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

Midwest Art Conservation CenterFREE Upcoming Midwest Art Conservation Center Workshops 
Free to Minnesota Residents. Funds provided by the State of Minnesota from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the Minnesota Historical Society. Learn more »

In Person Guidelines for Cleaning: Focus on Native American Collections
This two day in-person workshop is offered at two host location sites: Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post and Hoċokata Ṫi. Choose the location and dates that work best for you. The workshop will discuss the ethics, hazards, and benefits of cleaning cultural heritage items from a variety of different material types. With a mixture of lecture and hands-on practical exercises, the workshop will include conservation techniques for cleaning hide, glass beadwork, feathers, baskets, textiles, and silver artifacts. Discussions will also incorporate advanced cleaning topics such as selecting the appropriate level of cleaning and managing and training volunteers.  Cost: FREE Minnesota residents/$400 Non-Minnesota residents. Register »

Write (or Re-Write) Your Emergency Plan
February 12, 19, and 26, 2025 @ 10:30 am to 12 pm (CT) - Online: Midwest Art Conservation Center - This online course will cover the fundamentals of Emergency Preparedness, explain the essential components of an Emergency Plan, and walk participants through the steps to develop a plan for their own organizations. Provisions for both major and minor emergencies will be discussed, as well as how to address a disaster within a larger emergency. Participants will work with a plan template and will customize it for their own needs and risk factors. Each participant will be required to complete an institutional risk assessment questionnaire (time estimate 2-4 hours) and work on their own institution’s plan (time estimate 4-6 hours) between the sessions. They will conclude with a draft of their new Emergency Plan to share with their institution and board. Cost: FREE Minnesota residents/$400 Non-Minnesota residents. Register »

Designing Accessible Online and In-Person Presentations
January 30, 2025 @ 2 to 3:15 pm (CT) - Online: American Association for State and Local History - Designing accessible presentations is crucial to effectively reach the nearly quarter of the American population with disabilities, whether online or in person. Simple adjustments like using microphones, captioning, and ensuring good lighting can make your presentations more inclusive and impactful. Cost: $25 members/$45 nonmembers. Learn more »

Inviting Our Littlest Learners: How to Create Space and Activities for Early Childhood Education in Your Museum Spaces
January 30 @ 11 am - Online: Texas Historical Commission - Join Beth Brandon, Multi-Generational Programs Manager at the Indiana Historical Society, for an insightful session on how the IHS engages with a new, young audience - children ages 2-5. Discover how the IHS invites young learners into their spaces and programming by offering hands-on activities, interactive exhibits, and enriching experiences designed specifically for this age group. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Makerspaces for Museums and Historic Sites 
February 6 @ 2 pm (CT) - Online: American Association for State and Local History - Makerspaces offer an engaging, hands-on way for the public to interact with history. In this session, you'll explore the transformative potential of makerspaces within museums and historic sites, discovering how interactive environments can enhance visitor engagement, spark creativity, and deepen connections to history and culture. Cost: $25 members/$45 nonmembers. Learn more »

Museum Assessment Program
February 15 - (Applications due): American Alliance of Museums & Institute of Museum and Library Services - This program offers a one-year process of self-assessment, institutional activities, and consultative peer review with a site visit and recommendations. There is no fee to participate in MAP. Learn more »

250-Con-Header graphic250 Con
February 27 & 28, 2025 - Online: American Association for State and Local History - Join in for 250 Con, a pivotal event as organizations prepare for the 250th anniversary of the United States! With less than two years left, it's time for history enthusiasts to solidify their plans for this transformative occasion. Major initiatives are already in motion, and the impact of the Semiquincentennial will depend on our collective efforts. The two-day event will feature a keynote conversation with leaders from the Library of Congress, National Archives, and Smithsonian, along with presentations on key initiatives, breakout sessions for networking, and a virtual meet-and-greet with state 250th commissions. Don’t miss the chance to get involved and generate enthusiasm for this once-in-a-generation event. Cost: $50 members/$75 nonmembers. Learn more »

Applying Artificial Intelligence in Community-Oriented Work
February 7 & March 21 @ 1 to 3 pm (CT) - Minneapolis/Online: Liberal Arts Engagement Hub - In this two-part workshop, they will explore how the use of artificial intelligence (AI) through tools such as ChatGPT can facilitate community-oriented work for the public good. In the first workshop, participants will explore what AI is and what it can do, while also examining the challenges and ethical considerations of integrating AI into community-oriented practices. In the second workshop on March 21, participants will have the opportunity to bring specific case studies from their own practice to consider the limits of AI tools in their community-oriented projects. While attending both workshops will provide a more holistic understanding and practical experience, you are welcome to join either session individually based on your interests and availability. Learn More » 

Hub_Residencies_2025-26Call for Proposals: 2025-2026 Hub Residencies 
March 7 - (Deadline): The Liberal Arts Engagement Hub is currently seeking proposals for 2025–2026 Residencies, which run from July 2025 through June 2026. Hub Residencies, our signature program, support community-based collaborative projects that engage a topic of important public interest and involve at least one community partner (individual, group, or organization) and one person (faculty or staff) affiliated with the University of Minnesota’s College of Liberal Arts. Residencies include up to $15,000 in funding; priority access to the Hub space; and access to university resources, depending on the nature of the project. Learn More » 

History Leadership InstituteAASLH Announces New Location for the History Leadership Institute and Opens Registration for 2025 Cohort
The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) announced that beginning in 2025, the History Leadership Institute (HLI), a key professional development program for mid-career history professionals, will be hosted by the Minnesota Historical Society in Minneapolis, Minnesota, after two decades at the Indiana Historical Society. Established in 1959, HLI helps participants develop essential skills and connections through an immersive curriculum that addresses pressing issues in the field. AASLH President John R. Dichtl emphasized the transformative nature of HLI, while Minnesota Historical Society CEO Kent Whitworth expressed excitement for the partnership. This move aims to enhance innovation and collaboration in training future leaders of the history profession. 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

MALHM Conference graphic with image of townscape2025 Minnesota Alliance of Local History Museums Annual Conference & Meeting in 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. Learn more »


 

Digital Directions- Minnesota Digitial LibraryUpper 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.

Preserve MN Statewide Preservation Conference
Put on the Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office, Preserve Minnesota is the largest annual gathering of the Minnesota preservation community with ample opportunity to learn, network, and strengthen preservation efforts in Minnesota. 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 »