The Ohio Museums Association is pleased to share the experience of our 2016 Annual Conferencescholarship recipients with the second installment of our 2016 OMA Scholarship series.
Miss our first post? Learn more about the Scholarship series and read our previous entry here.
This week’s post comes to us from Samantha Martin. Ms. Martin is a graduate student at Wright State University, with a Public History Concentration. Samantha works as a volunteer at the Museum of Troy History and will complete an internship with the Dayton Society of Natural History this summer.
OMA Conference 2016: A Fantastic Opportunity for Professional Development
By: Samantha Martin
As a graduate student in Wright State University’s Public History Concentration, I was extremely grateful to have received a scholarship to attend this year’s OMA conference. Attending the conference provided an excellent opportunity to network and to gain new perspectives on a variety of museum-related topics.
This year’s conference was also an excellent opportunity to learn about advocating for my future career and institution. I was introduced to several innovative methods for demonstrating the value of museums and forming relationships within the community. I would like to take this opportunity to share my conference experience in order to thank all of the speakers and participants for their valuable advice and inspiring insights.
One of the most rewarding experiences of the conference was the Sunday evening tour. I was able to visit three outstanding Columbus museums and see first-hand how they are working to reach their audiences in new and exciting ways. Each institution had a unique and refreshing approach to interpretation, from the engaging educational programs at COSI to the incredible interactive spaces at the Columbus Museum of Art and the exciting transformation of the gallery spaces at the Ohio History Center. I left each museum full of new ideas that I hope to be able to implement during my career.
I also enjoyed the conference sessions because the speakers provided valuable tips for professional development. The Emerging Museum Professionals Pre-Conference Workshop was a very helpful session that demonstrated the importance of taking on responsibilities, finding a mentor, and joining professional groups in order to advance your career.
On Monday morning, the session “Marketing and More: Strategies for Connecting Audiences with your Programs and Educational Products” provided insights into the world of museum marketing. The speakers highlighted the importance of forming partnerships and pushing what makes your institution unique. I also attended the session: “Learn from the Best: Advocacy from Statewide Leaders.” This was a valuable session because the speakers shared ways to effectively share your message with legislators and to reach out to organizations that can offer support to museums.
Attending the conference provided an excellent opportunity to network and to gain new perspectives on a variety of museum-related topics.”
In addition, Gail Ravnitzky Silberglied’s plenary address offered an inspiring message about the importance of advocacy. By providing a glimpse into the mind of a legislator, Gail revealed how museums can most effectively frame their message.
The Monday afternoon session titled “What it Takes to Work Here” was extremely beneficial to me as a graduate student. Each of the speakers shared their career path and highlighted the skills and experiences that helped them get to where they are today. This session stressed the importance of professionalism, networking, and acquiring skills through volunteer opportunities and internships.
The 2016 OMA Conference was a great opportunity for professional development because each of the sessions provided new perspectives and approaches from talented professionals across the field. I am already looking forward to next year!