Are you interested in joining the Museum Council of Greater Philadelphia? Want to flex your leadership skills and join a great team of museum professionals? Then join us for an evening at Independence Beer Garden! You’ll be able to meet with the Museum Council Board and ask them all your burning questions.

Each person is responsible for their own food/drink.

RSVP

Join the Museum Council of Greater Philadelphia as we explore Fireman's Hall Museum! The museum is located in the 1902 Engine Company Number Eight firehouse, nestled among the narrow streets of Philadelphia's Historic District. The collection is dedicated to the art and science of firefighting over the last three centuries and promoting fire prevention safety. With objects ranging from horse-drawn fire carriages to fire insurance marks, visitors can see exhibitions looking at all perspectives of firefighting. The Philadelphia Fire Department operates the museum, whose members serve as docents and offer passionate explanations about the collection.

Members use code "Member" to apply $5 discount.

Tickets

Are you interested in joining the Museum Council of Greater Philadelphia? Want to flex your leadership skills and join a great team of museum professionals? Then join us for an evening at Independence Beer Garden! You’ll be able to meet with the Museum Council Board and ask them all your burning questions.

Each person is responsible for their own food/drink.
There’s no fee for this event, but please RSVP

Join us virtually for an evening conversation with Allison Schell Director of Public Programs at the Marshall Steam Museum & Friends of Auburn Heights.

Alli Schell has been immersed in museums for the past two decades. She has worn many hats, starting as a youth volunteer, progressing through internships, and eventually finding her stride in various professional roles. Her journey has taken me to museums of all sizes, even dedicating time to serving on museum boards and coaching peers and rising professionals in the field. She is the Director of Public Programs at the Marshall Steam Museum in northern Delaware (right on the Pennsylvania border!). Her love for this field, and the people in it, drives her to be as involved as she can!

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Come explore the Fabric Workshop and Museum on a guided tour and make a screen print inspired by one of their exhibitions!

The Fabric Workshop and Museum (FWM) is an internationally acclaimed contemporary art museum devoted both to the creation and presentation of innovative works of art. Its Artist-in-Residence Program provides artists at all stages of their careers with the opportunity to collaborate with FWM as they experiment with new materials and new media, taking their work in fresh and often unexpected directions. Founded in 1977 by Marion “Kippy” Boulton Stroud (1939-2015), FWM presents ambitious exhibitions that convey a story of contemporary art that unites process with finished works.

After a guided tour attendees will create a work of art inspired by "Heterodoxy," an exhibition, lecture and discussion series by artist Jessica Campbell that explores the complex personal, political and professional relationships facilitated by the twentieth century secret feminist debate club named Heterodoxy. Members of Heterodoxy sparked conversations that grew and spread into movements. In this workshop we'll explore the way single motifs can multiply and connect to create a pattern. 

Join us, get inspired, and be creative!

MC Members use code “Member” for $5 off!

Tickets

Join the Museum Council of Greater Philadelphia as we explore the Masonic Library and Museum of Pennsylvania! A National Historic Landmark in the heart of Philadelphia, the Masonic Temple at One North Broad Street is home to the Masonic Library and Museum and the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. The building features a Norman-style exterior which ushers visitors inside, where stylistic references to the Middle Ages give way to a fantasy of Renaissance-inspired neoclassicism in the corridors and stairs and to 19th Century “eclectic revivalism” in the lodge rooms. Oriental Hall and the neoclassical Library and Museum, the Grand Ballroom, the Grand Master’s Suite and offices share the first floor. Norman, Egyptian, and Ionic Halls share the second floor with Corinthian and Renaissance Halls. The third floor houses Gothic Hall. Two ornate corridors and stair halls complement and connect every room.

$15/ Nonmembers

$10/ Members

Members use code “Member” for $5 off!

Tickets for this event are sold out.

Join us virtually for an evening conversation with Bruce Katsiff Fine Arts Photographer and former Director & CEO of the Michener Art Museum.

Born in Philadelphia, a graduate of Central High School, Bruce Katsiff studied photography at Rochester Institute of Technology and Pratt Institute earning BFA and MFA degrees. He completed postgraduate studies at Oxford University. His work has been exhibited in museums and galleries including the Museum of Modern Art in NYC, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art. For 25 years he taught photography and was a college arts administrator. From 1989-2012, he served as Director/CEO of the James A. Michener Art Museum in Bucks County.

At the Michener Art Museum, Katsiff completed four expansion projects with no long- term debt; the most recent project was awarded the gold medal for architecture by the Philadelphia chapter of the American Institute of Architecture. During his tenure at the museum, the endowment was expanded from one million to twenty million, the attendance grew to over 130,000 per year, and the museum successfully received accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums. He is the recipient of the 2012 Governor’s Award for Arts Leadership & Service from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Delaware Valley University in 2010. He is active as an accreditation evaluator for the AAM and serves on the board of several cultural institutions in the region.

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Celebrate the holidays with the Museum Council of Greater Philadelphia at the National Liberty Museum! Open to the public in 2000, the National Liberty Museum illuminates both the strength and fragility of liberty—as well as the inspirational stories of people whose positive actions protect and expand the boundaries of freedom for all.

Join us to connect with colleagues, enjoy delicious refreshments, and make merry this holiday season!
$25 General Admission, $5 discount for Museum Council members using code “Members” and Emerging Museum Professionals using code “EMP.”

Tickets are limited, purchase yours today! Museum Council Members: Use code "Members" for your discount!

Tickets

What is a museum? The question may seem simple enough, but when you consider the many different types of museums and cultural institutions and what their roles in society are and should be, the question becomes more complex. Join us for a lively Pechakucha-style presentation and discussion on this topic. Three speakers will each present their view on what a museum is, advancing quickly through their slides as they do so. There will be time after the presentations for rousing conversation and debate among attendees. 

Food and drink are available to purchase through National Mechanics.
Moderated by Katie Sorenson, Director of Outreach & Communications at the Museum for Art in Wood.

Presenters:

Monica O. Montgomery is a thought leader, consultant, and professor operating at the nexus of culture, equity and education. She serves as a scholar and advisor for leaders and a creative milieu of museums, associations, historical and humanities councils, non profits, universities and museums on community engagement and DEI initiatives championing ecologies of promise. 

Known for curating social justice exhibits (Museum of Impact) and founding diversity initiatives (Museum Hue), over the last 2 decades she has served as an executive director (3x), fundraiser, marketer, project manager, and educator. Her career credits include a TedX talk , SXSW plenary,and over 40+ curated contemporary art and public history exhibits with renowned organizations like the South African Embassy, Brooklyn Museum, Portland Art Museum, Community Art Center, Teachers College, T Thomas Fortune Cultural Center, The New School, The National Trust for Historic Preservation, Weeksville Heritage Center, The Highline and more. Throughout the pandemic she served as Curator of Social Justice and Special Programs for the FUTURES exhibition, at Smithsonian Arts & Industries, organizing an interactive exhibit of art, technology and history to celebrate the Smithsonian Institutions 175th Anniversary.

She is proud to invest in the next generation as a graduate adjunct professor with: University of the Arts, and past professor at American University, Georgetown University, Johns Hopkins University, Harvard University, Pratt Institute and NYU. She has media appearances on CBS, NBC,  Fox,  C-Span, PBS Newshour, The Washington Post, Smithsonian Magazine, Humans of New York, Hyperallergic and Radio One. She holds a Bachelors of Arts in Broadcast Communication from Temple University and Masters of Arts in Corporate Communication from LaSalle University, and graduated from Oxford Cultural Leaders program. She serves on the boards of Monument Lab (Vice Chair), PA Museums Association, The Museum Council of Greater Philadelphia, Penn Museum Community Advisory Board, Philly 250 Community Advisory Board. Additionally she stewards the Montgomery collection an archive of black history, ephemera and art and resides in the suburbs of Philadelphia with her family.

Rachel Kiskaddon is currently the Manager of Inquiry-Based Programs at the Please Touch Museum. Rachel previously worked at the American Swedish Historical Museum, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Paul W. Zuccaire Gallery, and has volunteered at the Academy of Natural Sciences. Prior to her work in museum education, Rachel taught preschool and managed the afterschool program at Eurokids Learning Center. Rachel received her BA in Art History and Anthropology from Stony Brook University in 2016 and earned her MA in Museum Education at the University of the Arts in 2020. In her graduate thesis, Building Bridges Between Art Museums & Their Communities: Strategies for Effective Community Engagement, Rachel researched and discussed initiatives for museums to create welcoming spaces for community members and increase engagement.

Chase Dougherty is the Gretchen Hupfel Curator of Contemporary Art at The Delaware Contemporary where she has been collaboratively exploring how to engage audiences with contemporary artistic practice, materials, and content in order to increase relevance and resonance. She received her BA in Art History from Sonoma State University and her MFA in Museum Exhibition Design and Planning from The University of the Arts. As both an exhibition designer and a curator, she aims to more seamlessly immerse the two fields to construct more meaningful art experiences.

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Join us on October 24 for a Museum Council Movie Night at Carpenter’s Hall! Connect with Museum Council members, enjoy snacks and drinks, and celebrate the spooky season with a showing of Young Frankenstein. Nonmembers will receive $10 off a Museum Council membership when they attend this event!

Costumes are encouraged but not required. Space is limited, so reserve your tickets now!

Carpenters' Hall is a treasure in historic Philadelphia. It hosted the First Continental Congress in 1774 and was home to Franklin's Library Company, The American Philosophical Society, and the First and Second Banks of the United States.

Museum Council Members use the promo code "Member" for $5 off!

Tickets

Join the Museum Council of Greater Philadelphia for an afternoon out in Germantown! Attendees will be treated to two guided tours; we’ll be visiting both The Colored Girls Museum and Stenton.

Afterward, guests have the option to grab a bite and a drink at Deke’s BBQ/ Attic Brewing Company and continue their exploration of other Historic Germantown locations at their leisure. Please note that both tours are each approximately an hour long, with about a half an hour in between to get from one location to the other. We encourage our guests to wear comfortable walking shoes, bring water bottles, and eat a little something before attending.

The Colored Girls Museum (Tour at Noon)

The Colored Girls Museum is a memoir museum, which honors the stories, experiences, and history of ordinary Colored Girls. This museum initiates the object—submitted by the colored girl herself, as representative of an aspect of her story and personal history, which she finds meaningful; her object embodies her experience and expression of being a Colored Girl. The Colored Girls Museum is headquartered in the historic neighborhood of Germantown in Philadelphia, an area renowned for its compliment of historic buildings and homes. TCGM distinguishes herself by exclusively collecting, preserving, honoring, and decoding artifacts pertaining to the experience and her story of colored girls. This museum shall serve as a clearinghouse of multidimensional arty facts, objects, and information about Colored Girls: equal parts research facility, exhibition space, gathering place, and think tank. This Colored Girls Museum is the first institution of its kind. Audience members are treated to a Salon Styled-Guided tour of a home that has been converted to a Museum.

Stenton (Tour at 1:30 PM)

Stenton is one of the earliest, best-preserved, and most authentic historic houses in Philadelphia. Completed in 1730 as a country-seat, plantation house for James Logan - Secretary to William Penn; merchant, politician, justice, scientist, and scholar – Stenton was home to six generations of the Logan family, as well as a diverse community of servants and enslaved Africans, including Dinah, who lived and labored at Stenton for over 50 years. Furnished with 18th- and 19th-century Logan family objects, and remaining in little-altered condition, a visit to Stenton offers an unparalleled experience of early Pennsylvania.

Historic Germantown (Optional Self-Guided Experience)

Historic Germantown is a partnership of eighteen historic sites, museums, historical organizations and an arboretum located in the Germantown section of Philadelphia. These organizations are joined by a common mission to foster an appreciation of the diverse character and meaning of their cultural heritage in order to preserve and revitalize their community. Use this map to locate these other sites!

Directions:

Both The Colored Girls Museum and Stenton are near Wayne Junction Station, and accessible via the West Trenton, Fox Chase, Chestnut Hill East, Lansdale/Doylestown, and Warminster Regional Rail lines.

The Colored Girls Museum is accessible by Bus Route 53 (exit bus at the intersection of Wayne and Abbottsford Avenues). To get to The Colored Girls Museum from the Wayne Junction Station head northwest on Wayne Avenue towards Berkley Street, turn left on Apsley Street, and turn right on Newhall Street. It is approximately a 7 minute walk. The Colored Girls Museum is located at 4613 Newhall Street, Philadelphia PA 19144.

Stenton is located at 4601 N. 18 th Street, Philadelphia PA 19140. It is about 0.8 miles walk from the Colored Girls Museum (about a 17 minute walk). Stenton is also accessible via Bus Route 23 (exit bus at the intersection of Windrim and Germantown Avenues).

Event Details

Saturday, September 30, 2023

Noon – 2:30 PM

$25/ Non-Members

$20/ Members use promo code “Member” for discount

Tickets

Members of AFSCME DC-47 would speak and provide information to EMPs to raise awareness of peoples' rights in the workplace such as wages, practices, and harassment, and also form a community among museum workers in various PHL institutions.

Register

We invite you to join us for drinks, refreshments, and socializing at the Museum Council of Greater Philadelphia's annual meeting! Enjoy an evening at the beautiful and historical Arch Street Meeting House with museum professionals from around the region. This event is meant to bring those in the museum field together to celebrate our successes, discuss challenges we've faced, and offer a chance to connect with colleagues both old and new.

This event is rain or shine. Register today!

$25/ Members (use promo code “Member”)

$40/ Nonmembers (includes a Museum Council membership)

Sponsored by Yards Brewing Company

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Urvi Bhandari is a Master Connector. As an executive coach, she brings deep empathy to every conversation and helps leaders develop the self-awareness needed to build high-performing teams. She has helped C-suite leaders and boards identify, recruit, and coach talent - to transform organizations for success. She is a 20-year corporate veteran. As a Fortune 10 executive at companies like AT&T, IBM, Coca-Cola, and Walmart, Urvi has always been driven by a people-first mindset for innovation and growth. Urvi has a BBA and MBA from Emory University's Goizueta School of Business.

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Join us for an evening virtual conversation with Vicky Aquino!

Vicky Aquino (she/her/hers) is the Associate Director of the Pan-Asian American Community House (PAACH) at the University of Pennsylvania. Before joining Penn, she worked for five years at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where she served in roles in Development Operations and Human Resources.  She has more than ten years of experience working in the non-profit sector, particularly in education, social work, and arts organizations. Vicky is also a self-taught artist; she hosted six solo art shows and several group exhibitions in Philadelphia, New York, and Manila.

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Join us for an evening conversation with Camille Focarino. Camille has years of experience working in museums. Camille is the Director of Corporate Events & Client Relations Robertson’s Flowers & Events, Wyndmoor, PA. She has also held previous jobs at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the University of Pennsylvania.

Register

Are you interested in joining the Museum Council of Greater Philadelphia? Want to flex your leadership skills and join a great team of museum professionals? Then join us for an evening at Independence Beer Garden! You’ll be able to meet with the Museum Council Board and ask them all your burning questions.

Each person is responsible for their own food/drink.
There’s no fee for this event, but please RSVP.

RSVP

Join the Museum Council for Greater Philadelphia for a behind-the-scenes tour at the Rittenhouse Square Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts (CCAHA). CCAHA is a non-profit that has been providing conservation and preservation services to the surrounding area since 1977, focusing on visual art, books, photographs, and documents. They seek to help individual and museum clients better share the stories of their objects.

On this tour, you’ll hear team members present on a wide range of current projects, see the conservation facilities, and learn more about the differences in preservation processes for different mediums.

This is a rare opportunity to explore CCAHA, so sign up today!

Museum Council Members use code "Member" for discounts.

Tickets

Join the Museum Council of Philadelphia for a behind-the-scenes tour of the Museum of the American Revolutions’ latest exhibition Black Founders: The Forten Family of Philadelphia.

Black Founders: The Forten Family of Philadelphia, the Museum introduces visitors to Forten and his descendants as they navigated the American Revolution and cross-racial relationships in Philadelphia to become leaders in the abolition movement in the lead-up to the Civil War and the women's suffrage movement. Using objects, documents, and immersive environments, Black Founders: The Forten Family of Philadelphia explores the Forten family’s roles in the Revolutionary War, business in Philadelphia, and abolition and voting rights from 1776 to 1876.

Guests are welcome to explore the Museum after the tour.

Admission $10

MC Members $5 with discount “Member”

Get your ticket here.

Join us for a virtual conversation with Kate Quinn.

Kate Quinn has been the Executive Director of the Mütter Museum & Historical Medical Library and is the co-editor of “What is a Museum? Perspectives from National and International Museum Leaders” published for the United States Committee of the International Council of Museums (ICOM-US) where she holds an executive seat on the Board of Directors and chairs the Programming Committee. Kate previously served as the Executive Director of the James A. Michener Art Museum. Prior to the Michener, she spent fourteen years at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, starting as an intern and leaving as Director of Exhibitions and Special Programs. Before the Penn Museum, she held positions at the Delaware Art Museum, Philadelphia Horticultural Society, and Blinding Edge Productions, to name a few. In addition to ICOM-US, she serves on the boards of the Wharton Esherick Museum and The Resource Center– Philadelphia's creative reuse center. Kate is a regular guest lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, Seton Hall, and teaches at the University of the Arts

Register here.

Join the Museum Council of Greater Philadelphia at the Center for Art in Wood, newly renamed The Museum for Art in Wood.

We'll be touring their current exhibition "Vessel: Embodiment, Autonomy, and Ornament in Wood." Connecting to the Center for Art in Wood’s origins as an advocate for woodturning in art, this exhibition examines the vessel as a source of inspiration for artists working in wood. For millennia, the idea of the vessel has been used to explain the secrets of the universe.

"Vessel," which includes works from the Center’s permanent collection as well as on loan, demonstrates the breadth of reflection, empowerment, subversion, and spiritual awareness inspired by the act of containment and the vessel form.

$5/ Members

$10/ Non-Members

This exhibition is only on display until mid-February and space are limited, so sign up today!

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How do you want to grow? Is it a personal challenge? Is it to expand your resume? Is it a new position or leveling up where you are? 

Join us virtually on January 18th for an evening conversation with Leah M. Melber from 7:00-8:00 PM.

Leah M. Melber, Ph.D. is the Senior Director of Education at the Catalina Island Conservancy. She has over thirty years of experience working in museums, zoos, aquariums, and the out-of-doors to advance public engagement with the natural world. Her focus areas include interpretation best practices, public understanding of science and conservation, and the professional development and career growth of museum professionals. She is the editor of Teaching the Museum from AAM Press and currently lives on an island 26 miles off the coast of California.

This event is FREE!

Register today!

Holiday Party at the American Swedish Historical Museum!

Celebrate the holidays with the Museum Council of Greater Philadelphia at the American Swedish Historical Museum! Founded in 1926, the American Swedish Historical Museum in South Philadelphia is the oldest Swedish museum in the United States and welcomes all people to explore cultural identity through the story of Swedes and Scandinavians in America.

Join us to connect with colleagues, create a fun craft, try your luck at our raffle, and enjoy drinks and light fare.

$20 General Admission, $5 discount for Museum Council members using code “Members” and Emerging Museum Professionals using code “EMP.”

Proof of vaccination is required for this event.

Tickets are limited, purchase yours today! Museum Council Members: Use code "Members" for your discount!

Get your tickets here!

Are you interested in learning more about the Museum Council of Greater Philadelphia? Want to get involved, make friends, network, and have fun? Join us on October 13 for a Museum Council Movie Night at Arch Street Meeting House! Connect with Museum Council members, enjoy snacks and drinks, and ring in the spooky season with a showing of Beetlejuice. Nonmembers will receive $10 off a Museum Council membership when they attend this event!

This event will be indoors due to the rain. Outdoors if the weather holds up!

Costumes are encouraged but not required! All attendees are required to practice social distancing and wear a mask when in close proximity to others or entering the building at Arch Street Meeting House.

Located in the heart of Old City, Philadelphia, Arch Street Meeting House is a museum, National Historic Landmark, and active Quaker place of worship. Constructed in 1804 on two acres of land deeded to the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) by William Penn as a burial ground, Arch Street Meeting House has had an estimated 20,000 burials occur on its historic grounds.

Get your tickets here!

Join Museum Council of Greater Philadelphia for The Painted Word, a workshop merging poetry and painting with Ruthann Keim-Traylor, artist and "HomeFront ArtSpace" Director. Explore the National Liberty Museum and their latest exhibition, "This is My Home," featuring five site- specific installations by local artists. The exhibit also includes a special installation by HomeFront, a New Jersey non-profit providing homeless families with community care and resources. Afterward, we also encourage you to join us for drinks and nibbles around the corner at National Mechanics (purchases made individually).

We look forward to seeing you there!

6:00 – Event Begins at National Liberty Museum (Includes One Glass of Complimentary Wine)

6:15 – Opening Remarks from CEO Alaine Arnott

6:30-7:15 – Artist-led workshop with Ruthann Keim-Traylor

7:30 – Event Ends at National Liberty Museum, Head to National Mechanics

Get your tickets here!

Join us for the Celebration of Museum Professionals! It has been a difficult two years and the museum field has encountered many challenges. Due to the tireless work of museum professionals like you, we have also experienced many successes. It's time to spotlight some of those positive moments and accomplishments and take an evening to celebrate and connect with each other.

We hope you will join us for an enjoyable evening at the Penn Museum. This event will be rain or shine. Drinks and light refreshments will be provided.

$25/ Members (use code “Member” for discount)

$40/ Nonmembers (includes a Museum Council Membership)

Get your tickets here!

Tickets do not include parking.

Parking

Transit

Join Museum Council for a tour of the new Clay Studio building! For nearly 50 years, the Clay Studio has been a leader in the ceramic world, providing educational opportunities and space for artists. Jennifer Zwilling, Curator & Director of Artistic Programs, will provide a tour of their new facility, including the gallery, resident artist studios, and gift shop. Learn about their goals for community outreach and their increased ability to offer more classes, exhibitions, and studio space for artists.
After the tour, enjoy some refreshments and take in the views of the city from the roof deck (weather permitting).

Tickets for this event are sold out.

Check out our next event A Celebration of Museum Professionals.

Are you interested in getting more involved with the Museum Council of Greater Philadelphia? Want to flex your leadership skills and join a great team of museum professionals? Then join us for an evening at Triple Bottom Brewing! You’ll have an opportunity to meet with the Museum Council Board and ask them all your burning questions.

There’s no fee for this event, but RSVP so we know how much space we need to reserve. Your first beer or cider is on us!

Get your tickets here

How can organizations of different sizes make changes to better ensure diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion (DEAI)?

Join Bethany Chisholm from the Rosenbach, Alphonso Atkins from the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and Susan Shifrin from ARTZ Philadelphia as we discuss what steps were taken in their organizations to have staff and audiences that reflect the communities they want to serve.

Museum Council Members use code “Member” for discount.

Get your tickets here

Do you find applying to jobs daunting? Join the Emerging Museum Professionals Committee for an evening of Hire Learning! Hear from a panel of experienced hiring managers in the museum field about the job application process. From making your application stand out to nailing the interview, we’ll cover it all, with plenty of time to ask your own questions.

Moderator:

• Allison Krisch, Assistant Director, Family & Camp Programs, Penn Museum

Panelists:

• Lauren Burnham, Assistant Director, American Swedish Historical Museum

• Meg Bowersox, Manager of Gallery Interpretation, Museum of the American Revolution

• Alexis Pedrick, Director of Public Engagement, Science History Institute

Get your tickets here.