SPRING MIDTERM 2023

• A letter from the Director
• MSSO News & Events
• Important Dates & Deadlines
• Faculty Updates

Dr. Rosanna Flouty

Image Description: Photo of Dr. Rosanna Flouty sitting in her office. She has short dark hair, glasses, and is wearing a royal blue shirt

"Happy first day of spring. I hope your spring semester has been going smoothly and you recently enjoyed a restorative break last week. There are many events planned for the rest of the school year, including coffee breaks and social events planned by MSSO on April 5 and April 22, as well as our end-of-semester celebration on Friday, May 12. And for those of you already looking ahead to graduation, the Master's Convocation ceremony will be held on Thursday, May 18, 2023 at 3pm at the Beacon Theatre, located at 2124 Broadway between 74th and 75th street. This event is the day to celebrate our NYU Museum Studies community with faculty, friends, and family. We encourage our graduating students to meet beforehand to sit together that day, as seating arrangements in the theater are not set by program or department. Note that the MA Convocation occurs one day after the university-wide ceremony planned at Yankee Stadium.

Much to celebrate! Looking forward to seeing you at these events and more.
Sincerely,
Rosanna"

The ultimate goal of the Program in Museum Studies is to prepare students for long and successful careers in museums and other arts & science institutions. Please take a moment to congratulate each of these students as they begin new jobs in the field!

Image Description: Exterior shot of Downtown Syracuse. Historic buildings are framed by a cloudless blue sky, and reflected by a still glass pool. 

We are happy to announce the winners of this year's MANY Travel Grant. This grant will award five winners $500 towards travel expenses to attend the Museum Association of New York (MANY) 2023 Conference in Syracuse, New York from April 15-18 2023. This year's conference theme is "Finding Center: Access, Inclusion, Participation and Engagement." 

Congratulations to our five winners:

Ryan Tran

Bailey Binke

Amanda Gordon

Elizabeth Lewis

Yunwon Celine Seo

Rosanna will reach out to our winners shortly with more information on the grant and attending the MANY Conference. If you were not selected for the grant but plan to attend the conference on your own, please let Rosanna know so that she can include you in our NYU events before and during the conference. We appreciate all of our students who applied and hope you will apply for future grant raffles. 

MSSO Freelance/Contract Work Panel 

For those who could not attend the MSSO Freelance/Contract Work panel on March 20, 2023, you can still learn about the pros and cons of freelance museum work! The organizers have shared the panel recording for anyone who wishes to learn more about pursuing freelance work. 

Dr. Miriam Basilio would like to share information on an upcoming exhibit she has worked on:

Fighting Fascism: Visual Culture of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) From New York University Special Collections, Tamiment-Wagner Collections, Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives will be on view from March 3- September 15, 2023 at NYU’s Kimmel Windows, a 13-window exhibition space spanning LaGuardia Place and West 3rd Street. 
The Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives (ALBA) preserves the histories of the U.S. volunteers who fought alongside the Spanish Republic in the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) and those who provided humanitarian assistance with the Medical Bureau. Among the 2,800 volunteers were 22 NYU students. It comprises 10,000 photographs, 200 full color posters, postcards, oral history interviews, biographical materials, radio scripts, and artifacts.

Image Description: Photo of Dr. Miriam Basilio. She is a woman with short dark hair and glasses, wearing an all black ensemble. In the foreground is a multicolored poster that reads “Todas Las Milicas Fundidas En El Ejercito Popular” 

April Coffee Break
Wednesday, April 5th at 11 am, Museum Studies Conference Room (240 Greene St., 4th floor)
Take a study break and join MSSO for coffee and donuts, on us!

Image Description: Purple flier with beige and white coffee cups. Text reads:
“Coffee Break with Museum Studies. Wednesday, April 5th at 11am. Museum Studies Conference Room (240 Greene Street, 4th Floor) Join Museum Studies students, faculty, and staff for coffee and snacks, on us!”

MSSO Spring Picnic
Saturday, April 22nd at 2 pm, Sheep's Meadow in Central Park 
MSSO is hosting our annual end-of-semester spring picnic! Make sure to bring a blanket, games, snacks, and sunscreen!

Image Description:Peach colored flier with an image of a brown wicker basket filled with different fruits. Text reads: “You’re invited to the MSSO Spring Picnic. Join MSSO for our annual Spring End-Of-Semester Picnic in Sheep’s Meadow at Central Park! Drinks and snacks will be provided, but you’re invited to bring your own food, drinks, blankets, and games! April 22nd at 2pm” 

May 12, 2023 - Museum Studies End-of-Semester Party

Image Description: A pink flier with abstract wavy blobs of mint green, coral, blue and purple forming an asymmetrical frame. In the center, the text reads: “Program in Museum Studies. End-Of-Semester Party. Friday, May 12th 2023. 5pm - 7pm. Pless Hall Lobby Lounge. 82 Washington Square East. New York, NY 10003.”

Important Dates

April 1, 2023 - Apply for Summer 2023 Graduation
April 24, 2023 - Last day to register for Master's Convocation
May 2, 2023 - Spring 2023 Withdrawal Deadline
May 8, 2023 - Last Day of Spring Classes
May 9, 2023 - Reading Day
May 10 - May 16, 2023 - Final Exam Period
May 12, 2023 - Museum Studies End-of-Semester Party
May 18, 2023- MA Commencement at the Beacon Theater

Upcoming Seminars and Workshops at Wasserman Center for Career Development
Grad Level Salary Negotiation
March 1, 5:00PM-6:00PM ET, Virtual 
Participate in this workshop to prepare for negotiation research, practice responding to negotiation questions, and identify factors to consider when negotiating a job offer. Register for Grad Level Salary Negotiation. 


Grad Level Job and Internship Search Planning
March 7, 1:00PM-2:00PM ET, Virtual
Begin your job and internship search planning by attending this workshop. At the end of this session, you should be able to identify the various components of a job and internship search, gain familiarity with the many resources available to manage the process, and assess long-term goals and identify action steps that will help you ultimately achieve your goals. Register for Grad Level Job and Internship Search Planning.


LGBTQ+ Career Series: Quench: Trans@Work 
March 9, 12:30PM-2:00PM ET, LGBTQ+ Center (Kimmel 602)
Interested in learning more about navigating the working world as trans and non-binary people? Join the LGBTQ+ Center and Wasserman for a facilitated conversation with fellow trans community members regarding their experience with the job search and career journey. Free lunch is provided! Register for LGBTQ+ Career Series: Quench: Trans@Work.


Grad Level Resumes and Cover Letters
March 27, 3:00PM-4:00PM ET, Wasserman BK, Wunsch Building 
Attend this workshop to help you identify tangible skills and strengths that you've gained through graduate level study, while participating in a series of interactive exercises that will allow you to articulate these skills in your resume and cover letter. Register for Grad Level Resumes and Cover Letters. 

SPRING 2023

• A letter from the Director 

• Important Dates & Deadlines

• Upcoming Events 

• MSSO News & Events

• At the Bobst Library 

• New from ENRICH/Local Contexts 

I hope that you all had a good break, and that you are already aware of all of the exciting programs that will soon take place in the weeks ahead. There is one program in particular that I want to be sure you know about, launching next week: the Museum Studies Mentorship Program, organized by the Museum Studies Student Organization (MSSO) and NYU’s Museum Studies Alumni Association (MSAA).

The program is open to all first and second year students in the Program in Museum Studies. After completing the application, you will be paired with a professional who most closely fits your desired career goals. You can talk to your mentor about anything related to your internship or job search, your planned research, possible networking opportunities, and guidance to effectively seek rewarding internships and/or work in the museum field. Mentors and mentees are encouraged to interact in-person or virtually at least three times a semester, and our program will host an end-of-semester celebration event in mid-May.

Please apply using this link before Monday, January 30th 2023 and then keep an eye out for your pairing. We will also host a Zoom-based introduction event for all mentors and mentees on the evening February 6. 

Wishing you a wonderful start to the spring semester!

Sincerely,
Dr. Rosanna Flouty

A Message From MSSO Leadership:

The Museum Forum is seeking submissions for spring publication! We are looking for internship reflections, research spotlights, feature essays, creative projects, and more. Please submit a proposal or abstract (maximum 300 words) to msso.nyu@gmail.com. Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis.

This year, five graduate students were awarded the Thesis Research Award, which supplements travel costs for thesis research. Below, our awardees have shared where they traveled with their award monies:

During winter break, I traveled to the Nashville Parthenon from my hometown in northern Mississippi. The Nashville Parthenon is a full-scale reconstruction of the Athens Parthenon and was initially built for the Tennessee Centennial Exposition in 1897. During my visit, I explored current exhibitions by contemporary artists and community members, researched the history of the building and the Expo, and examined the context of the building today amidst a rise in white supremacist activity and propaganda. This museum will serve as an important case study for my thesis, titled “Myths of Whiteness: The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy in US Museums,” which will dissect false narratives of whiteness in Greco-Roman collections in US museums, as well as the socio-cultural impact of these narratives and misconceptions. My goal is to call attention to the lack of antiracist efforts in classical art spaces, which are deliberately exclusive, classist, and racist, with the hopes of addressing misconceptions and promoting diversity and dialogue in these traditionally white (metaphorically and literally) spaces.

Image Description: The Parthenon in Tennessee at sunset. In the foreground, Rowan Murry stands in a black jacket and blue jeans

As a Museum Studies Thesis Travel Grant recipient, I traveled to Washington D.C. to view historical records in the Smithsonian Archive. My thesis looks at volunteer program history in American museums from the 1970's to today, and specifically covers the Smithsonian Institution, the Newark Museum of Art, and the American Museum of Natural History. The records I looked at in the archive detailed the 1970-1989 administration of the Smithsonian Visitor Information and Associates’ Reception Center, a department made up of a lot of volunteers. I am so grateful that I was awarded this money as it covered my transportation and housing costs for my 3-day visit. While there, I not only went through 7 boxes of records, but also visited a couple museums, national monuments, and met up with a couple colleagues and friends.

Image Description: A rolling shelf with multiple cardboard boxes belonging to the Smithsonian Visitor Information and Associates’ Reception Center.

With my research grant, I traveled to Seattle and attended the Seattle NFT Museum 1st Anniversary event night. I also visited the museum a day before the event night so that I could get to know the place and people there a little bit beforehand. The museum is situated in Belltown Seattle and has one open gallery space that displays about 20 artworks from 5-6 artists from around the world incorporating at least one Seattle artist for every exhibition. The staff at the gallery were very friendly and helpful, providing me with information about the space and answering my questions.

 On the event night, there were about 80 people(the number I am checking with the staff) who are genuinely interested in NFT art, celebrating the first anniversary, and listening to two directors summarize the past year and plan for the next upcoming year. There was an artists' talk as well, sharing their experiences and thoughts on doing their artistic work. During the casual meeting time, the bell constantly rang to signify the fund donation for the museum's free admission, and I met and networked with staff, supporters, directors, artists, and a guest curator. I enjoyed speaking with such an interesting group of people. I am now talking with directors about getting involved with this amazing community full of people who are passionate about the future of art.

Image Description: A seated audience gathers at the Seattle NFT Museum’s 1st Anniversary event night. 

For my research, I went to Washington D.C. to visit the Dumbarton Oaks Museum! The museum is a historic house with an art and archaeology collection, and is a case study for my thesis. In my thesis, I am researching archaeological funerary objects displayed in historic house museums. When visiting the museum I was able to see the Pre-Columbian Galleries and the Textile Gallery that are a part of the house itself. I was also able to visit the Dumbarton Oaks Special Collections Reading Room to view some of the fieldwork collection archives, which includes information on ongoing research of the museum's Pre-Columbian collections. Over two days I was able to gain a lot of information about the history of the museum, its galleries, the collection itself, and the ongoing research of the Andean art collection!

Image Description: Exterior shot of the front door of the Dumbarton Oaks Research Library. It is a red brick building with three front steps, and a half-moon window above the door. 

Figure 1: André Breton Atelier. Installation view at the Centre Pompidou, Paris.

I used the thesis travel grant to travel to Venice and Paris to look for answers to my questions about Surrealism. Venice was my first stop on this journey on the trail of surrealists. There, I met the scholar Grazina Subelyte, Chief Curator at The Peggy Guggenheim Foundation and an expert on Surrealism and the art of Kurt Seligmann. I interviewed her for my thesis and spent an hour at the museum coffee shop with her talking about Surrealism, art, museums, and the importance of imagination nowadays. The most rewarding part of this conversation was seeing the curator combining imagination with her expert academic knowledge about the surrealist movement to speculate about the possibilities of exhibiting surrealist art in alternative ways. The Peggy Guggenheim collection itself, loaded with masterpieces like Giorgio de Chirico’s La Nostalgie du poète (1914) and Max Ernst’s The Antipope (1942) was inspirational for my research and allowed me to see artworks of fundamental importance for my research and reach a more nuanced understanding of surrealist paintings. 

Figure 2: View of the installation of Giacometti / Dalí. Jardins de rêves. The Giacometti Institute

From January 14th to January 17th, I flew to Paris to visit the exhibition Giacometti / Dalí. Jardins de rêves at the Giacometti Institute, and especially André Breton’s wall at the Centre Pompidou. [Fig.2] [Fig.3] Following the advice of the former director of the Museum Studies Program, Mr. Bruce Altshuler, I checked out Giacometti/Dali, an exhibition aimed to highlight the connection between Giacometti’s sculptures and surrealist ideas, with a specific focus on igniting a dialogue with the art of Dali. By displaying in the galleries of the foundation some of Giacometti's most important surrealist sculptures like Suspended Ball (1930–31) or Point to the Eye (1932), along with some drawings from the 1931 December issue of “Le Surréalisme au service de la révolution,” the exhibition succeeded in presenting the importance of Alberto Giacometti’s work for the creation of surrealist object at symbolic function.

Figure 3: Catalogs and ephemera of Gaicometti’s surrealist exhibitions and publications. partial view of the installation, Institut Giacometti. 

However, the most exciting part was to see the Atelier of André Breton installed in a room at the Centre Pompidou. [Fig.1] The Atelier displays 255 objects and artworks collected by the artists in the second room of his studio at 42 Rue Fontaine in Paris and represents a "total work of art". Arranged in random proximity, works of fine art are juxtaposed with primitive sculptures and folk art, Oceanic and Pre-columbian objects, as well as some miscellaneous pieces like found objects and stones. As a whole, the wall is capable of recreating the kind of marvel aroused by surrealist poems, paintings, and sculptures, and encompassing the essence of the surrealist philosophy founded on the rediscovery of the irrational and unconscious to liberate Men from inhibitory social expectations. The juxtaposition on the wall of objects from distant realities parallels Surrealism's desire to create a new reality where every individual can achieve self-realization through imagination by breaking the rational rules governing the rational society as well as traditional ways of displaying artworks chronologically on a museum wall. Indeed, from one perspective, this wall also recalls the non-chronological, chaotic design of the exhibition Surrealist Objects at Galerie Charles Ratton in 1936, and the extravagant marvel characterizing the International Surrealist Exhibition held at the Galerie Beaux-Arts in 1938. By providing a tangible glimpse into the past and showing the peculiar way surrealists sought to display artworks to arouse marvel in the viewers, Breton's wall can be considered a working tool to rethink exhibiting strategies in museums. It stands as a source of inspiration to conceive new alternative museum spaces where art historical narratives are founded upon fantasy, marvelous, and imagination instead of formalism, chronology, and the traditional idea of artistic inspiration.

Please give a warm welcome to our new first-year MSSO representatives joining the board this January 2023. 

Hometown: Ringoes, New Jersey

Favorite Museum: Rijksmuseum

Career Interests: Sustainable collection practices in archaeology

Image Description: Photo of Emily Maturano sitting on a chair outdoors. She has long dark hair, and is wearing an assymaterical black shirt with beige linen pants. 

Hi there, my name is Mary Beth! I'm a First-Year Rep and on the Academic Committee for MSSO. I'm originally from Texas and attended college in Massachusetts, where I majored in Art History and English. Previously, I worked as a research assistant for the ArtCurious Podcast, a Museum Educator at the Thomas Cole National Historic Site, and a "boba"-rista at a bubble tea shop in my hometown. 

Some fun facts about me: my museum field interests are currently split between Education and Collections, my favorite NYC museum is Poster House, and I love to read and practice yoga in my free time. I'm looking forward to serving on this board, and I'm excited to chat with y'all soon! 

Image Description: Photo of Mary Beth Soya, sitting indoors at a cafe table. She has long brunette hair, and is wearing a gray sweater. In her hands is a green tea cup. 

Keep an eye out for these events this semester:

EXTENDED DEADLINE TO APPLY: January 30, 2023 by 5PM EST for Projects 2 and 3

APPLY VIA GOOGLE FORM HERE

FINALISTS’  INTERVIEWS ONLINE:  FEBRUARY 6-12

RESPONSES: FEBRUARY 20

PERIOD at Villa La Pietra: From the week of May 22 – through the week of July 3, 2023

Applications must be submitted via Google form. You may direct questions before the application deadline to Rosanna at: rosanna.flouty@nyu.edu

Applications must include: a cover letter with motivation and Curriculum Vitae

Project 2: The Acton Guest Book (1923-1994): documentation and research 

Between 1923 and 1994, the family kept a guest book that represents a living memory of the social life of the Villa. The bound volume is preserved in the collection and has been digitized (with high-resolution photographs) in order to preserve it and to eventually make it accessible to students, faculty and scholars for study and research. An on-going project has been identifying and transcribing each individual signature.  These have in turn been entered into a database containing biographical information on each guest, with social and professional status, cultural background, and relationship to the Acton family. The student will assist with the continued documentation of these signatures and baseline research on these visitors, but will also be involved in creating new digital content and relevant material for social media platforms. 

The project takes place in Villa La Pietra, under the supervision of the Coordinator of Instructional Technology and Digital Initiatives, Scott Palmer and of the Collection Manager, Francesca Baldry. Visits to other house museums and archives will be organized. 

Preference will be given to students who are highly organized, detail-oriented, and proficient in Microsoft Excel and AirTable. The subject matter of the Acton guest book is related to 20th century  history, art and society, therefore  students interested in this period are encouraged to apply. This year the research project will focus on the Post World War II period. 

Time Commitment: The project generally spans seven weeks, with activities carried out five days a week between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. The beginning and ending dates, and the daily schedule of the project will be determined after the students are selected (approx. week of May 22 – week of July 3).

APPLY VIA GOOGLE FORM HERE

Project 3: Development of Digital Content for Educational and Public Access 

The project for this summer is the development of digital content that documents the history of the villa, the artwork, the garden, and the family who donated the estate to NYU in 1994. The student will be asked to make suggestions on how to utilize some of the rich stories and resources to create room charts, to update the paper photo albums and to design a digital version of these albums for digital devices. The student will be involved in the presentation of the Villa, its history, collections and its public outreach by giving tours and creating material for social media platforms. 

Knowledge of computer design or graphics and an interest in digital technology and interpretation is highly recommended. 

Time Commitment: The project generally spans seven weeks, with activities carried out five days a week between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. The beginning and ending dates, and the daily schedule of the project will be determined after the students are selected (approx. week of May 22 – week of July 3).

APPLY VIA GOOGLE FORM HERE

All three students will be asked to provide support during public evening events.

(continued...)

January 30, 2023 10am - 12pm

As you slowly head back to campus and start your internship and job applications in earnest, we have organized a resume, cover letter and LinkedIn workshop to support our students on Monday, January 30 from 10am to 12pm in our 4th-floor conference room at 240 Greene. It will be run by our liaison at the Wasserman Center assigned to help Museum Studies students, named Elle Lee. We urge any and all students to attend, and there will be coffee! Rsvp here.

Some resources for you: here is a link to the Wasserman slides and resources that Elle Lee mentioned during the November 28 presentation (you will just need to be signed into your NYU Gmail and/or their Handshake account to view):

1. Resume Guide

2. Cover Letter Guide

3. CV Guide

4. LinkedIn Rock Your Profile Tutorial (recorded webinar)

5. LinkedIn Job Search Checklist

6. GoingGlobal

The annual Threesis Academic Challenge is a development series and friendly competition designed to showcase the important scholarly work of GSAS master’s students. Over the course of the Spring semester, students work with mentors (past Threesis alumni, Bobst Subject Librarians, faculty, and more) to distill their graduate research into a 3 minute oral presentation, developed for a casual non-specialized audience. Students that complete all requirements and make it to the Final Round of the Threesis Academic Challenge have the opportunity to win cash prizes up to $1,250+.

Last year, Museum Studies student Joanna Seifter won first place! For more information about the Threesis Academic Challenge, click here. 

The Threesis application deadline is February 13, 2023. 

Please apply by Monday, January 30th by noon to be paired with a mentor. You will receive an introduction to a graduate of our program based on your career interests in the first week of February, and they can help you with any aspects of your job or internship searches, networking opportunities, career goals, and shared research interests. Here is the application link and these are the mentorship guidelines. We encourage all of our first-years to take advantage of this opportunity as they seek summer internships. You will have at least three virtual or in-person sessions with your mentor, and the Program will host an end-of-year happy hour in May so that you can meet your mentor in person. We are actively looking for 7-10 more current students to apply by the deadline!

Image description: Twenty Museum Studies students and alum stand together in a group, smiling within a white-walled gallery. Behind them is a wall covered in brightly-colored round stickers and the text, Here's The Truth. Photographed in December 2022 in Soho's Climate Museum pop-up.

(continued...)

February 6, 2023

Dyckman Farmhouse Museum has invited our students to attend the first annual Northern Slavery Collective (NorSC) Conference in Philipse Manor Hall in Yonkers, NY. This event has both in-person and virtual attendance options. Scholarships are available for students to apply here. To see the full schedule and to register, you can visit this site and please also let Rosanna know if you plan to attend.

Image Description: Yellow and orange invitation with exterior view of Philipse Manor Hall. Text reads, “First Annual NORSC Conference. Monday, February 6, 2023. Keynote Speaker Lavada Nahon. Hosted at Philipse Manor Hall.” 

March 4, 2023

From the Coalition of Master’s Scholars on Material Culture: History Should Make You Uncomfortable is a phrase that we believe calls into question what it is we think we know. Too often, “history” in the grade school classroom is taught as a factual recounting of events in the past. While more specialized iterations of “history” class teach increasingly nuanced and even critically analyzed material, what we are taught at a very basic level does in some way stay with us and influences the way we think. By asserting that History Should Make You Uncomfortable, we are insisting that there is more to the story you think you know. The symposium will consist of 5 presentations from emerging scholars and one keynote speaker.

Registration is through Eventbrite and the event will take place via Zoom Webinar.

February 5, 2023 -  Add/Drop deadline

February 13, 2023 - Threesis deadline

February 15, 2023 - Last day to apply for Spring 2023 graduation

February 20, 2023 - Presidents Day. No classes scheduled and university offices closed. 

March 13, 2023 - March 19, 2023 - Spring Break

May 8, 2023 - Last day of spring classes

May 9, 2023 - Reading Day

May 10, 2023 - May 16, 2023 - Final exam period

May 17, 2023 - Commencement Day

January 30, 2023. 11:00am- 12:00pm

This session is geared towards students of all levels who are interested in using material from NYU Special Collections but are unsure how to begin. We’ll discuss what types of materials and content you can find, demonstrate how to find material in the catalog and archival search portal, walk through the basic anatomy of a finding aid, and explain how to access the web archives. You’ll also learn how to activate your Special Collections Research Account and how to schedule an appointment to visit.

Special Collections, Second Floor, Room 251

Register here. 

Image Description: Two side-by-side logos. The left-side logo is a teal square with faint rippling waves. Centered in the square is white text that reads “Local Contexts”, accompanied by a white rippling circle. The right-side logo is on a white background, with dark blue text reading “ENRICH”, accompanied by a circle of interconnected rainbow dots.

In collaboration with the NYU Law school, ENRICH is hosting a series of webinars to address IP issues facing tribes and Native communities. These webinars are designed with and for Native community leaders, legal experts, and scholars to share knowledge and build community. Topics include copyright over Indigenous languages and sound recordings, Indigenous Data Sovereignty, 3D replicas and data ownership, and international IP discussions affecting Tribal Nations. Recordings and summary reports of each event will be published on our website.

The Traditional Knowledge and Biocultural Labels were developed as a tool to recognize rights and interests in Indigenous cultural and biological heritage data. In an effort to support Indigenous communities and provide increased expertise in the Local Contexts system, co-directors Dr. Jane Anderson, Māui Hudson (Whakatōhea), Dr. Kim Christen, and James Francis, Sr. (Penobscot) are set to conduct the second intensive training program for Indigenous communities. The first training was successfully hosted at NYU in August 2022 and welcomed 20 participants from the U.S., Canada, and Aotearoa (New Zealand). This second training will be based out of the University of Waikato in Aotearoa, New Zealand. The weeklong program will collaboratively engage Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property, Indigenous Data Sovereignty, Traditional Knowledge and Biocultural Labels and Notices, and the Local Contexts Hub. This training will serve 45 participants from across Australia and New Zealand, including Indigenous community members, Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (THPOs), archivists and museum staff, professors, researchers, and artists.

Funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, ENRICH is working in collaboration with the Penobscot Nation, the Native Nations Institute at the University of Arizona to deliver three intensive trainings for tribal archivists, librarians and museum professionals to build capacity around intellectual property and Indigenous data sovereignty. This Native Intellectual Property Intensive Training (NIPIT) Program will be a 5 day of intensive training to support the development of tribal governance, policy and decision-making around intellectual and cultural property and control of Indigenous data. Trainings will take place between 2023 and 2024 in New York, Alaska, and Arizona.

Dr. Jane Anderson and the Local Contexts project were recently featured on We All Count’s informal Q&A recording, “Talking Data Equity”.  Local Contexts has been working for years on grounding Indigenous data and digital rights. Local Contexts supports Indigenous communities to manage their intellectual and cultural property, cultural heritage, environmental data and genetic resources within digital environments.