Advertise on podcast: Art Pro Net Podcast

What do you look for in a job posting?  If you are like most folks, you look at location, salary, and type of collection.  While these are all critical parts of planning where you want to send your next application, it is essential that you understand what kind of institutions you are considering.  What size of an organization is it?  Do they maintain a collection or not?  What is their funding model? The truth is we do not all thrive in the same sort of climate.  This episode looks at some of the scenarios that you should research and consider when looking for a job.  Understanding the difference between a large collecting museum's mission and scope, versus that of a small privately endowed non-collecting organization can help you decide where you want to be depending on where you are at in your career.  There are so many options out there that fit different personalities.  Understanding them will not only lead you to a targeted and strong application, but it will also allow you to consider just what you are signing up to take on.   Reach out today at if you want help with your application process.

Do you feel unsure about where your career is going?  Do you get overwhelmed trying to plan your next steps?  Do you also get up every day and manage collections and exhibitions? Building a career plan is no less complicated or scary than making the same kind of plans we all do in our roles as art pros.  To know what an object needs and how to manage its logistics you must know your path, understand the object, and consistently remain aware and flexible to the adjustments required.  The same is valid with planning your career trajectory and in this episode, I look at the comparison between the processes you already go through and those involved with making strides in your professional goals.  If you have the confidence to make guarantees that your decisions will steward fragile, irreplaceable objects in a safe way, then you can make bold plans for where you want to be in the future and achieve them.  It is about investigating, planning, and pivoting as the world changes around you, and I hope Art Pro Net can help.

I've done many episodes to encourage listeners to get out and network in the art pro community, but this one is a bit different.  Now it is all about networking within your own organization.  Many art pros have little to no interaction with co-workers outside their direct area.  Do you understand your organization's goals, funding structure, or what the priorities are for other teams?  This episode is all about how you can utilize curiosity, communication, and collaboration to learn more about what is possible at your institution.  It also explores how building schedules that incorporate the priorities of all interacting departments can build a working environment of trust, where everyone feels invested.  Knowing more about the ecosystem of your organization can help you grow your role and plan your future.  Time to study the world closest to you, and truly understand what is possible if you rely on others to support you.

With the beginning of a new year and our 5th season here at Art Pro Net, this podcast is about a topic that can often seem daunting to art pros. No matter your institution's size, finding the time and resources to build an integrated and consistent pest management plan can be challenging.  I hope this episode will help you find ways to make it possible for you to reenergize your IPM.  From knowing your space to knowing your pests, the key is having solid partners to make tracking and evaluation possible. Listen to learn about resources, techniques, and tools. Reach out to me at today and I would be happy to help you work on starting to formalize your process.  Remember, that consistency is critical, you should be satisfied when you have nothing new to report, and once you see pests in your space there is a big problem.  The proper IPM plan and regular vigilance can help you keep your collection safe.

The newest buzzword these days is Capacity.  It comes up in conversations about storage space and usually goes along with square footage and static loads.  Hearing this word has opened up a different line of thinking for me...what about people's capacity?  The last 3 years have irrevocably changed how we interpret our capacity and what is expected of us by the institutions where we work.  We need to embrace this evolution and consider ways to transparently share information so that our teams can manage their capacity as it changes day to day.  Also, we as staff members need to engage with the bigger picture plan so that we can communicate what is possible, and help keep the overall objectives in progress.  Capacity varies but it is on all of us to find ways to balance the scales and become more agile in our work practices.  I hope this helps you start looking at your team's processes and find more space physically and emotionally for people to be the best they can be.

Have you ever been part of a loan process before? If you have been a lender you know how much work can go into this process. What you may not know is that how you behave as a borrowing institution can make or break your reputation as a museum professional. We work in a very small world, and the right behavior can build a solid reputation that will pass muster with some of the most strict lenders. A bad reputation will keep your institution from getting loans in the future and will affect all sorts of peer-to-peer relationships throughout your work. I hope this episode helps you think through some of the key concepts when borrowing works from other institutions because no organization is too small to manage loans if they do it properly.

Who are you grateful for in 2022?  This is a fantastic time to answer this question and plan your end-of-year networking.  In this episode, I talk about how to make a positive and sincere impression on those you have connected with and make sure that you are strengthening your network so it can support you in the future.  Whether with a virtual coffee date or a handwritten card, the key is to be genuine in the thanks you put out there.  Building a network is the way to professional success and putting a personal touch on it can make a truly positive impression on your community.  Don't wait! Get on people's calendars today!

I am so excited to bring you this interview with author and ageism activist Ashton Applewhite.  Her book, This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism is a hopeful and authentic look at this issue affecting everyone.  In the art pro community, there are misconceptions about physical strength and cognitive ability in older candidates, and the perception that long-held positions are keeping younger generations from joining the workforce. We also discuss that ageism is a problem for younger art pros as well.   Many younger candidates are considered inexperienced and expected to work for free until they are deemed worthy.  Join us for a fantastic conversation where Ashton shares her deeply researched perspective on how ageism is connected to everything we do, and how we can work through the difficult challenge of unlearning biases that we have been taught are normal to follow.

Building and managing teams is not easy.  It requires that you search for talented individuals that have the skills you need and the potential you hope will help you accomplish your goals.  All the talent and potential in the world can't get you to the finish line if you do not find ways to give your team members space to engage with you.  In this episode, I talk about things that I keep in mind no matter what size my team is.  From making yourself accessible, and creating ways for team members to engage with information in their own way, to understanding your power dynamic, you will need to consistently work to remain empathetic and open.  The goal is to build a space where people feel that they can ask for help without exposing themselves to criticism.  If you create a team that feels secure in taking a chance, you will gain the best they can possibly contribute to your path forward.

Have you ever been midway through your previously planned budget and schedule, and then you get asked to pivot and add something new?  Don't worry.  You really can add projects while keeping the plates spinning, and without letting your team down.  In this episode, we talk about the production triangle, space management, and adjusting priorities while still being realistic.  Also, we discuss the one priority you should never adjust, your team.  Keeping them on top and staying accountable for making your plan A the plan that will work is the way to making a successful plan that works for everyone.

Have you ever had a conversation about collections access that left you feeling like a damp rag?  Do you constantly get accused of being too restrictive?  Here are my top 5 concepts to consider when setting up your protocols for storage or any collections care processes.  Protocols should be created with the goal of stewarding the collection so that it lasts as long as possible, and in the end, creates more access rather than less.  Learning how to explain that to your peers and critics can help establish a clear process that you can be confident will be sustainable.  

Deciding to become a collections manager is the first step, but the second is even more important...deciding what kind of collection you want to care for.  If you choose cultural heritage objects you need to be ready for more than just the logistics of the collection.  You also have to care for the spirit, intent, and cultures it represents.  In this episode, I discuss collections care beyond the physical, and things to consider before you decide to join a team at a cultural heritage museum.