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This is a transformational moment for labor in museums. In recent years, the museum field has witnessed an influx of unionization efforts, increased advocacy for DEAI initiatives, calls for salary transparency, and demands for acknowledgement of unpaid labor. The COVID-19 crisis has exacerbated these issues, resulting in drastic layoffs and furloughs for museum workers, especially educators and other frontline staff. These staffing cuts reveal the extent to which many of our institutions devalue the labor of their educators, despite the fact that education is often central to their missions. The 2020 MESC Annual Institute frames the work of museum educators within both the current crisis and the broader recent dialogues around labor in museums.
During our virtual gathering you will have the opportunity to hear from nationally renowned speakers, dig deeper in smaller sessions facilitated by local museum professionals, and expand on your professional network. Full schedule and keynote speaker info below.
REGISTER
Given the effect of COVID-19 on our field, the MESC Board made the decision to offer the Annual Institute free of charge for the first 300 attendees. We strongly believe in providing accessible and equitable programming to our members and not-yet-members. Ticket sales from the Annual Institute usually account for nearly 30% of MESC 's Annual revenue which affords MESC the ability to offer no/low cost professional development to museum educators. If you are able, please support MESC by signing up for or renewing your membership or give a donation.
First 300 registrations are free so be sure to reserve your spot at MESC’s Annual Institute.
Schedule:
9:00 am - 9:45 am:
Self-care Session: We’ll begin the day by grounding ourselves before joining in dialogue. Facilitated by Lluvia Higuera.
10:00am - 11:20am:
Opening Remarks and Keynote Panel with Q+A: Join Keonna Hendrick, Michelle Millar Fisher, and Paula Santos as they reflect on advocacy, organizing, and other labor challenges facing the museum education field.
11:20am - 11:30am:
Break
11:30am - 12:30pm:
Breakout Sessions: Choose a topic you’d like to delve into more deeply. Facilitated by local educators and organizers, breakout sessions will address labor-related issues in our field.
Acknowledging the Intellectual and Emotional Labor of POC in Museums: This session highlights the unpaid intellectual and emotional labor that people of color take on within many museums, and offers a safe space for reflection as well as strategies for recognition and compensation. Facilitated by Jennelyn Tumalad.
Striving for Equity through Pay Transparency: In this session, we will discuss the monetary value of educational labor, salary gaps between educators and other museum professionals, and tactics for advocating for higher salaries. Facilitated by Manny Guardado.
Continuing DEAI Work During a Crisis: Many of the recent conversations around labor in museums have advocated for increased DEAI initiatives, paid internships, better pipelines for emerging museum professionals, and anti-racism training. However, the COVID-19 layoffs, furloughs, and budget cuts have restricted and even undone many of those initiatives. This session looks at how museums can continue to move them forward in the face of the current crisis and beyond. Facilitated by Theresa Sotto.
The Labor of Organizing and Unionizing: This session will focus on key learnings from local unionizing efforts. Facilitated by Eli Petzold.
12:30pm - 12:55pm:
Networking Lunch: Prep your lunch in advance, then share a digital meal with fellow educators.
12:55-1:00pm:
Closing Remarks
1:00pm - 1:30pm:
Self-care Session: End the day with us by dropping back into your body. Facilitated by Lluvia Higuera.
Closed-captioning will be available for opening remarks and the keynote panel. If additional captioning services are needed for the breakout sessions, please email us at mescbiz@gmail.com.
MESC would like to thank the Los Angeles County Arts and Culture and the California Arts Council for their generous support of this event.