Grant award will support expansion of the Museum Learning HubⓇ to include training workshops and resources for the development of frontline and middle managers
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) recently announced that the Association of Midwest Museums (AMM) is one of 18 institutions to receive a National Leadership Grant for Museums award in 2024. The grant award of $102,282 will support the expansion of on-demand training offerings on the cross-regional Museum Learning Hub through the creation of workshops and resources focused on developing frontline and middle management staff.
This initiative – Workplace Transformation Through Management Training – is the result of collective reflection and member input on post-pandemic museum values, practices, and needs during AMM’s 2023 Essential Questions Program Series. One priority that emerged in this process was a need for training and resources that will help museums as they seek to establish a work culture that is equitable, psychologically safe, prioritizes employee well-being, makes space for risk-taking and creativity, and doesn’t stigmatize mistakes.
While organizational change may be envisioned at the top of an institution’s hierarchy, implementation often falls on the shoulders of frontline and middle managers and their teams. Managers who may have been appointed to their roles with limited experience managing people are faced with more complex workloads as they attempt to sustain operations while also playing an active role in change efforts. As these managers navigate new supervisory responsibilities and balance it with their own workloads, they struggle to make space for reflection and feedback, to envision and implement change, and to think strategically about their own departments’ needs. Furthermore, if their organization’s financial resources are limited, so too are their options for seeking support or professional development outside of the organization.
The Workplace Transformation Through Management Training Initiative will build the capacity of frontline and middle managers through the creation of approximately 24 training sessions/workshops organized into six online training modules for publication on the Museum Learning HubⓇ, along with supplementary toolkits. These free online tools will develop soft skills, such as emotional intelligence, as well as business and operational acumen to help managers become more effective in their day-to-day work. AMM will work collaboratively with a team of expert consultant advisors to determine the focus of each online learning module and—with input from a focus group of managers from small to midsize museums in the Midwest, the AMM Board, and our regional association partners—recruit instructors with subject matter expertise to develop and teach the workshops. The rollout of the new resources on the Museum Learning HubⓇ is expected to take place over the course of 2026.
Interested in supporting this effort? Let AMM know if you would like to be included in virtual feedback sessions this fall (members and non-members will be invited to participate), to receive communications about the call for instructors in 2025, or to support the initiative in other ways.
About the Association of Midwest Museums: The Association of Midwest Museums (AMM) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit professional service organization with a focus programming and resources for museums located in an eight-state region including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Founded in 1927, AMM is among the oldest museum service associations in the U.S. and currently serves a membership of over 950 professionals and organizations, from small county historical societies and historic sites to large art institutions and science centers. To learn more, visit midwestmuseums.org.
About the Museum Learning HubⓇ: The Museum Learning HubⓇ began as a nationwide initiative organized by the six U.S. regional museum associations and dedicated to providing free, self-paced training resources for small museums. The six regional museum associations are the Association of Midwest Museums (AMM), Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums (MAAM), Mountain-Plains Museums Association (MPMA), New England Museum Association (NEMA), Southeastern Museums Conference (SEMC), and Western Museums Association (WMA). Initially created as part of the Digital Empowerment – Technology and Digital Media Training for Small Museums Project, training programs and resources on the Museum Learning HubⓇ support small museums seeking to overcome barriers to audience engagement and educational program delivery.
About the Institute of Museum and Library Services: The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s libraries and museums. We advance, support, and empower America’s museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. Our vision is a nation where museums and libraries work together to transform the lives of individuals and communities. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.