TAM 2024 Workshop | Narrative Development: Finding Story within Collections
TAM 2024 Workshop Narrative Development: Finding Story within Collections
TAM 2024 Conference
Museum of Texas Tech University3301 4th St
Lubbock, TX 79415
* Registration open until 4/16/24 at 5:45 PM (CST)
Event Details
Narrative Development: Finding Story Within Collections
Tuesday, April 16, 2024
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Workshop Description:
Everyone loves a good story. Story is foundational in how we process the world and internalize information. It helps us relate, empathize, and learn. So how can museums harness the power of storytelling techniques to help our visitors do just that? Where do we start? And what does that look like for different departments and museum functions?
Join staff from the Bell County and National Mounted Warrior Museums to discuss how they work with narrative concepts, challenges they have faced, and how each department approaches creating cohesive themes and through-lines. This participatory workshop will provide practical and actionable take-aways that explore theme, storytelling techniques, and the relationship between narrative and education to fuel your museum’s interpretation goals.
This workshop is part of the TAM 2024 Annual Conference in Lubbock. All attendees must first be registered for the conference at large here.
Speakers
J. Maisie Duncan
Curator of Exhibits and Interpretation
National Mounted Warrior Museum
J. Maisie Duncan’s passion for storytelling first collided with historical preservation as a Civil Affairs Specialist in the Afghan desert. Since then, her work as a writer and educator were additional paths that led to museums. Her multi-faceted experience continues to inform her perspectives in interpretation and story. She holds a B.A. in Writing and a Masters in Museum Studies, with experience in both formal and informal educational environments. As Curator of Exhibits and Interpretation, Maisie Duncan serves as the team lead for narrative development and exhibit design for the new National Mounted Warrior Museum, a landmark U.S. Army Museum. Her work on the museum’s storyline earned her a Civilian Service Commendation Medal.
Sherry E. McDowney
Curator of Collections
National Mounted Warrior Museum
Sherry McDowney is the Curator of Collections at the National Mounted Warrior Museum. She is responsible for artwork, archives, military vehicles, & historical artifacts. Driven by her love of history, Ms. McDowney has worked for the Center of Military History for 20 years. She has served as the Museum Technician for the 4th Infantry Division & 3d Armored Cavalry Museums & Museum Specialist of the 1st Cavalry Division Museum. Ms. McDowney is an honor graduate of Fayetteville State University with B.A. in History. She has received the Commander’s Award for Public Service & the Army Achievement Medal for Civilian Service. Ms. McDowney enjoys documentaries, movies, historic sites & museums. She currently resides in Copperas Cove, Texas.
Mikaela Young
Curator of Exhibits & Collections
Bell County Museum
Mikaela Young is the Curator of Exhibits and Collections at the Bell County Museum in Belton, Texas where she manages the care and documentation of the museum’s collection and the development and maintenance of permanent and temporary exhibits. Mikaela earned a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Arts in Museum Science from Texas Tech University in 2015.
Kayte Ricketts
Education Coordinator
Bell County Museum
Kayte has been the Education Coordinator at the Bell County Museum for over 7 years. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in history from LSU and two Master’s degrees in Education (UTEP) and Public History (ASU). She also has several years of formal teaching experience in grades PK-12th. She is currently the co-chair of MELT (Museum Emerging Leaders of Texas) and is excited to be a part of the conference this year!