Museum Fundamentals Course
2024-10-08 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Halifax) | Online (Zoom)
Date: Oct 8, 15, 22, 29, Nov 5
Time: Tuesdays from 1 pm – 3 pm AST
Location: Online (Zoom)
Facilitator: Karin Kierstead, ANSM Museum Program Manager
This course introduces:

origins & evolution of museums
ethics, guidelines & movements that guide museums
core functions (collect, care, access)
the new ABCs (advocacy, burnout & community-led services), trends & challenges

The course format offers a combination of lecture, group discussion and exercises. It provides an excellent opportunity for new museum board members, new staff, consultants and government staff to receive a good overview of what museums are all about and the role they play in society. It is also an opportunity for mid- and late-career professionals to learn changes in the sector.
Having worked with museums in four provinces, Karin brings a combination of education and practical experience to the workshop, providing real-world examples to the discussions and exercises.
Registration Information

ANSM Members: $120.00
Non-Members: $150.00
Registration Deadline: Monday, Oct 7, 2024

Registration is now open here ➔
ANSM prefers online payments. Online payments are faster, offer greater security, and are more efficient for businesses to process. They automate transactions, saving time and reducing errors. Please contact us to arrange alternative payment options.
For more information email support@ansm.ns.ca or call (902) 423-4677.

ANSM Annual General Meeting
2026-06-19 10:00 - 12:00 | Online (Zoom)
Save The Date!
We hope you’ll join us virtually for ANSM’s Annual General Meeting which will be taking place on Friday June 19th, 2026 at 10:00AM on Zoom.
Stay tuned for further information!

TRACK Webinar: Building the Case: How Museums Can Measure and Communicate Their Impact with Dnyanesh Kamat
2026-06-30 13:30 - 15:00 | Online (Zoom)
For 2026: All TRACK webinars will be offered on Tuesdays from 1:30-2:30pm. Registration is FREE for museums/organizations participating in TRACK. More than one staff/volunteer per museum may register. Webinars are available for participants not enrolled in the TRACK program for a fee. Register here

Building the Case: How Museums Can Measure and Communicate Their Impact
with Dnyanesh Kamat

Museums are essential to their communities — but making that case to funders, elected officials, and the public requires more than good stories. This session explores how museums can build an evidence base for advocacy by measuring their economic, social, and community impact. Drawing on frameworks developed at the federal level and real data from Nova Scotia museums participating as case studies, we’ll walk through practical approaches to collecting and presenting impact data — from operating expenditures and visitor spending to volunteerism, educational programming, and community partnerships. Participants will leave with a clearer sense of what to measure, how to gather the data, and how to translate it into a compelling case for support.

TRACK Webinar: Digital Records Management using Google for Non-Profits with Sharon Murray
2026-07-14 13:30 - 15:00 | Online (Zoom)
For 2026: All TRACK webinars will be offered on Tuesdays from 1:30-2:30pm. Registration is FREE for museums/organizations participating in TRACK. More than one staff/volunteer per museum may register. Webinars are available for participants not enrolled in the TRACK program for a fee. Register here

Digital Records Management using Google for Non-Profits with Sharon Murray

This webinar introduces Google Workspace for Non-Profits and Shared Drives as practical tools for improving file-sharing, accountability, and continuity within heritage organizations. Participants will learn how to set up a free non-profit Workspace account, manage access and administrative roles, and organize Shared Drives using records management principles and good practices. We’ll also touch on strategies for maintaining consistency and continuity in record-keeping practices, as well as considerations for the long-term preservation of your organization’s digital records (your would-be fonds!). Designed for community museums and archives, this session offers a practical, “records-management-lite” approach to building sustainable systems using free digital tools.

TRACK Webinar: Museum Volunteers: Practical Tips and Trends with Rosemary Wagner
2026-08-11 13:30 - 15:00 | Online (Zoom)
For 2026: All TRACK webinars will be offered on Tuesdays from 1:30-2:30pm. Registration is FREE for museums/organizations participating in TRACK. More than one staff/volunteer per museum may register. Webinars are available for participants not enrolled in the TRACK program for a fee. Register here

Museum Volunteers: Practical Tips and Trends
with Rosemary Wagner

This session focuses on contemporary trends in museum volunteering and provides practical guidance and usable tip-sheets on revitalizing your small museum volunteer program. We review how to engage the NextGen, families, inter-generational and corporate volunteering into your site daily operations. In addition, we will include information on how to consider succession planning for your museum Board of Directors by implementing a Director-In-Training program.

2026 ANSM Conference
2026-10-01 00:00 - 2026-10-02 23:59 | Museum of Industry, Stellarton, NS, 147 N Foord St, Stellarton, Nova Scotia, B0K 0A2
2026 ANSM CONFERENCE

Dates: October 1-2, 2026
Format: In person
Theme: C.A.K.E : A Recipe for the Future of Museums
The Association of Nova Scotia Museums (ANSM) is inviting proposals for presentations, panels, and activities for our annual conference at the Museum of Industry in Stellarton from October 1 – 2, 2026. This conference will also celebrate ANSM’s 50th anniversary. All sessions will be held in-person.
The theme of this conference is CAKE: A Recipe for the Future of Museums, where:
C = Community
A = Access
K = Knowledge-sharing
E = Engagement
Our goal is to create an atmosphere of joy for the museum sector of Nova Scotia by incorporating ANSM’s Cake Policy into the theme of this conference.
We hope to host a variety of sessions, including presentations (20 – 45 minutes), panels (60 – 90 minutes), and/or hands-on workshops/activities (60 – 90 minutes). Topics may include, but are not limited to:
Inclusivity and relationship-building with communities
Preserving and sharing community stories and perspectives
Promoting safe and healthy communities at museums
Addressing accessibility – physical, intellectual, digital
Off-site and outdoor programming and services
Succession planning and staff/volunteer recruitment and resilience
Engaging youth/young adults and school groups
Sponsorship recruitment and engagement
REGISTER AND FIND MORE INFORMATION HERE
