9 am to 12 pm (CT) - Online: Propel Nonprofits - This workshop is right for you if you are new to the nonprofit sector, nonprofit finance, or your position as staff or board member. Cost: $95. Learn more »

Museums in Action: Invite Congress to Visit Your Museum
May 29 @ 1 to 3 pm - Online: American Alliance of Museums - Inviting local, state, and federal elected officials to your museum showcases the vital work that museums do, from exhibitions to community engagement. Since 2012, the #InviteCongress campaign has encouraged museums to welcome legislators for a firsthand look at their impact. Engaging with these officials is crucial, especially as funding and support for museums are actively considered in Congress. Learn more »

 

 

Online Demand Courses

American Association for State and Local History - Arcus Leadership Program Courses
Specifically designed for emerging and mid-level professionals and volunteers, these self-paced courses help participants understand the most critical topics in the history field and incorporate that understanding into their work. Start these courses any time.

Museum Collections Documentation and Data Cleaning
Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI) and the Canadian Heritage Information Network (CHIN) - Provides essential museum documentation information for museum staff with all levels of knowledge. It begins with an introductory overview and ends with specific documentation issues. Learners can take the modules in order or choose a module or two that fits their needs. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Preservation Housekeeping for Heritage Sites and Small Museums
Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI) and the Canadian Heritage Information Network (CHIN) - Covers guidelines, best practices and resources for the regular upkeep of historic interiors and exteriors as well as the contents of historic buildings. This one- to two-hour self-paced course has been designed for those who work or volunteer in small museums or heritage sites and who have little to no training in conservation. Learn more »

Explore Minnesota Tourism Conference Breakout Session Recordings
View conference recordings from the February 26-27 Explore Minnesota Tourism Conference Rochester.

Digital Stewardship Training Courses for Tribal Libraries, Archives, Museums, and Small Public Libraries
OCLC's WebJunction, in partnership with Washington State University's Center for Digital Scholarship and Curation, is creating a series of 10 free online courses for staff at tribal archives, libraries, museums (TALMs), and small public libraries on digital stewardship and community-centered curation of cultural collections. Learn more »

Finding New Sources of Funding in Challenging Times:
National Preservation Institute - This 45-minute on-demand course will help you think beyond traditional sources of financial support to fund cultural resource projects. Learn how to evaluate a cultural resource project for its value in serving broader community needs. Review traditional funding types versus alternative sources that can be redirected to meet project goals. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Document Conservation - Northeast Document Conservation Center has many webinar training programs on paper, books, and similar items and topics. Learn more »

Nonprofit Education - Propel Nonprofits and the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits feature local training.

 

Online continuing education

Interpreting African American History and Culture Resource Kit
The American Association for State and Local History's free "Interpreting African American History and Culture Resource Kit" is made up of AASLH conference sessions, webinars, History News, technical leaflets, and books that address topics such as working with descendant communities, celebrating Juneteenth, interpreting slavery for a variety of audiences, and the impact of the Black Lives Matter movement on museum practice. Check it out »

Free Collections Care webinars
Connecting to Collections Online Community offers a series of free, online courses about the preservation of archival and historical collections. Check their website for dates and upcoming programming.

Planning for Changes in the Archives: 12 steps for undertaking collection relocation
Recorded Webinar: Midwest Archives Conference - The presenter walks through the 12 steps so you’ll have a framework to follow for your project. This framework helps focus your plans and ensures you consider possible options. These steps have been honed through experience moving archives and special collections materials. Watch video »

Webinar Recording: Oral History at a Distance: Conducting Remote Interviews
Oral History Association - This timely webinar addresses the dynamics of conducting remote oral history interviews. It begins with an analysis of the pros and cons of conducting distance oral history interviews, then addresses aspects of interviewing in a distance environment, breaking down the interviewer and narrator experience in these exchanges, and offer direction on best approaches for interviewing at a distance. This session will cover best practices for recording archival-quality oral history interviews, then discuss in depth the tools and techniques available to enable the user to follow best practices in a remote setting. Listen »

Webinar Recording: Insurance 101: Practical Considerations for Protecting Institutional Collections and Loans
Connecting to Collections - This webinar recording is appropriate for all levels of experience from beginner to expert as an introduction and review of collections insurance basics and how they are an integral part of collections care. We will examine loss prevention, loss control and how to protect the collection through good housekeeping, landscaping, managing patrons, and during transport of objects. In addition, examples of recent claims and outcomes to illustrate how insurance responds to loss and damage will be presented. Watch the recording »

A Guide to Approaching Audiovisual Digitization
This paper was written through support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The information discussed in the paper is meant to help collection holders prepare their materials and their technology systems for a digitization initiative, as well as give a brief overview of digitization workflows. There is also a discussion of some of the updates made to the BAVC workflow over the last two years. This section may be of interest to those interested in the technical and procedural aspects of digitization workflows. Download paper »

Community Reflection on Black Lives and Archives
Recorded Webinar: Society of American Archivists - Society of American Archivists’ statement on Black Lives and Archives. The vitality of American archives depends on the safety of archives workers and an explicit commitment to social responsibility, justice, and anti-racism in the work that we do and the organizations we work within. As part of this the SAA Council convened a forum of reflection to move toward healing and understanding, of which a recording of this event is now available. Listen »

'Talking About Race' Is a New Online Resource by the National Museum of African American History
Last week, The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) released a new, online portal discussing race, racism, and racial identity. The new web portal, “Talking About Race,” was launched as a way to help everyone, including families and communities, talk about racism and racial identity and the way these forces shape every aspect of society, from the economy and politics to the broader American culture. Learn more »

Online information for exempt organizations
IRS Exempt Organizations has developed an educational website with an online version of their popular workshop for Small and Mid-Sized 501(c)(3) organizations, plus mini-courses on other topics of interest, including information on the redesigned Form 990.

Reflecting on Museum Labor
A course in the Museum Studies program at University of Illinois at Chicago, centered on public engagement, produced a magazine/newspaper-style publication containing useful information about labor rights, history, and museums/places associated with celebrating labor movements and history. It also has interviews with folks in the field and activities like a custom labor-themed cocktail list. Download PDF »

Cultural Institutions at Times of Social Unrest
Recording of Carla Hayden and Lonnie Bunch discussing the future of their institutions and how they remain accessible and relevant during a period of global pandemic coupled with nationwide protests against injustice. Watch webcast »

History Responds to Crisis Workshops Recording
Recordings are now available of online workshops with sessions focused on planning and responding to the unexpected. From planning for massive disruptions in operations to preparing your museum and collection for an extended period of closure to staying in touch with your members. View Recordings »

Free ADA training
Ten free training lessons regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act are available online from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Preservation 101
Northeast Document Conservation Center offers a set of free online courses in the basics of caring for objects.

 

Conferences

Tall-Minnesota Alliance of Local History Museums Annual Conference & Meeting in White Bear LakeMALHM Annual Conference & Meeting - White Bear Lake, MN, April 22 - 24, 2025

Connect with colleagues from across the region at Minnesota's largest event for local history people. Explore products and services for your organization, dive into local history through evening socials, and hone your skills in a variety of workshop sessions.

Conference Session Schedule Now Posted!
The full schedule for the 2025 MALHM Annual Conference & Meeting is now available! Check things out and register before February 28 to lock in the early bird rate. Full registration rates begin March 1. Learn more »

Volunteer Recognition 2025
The 2025 Volunteer Recognition form is OPEN – they want to celebrate your outstanding volunteers at the Annual Conference & Meeting. Check out the details and submit a nomination through the link below. Names are due by March 28. Volunteer Recognition Form »

Digital Directions- Minnesota Digitial Library

Upper Midwest Digital Collections Conference and the Minnesota Digital Library Annual Meeting
May 6-7, 2025 -  This in-person event will be held at the Union Depot in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The theme for the conference is "Digital Directions: Lessons Learned and Future Pathways."
Learn more »

Grants are available for scholarships for Minnesota organizations and governments to send employees, board members, and volunteers to this conference.  Email grants@mnhs.org for more information.

MAC 2025 serving it up logo2025 Midwestern Archives Conference in Minneapolis
April 10-12, 2025 - The Midwestern Archives Conference will hold its 2025 annual meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  The conference theme is “Serving it Up!” Minnesota is well-known for serving up its famous Hotdish around family and community tables. We invite you to join us as we explore how archivists preserve the histories and stories of communities we serve, reach across the table and collaborate, use new technologies to update policies and practices to serve up accessible collections, and stretch budgets and resources to find creative solutions to archival issues. Learn more »

Grants are available for scholarships for Minnesota organizations and governments to send employees, board members, and volunteers to this conference.  Email grants@mnhs.org for more information.


Twin Cities Archives Roundtable SPRING MEETING May 9, 2025TCART Spring Meeting
May 9 @ 9 am to 12 pm - Online: Twin Cities Archives Roundtable (TCART) - At the spring meeting, attendees will participate in the TCART biannual business meeting, including elections for Communications Officer and Membership Officer/Secretary. There will be a special presentation by Tom Steman, the archivist at St. Cloud University, discussing his repository's migration to Access to Memory. They'll also break into small discussion groups to explore finding aids and migration projects, concluding with an opportunity for members to share their recent work and accomplishments. You don't need to be a member of TCART to attend. Cost: Free. Register now »

 

Stylized photo of New Ulm's commercial Main street2025 Preserve MN - Statewide Preservation Conference
September 10 to 12 - New Ulm: Organized by the Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office, this conference is the annual statewide gathering focused on historic preservation. It brings together professionals, advocates, and community members to discuss topics such as protecting historic sites, preservation planning, heritage tourism, and sustainability. Participants engage in workshops, presentations, and networking opportunities to share knowledge and strategies for preserving Minnesota's cultural heritage. The event serves as a platform for collaboration between individuals and organizations working to protect the state's historic resources. The 2025 conference will be held in New Ulm and will feature sessions aligned with Minnesota’s Statewide Preservation Plan 2022-2032. Learn more »

Regional and National Conferences

Iowa Museum Association Conference
April 28 & 29 - Cedar Rapids, IA: Museums are evolving into vital spaces for community well-being, addressing challenges like political polarization and mental health concerns. This event highlights innovative ideas and best practices for creating transformative, inclusive museum experiences. Keynote speaker Dr. John H. Falk, a renowned expert on free-choice learning, will present a dynamic session and provide insights from his latest book, "Leaning into Value: Becoming a User-Focused Museum." Location: National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library. Learn more »

Awards

Minnesota History Awards
Since 2009, the Minnesota Alliance of Local History Museums has recognized outstanding history work by local organizations at its Annual Meeting. A formal nomination process is conducted and reviewed by a panel of peers to determine award recipients. There are two award programs: the Minnesota History Awards and the Lifetime Achievement Awards. Learn more »

AASLH Leadership in History Awards
American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) bestows the Leadership in History Awards in recognition of excellence in the field of state and local history. Learn more »

Small Museum Association Awards
The Association recognizes two museum professionals each year by selecting them for two awards. Learn more »

  • Hunter-Burley Award recognizes an individual’s outstanding contributions to the advancement of public access and professional growth for an individual institution.
  • Small Museum Association Award celebrates an individual’s outstanding contributions to the advancement of funding for, professional growth within, and/or the accessibility of information to the small museum community on a regional or state level.

Association of Midwest Museums Awards
Each year, the Association of Midwest Museums honors members throughout the Midwest region for leadership, career achievements, and best practices. Learn more »

  • Distinguished Career Award: honors individuals in mid- to late museum careers whose leadership, vision, and creativity have positively impacted staff and communities, leading to lasting change in their institutions.
  • Promising Leadership Award: recognizes individuals in the early stages of their museum careers (paid staff, interns, board members, and volunteers) who have demonstrated leadership through projects or service to teams/departments.
  • Best Practices Award: recognizes innovative projects or community collaborations by museums and cultural organizations that advance best practices or establish new ones to fulfill their missions.
  • Groundbreakers Award: honors museums or cultural organizations that have challenged conventions, confronted uncomfortable truths about their histories, and engaged in collaborative efforts for change. 

Midwestern History Association Awards

  • Jon Gjerde Prize for best book on Midwestern history
    January 15 - (Deadline): The Jon Gjerde Prize is given annually by the Midwestern History Association to the author(s) of the best book on Midwestern history published during the previous calendar year (2024). Learn more »
  • Dorothy Schwieder Prize for best article on Midwestern history
    January 15 - (Deadline): The Dorothy Schwieder Prize is awarded annually for the best article on Midwestern history published during the previous calendar year (2024). All articles on Midwestern history that were published in peer-reviewed journals are eligible for the prize. Learn more »
  • Alice Smith Prize in Public History
    January 15 - (Deadline): The Alice Smith Prize in Public History honors a public history project completed in the previous calendar year (2024) that contributes to broader public reflection and appreciation of the Midwestern past. Projects by individuals, groups, community organizations, businesses, or other organizations or work done in support of such projects may be nominated. Learn more »