The three-year program aims to identify, demonstrate and integrate diverse aspects of historic house museum work common to urban, rural and suburban communities, by training paid and volunteer personnel to evaluate the effectiveness of their stewardship, planning and public presentation in the professional quest to make house museums, their settings, stories and collections valid and valued in the 21^st century.

The Historic House Museum Practicum series is supported by a grant from the 21^st Century Museum Professionals program of The Institute of Museum & Library Services (IMLS), an independent federal agency. Each year GHHN's Historic House Museum Practicum programs will focus on a critical aspect of this complex, interdisciplinary field:

2007: The Context, or public presentation and interpretation in light of mission, documentation, and 21^st century audiences; click here for program information

2008: The Content, or collections, and their physical care and lighting in the historic house environment; click here for program information

2009: The Container, or historic building envelope, its surrounding landscape and site; click here for program Information.

ABOUT GHHN HANDLING HISTORY PROGRAMS:

A cadre of specialized conservators and museum consultants from the Hudson Valley and metropolitan New York region lead individual practica on collections care that stress physical examination, notation of condition, handling and the challenges of practical house-keeping care for collections during accessioning, research study, while on exhibit or in storage environments.

Basic information on how materials like wood, paper, paint and fibers behave under a variety of familiar museum conditions are taught, and specific problems addressed, including: examining collections for pest infestation and mold, damage from ultraviolet light, fluctuating humidity and from improper handling. Faculty stresses standards of preventive care, rather than formal training in repair or restoration/preservation treatment best left to professional conservators.

This program helps staff to implement proper institutional collections care practices, and allows institutions access to technical expertise through professional consultants and resources provided by Greater Hudson Heritage Network of Historical Agencies & Museums.

Faculty
A cadre of specialized conservators and museum consultants from the Hudson Valley and Metropolitan New York City region has been assembled to lead individual practica on collections care that stress examination, preparation of condition reports, physical handling and the challenges of practical house-keeping care for collections during accessioning, while exhibit or in storage environments.

Basic information on how materials like wood, paper, paint and fibers behave under a variety of familiar museum conditions will be taught, and specific problems addressed, including: examining collections for pest infestation and mold, damage from ultraviolet light, fluctuating humidity and from improper handling. Faculty will stress STANDARDS OF PREVENTIVE CARE, rather than formal training in repair or preservation treatment best left to professional conservators.

This program will help staff to implement proper institutional collections care practices, and will allow institutions access to technical help and Collections Care Loan Kits through Greater Hudson Heritage Network.

Directions
Directions to host sites will be mailed or faxed upon receipt of workshop registration. General registration forms are available here.