CHRISTINE CASTLE |KEYNOTE SPEAKER
M. Christine Castle, PhD
Museum Consultant & Owner/Editor of the Museum Education Monitor
Chris Castle is the owner/editor of the Museum Education Monitor, an international e-newsletter, and a museum education consultant. Clients include museums, galleries, historic sites, government agencies and professional associations in Canada and the US.
Long ago in a place far away, Chris was the director of the Oakville Museum and later of The Gibson House Museum in Toronto. She holds an MA (Museum Education), The George Washington University, Washington, DC and a Ph.D. (Education) from OISE, University of Toronto. She has taught courses for Brock University, University of Victoria and Centennial College. Presently she is an Adjunct Professor in the Museum Studies program at the University of Toronto
MAYA HIRSCHMAN, SECRETS OF RADAR MUSEUM, Curator/Manager |AN ENGAGING PARADOX: How leadership, innovation, and entertainment make a better museum
Maya Hirschman is the Manager and Curator of The Secrets of Radar Museum, the coolest museum you've never heard of, located in London, Ontario. She has worked in museums big and small across the country, including the Royal Ontario Museum, the Yukon Arts Centre Public Gallery, and Museum London. After eight years of working in and volunteering at the ROM and elsewhere, she decided to make it an official career and attended Fleming College's Museum Management & Curatorship program in 2004. She earned her MA in Interpretive Studies from the Dept. of Museum Studies at the University of Leicester in 2010. Having spent years on the front lines as well as hidden in the back rooms, Maya understands museums inside and out, and is particularly interested in how people relate to museums. You can read her blog,museummambo.blogspot.ca or follow her on twitter @mambolica.
Maya Hirschman is the Manager and Curator of The Secrets of Radar Museum, the coolest museum you've never heard of, located in London, Ontario. She has worked in museums big and small across the country, including the Royal Ontario Museum, the Yukon Arts Centre Public Gallery, and Museum London. After eight years of working in and volunteering at the ROM and elsewhere, she decided to make it an official career and attended Fleming College's Museum Management & Curatorship program in 2004. She earned her MA in Interpretive Studies from the Dept. of Museum Studies at the University of Leicester in 2010. Having spent years on the front lines as well as hidden in the back rooms, Maya understands museums inside and out, and is particularly interested in how people relate to museums. You can read her blog,museummambo.blogspot.ca or follow her on twitter @mambolica.
MELISSA SMITH, Art Gallery of Ontario |ACCESSIBILITY IN THE MUSEUM AND GALLERY ENVIRONMENT
Melissa is originally from Ottawa, where she worked in visitor engagement at the National Gallery of Canada and the Diefenbunker. Having obtained a B.A. and M.A. in Art History, as well as a Masters of Museum Studies, she is motivated by a passion to explore the unique relationship between visitors and art. Currently, Melissa works at the Art Gallery of Ontario, where she coordinates Adult Tours and Accessibility programs.
Melissa is originally from Ottawa, where she worked in visitor engagement at the National Gallery of Canada and the Diefenbunker. Having obtained a B.A. and M.A. in Art History, as well as a Masters of Museum Studies, she is motivated by a passion to explore the unique relationship between visitors and art. Currently, Melissa works at the Art Gallery of Ontario, where she coordinates Adult Tours and Accessibility programs.
ELKA WEINSTEIN, Miinistry of Tourism, Culture and Sport |ACCESSIBILITY IN THE MUSEUM AND GALLERY ENVIRONMENT
Elka Weinstein is currently a Museum and Heritage Programs Advisor with the provincial Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport. Her wide experience of working in heritage and museums includes administration, teaching, public interpretation, grant writing, evaluation, exhibition development, and database management. She has a Master of Museum Studies and a Ph.D. in Archaeology and has worked at a variety of cultural institutions in Canada, including the Royal Ontario Museum, the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art and various historic sites in Ontario and Quebec. She has also worked with museums in Latin America as a museum education specialist.
Elka Weinstein is currently a Museum and Heritage Programs Advisor with the provincial Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport. Her wide experience of working in heritage and museums includes administration, teaching, public interpretation, grant writing, evaluation, exhibition development, and database management. She has a Master of Museum Studies and a Ph.D. in Archaeology and has worked at a variety of cultural institutions in Canada, including the Royal Ontario Museum, the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art and various historic sites in Ontario and Quebec. She has also worked with museums in Latin America as a museum education specialist.
CHRISTINA KERR, McMichael Canadian Art Collection|ACCESSIBILITY IN THE MUSEUM AND GALLERY ENVIRONMENT
Christina Kerr is currently a Lead Artist Educator at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, where she has developed and implemented many arts programs with students of all ages and abilities. She has experience as an artist, teacher and coach. After earning her BFA and showing her own work in Toronto for a number of years Christina found her passion lies in teaching others. In 2014 she designed and led the inaugural LIFE (Learning Independence through Facilitated Education) Academy Program at the McMichael. The program is designed for individuals living with Autism Spectrum Disorders (such as Asperger’s), to further develop life skills. She is currently working on new innovative programs at the McMichael.
Christina Kerr is currently a Lead Artist Educator at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, where she has developed and implemented many arts programs with students of all ages and abilities. She has experience as an artist, teacher and coach. After earning her BFA and showing her own work in Toronto for a number of years Christina found her passion lies in teaching others. In 2014 she designed and led the inaugural LIFE (Learning Independence through Facilitated Education) Academy Program at the McMichael. The program is designed for individuals living with Autism Spectrum Disorders (such as Asperger’s), to further develop life skills. She is currently working on new innovative programs at the McMichael.
KAREN EDWARDS, Spadina Museum | MAKING MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES POP!
Karen is currently the Museum Administrator for Spadina Museum: Historic House & Gardens in Toronto where she oversees the staff and operations of this historic house museum. She holds an Honours BA in Historical Archaeology from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Masters in Museum Studies from the University of Toronto. She has worked most of her career at community and house museums in the GTA where she has worked in a variety of roles. Karen led the project to transition Spadina Museum's interiors and programming to focus on the 1920s and 1930s period. In 2010 Spadina Museum closed for about 10 months while it underwent a complete interior re-restoration. The change of time period has set this site apart from other house museums in Toronto, and has attracted new audiences.
Karen is currently the Museum Administrator for Spadina Museum: Historic House & Gardens in Toronto where she oversees the staff and operations of this historic house museum. She holds an Honours BA in Historical Archaeology from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Masters in Museum Studies from the University of Toronto. She has worked most of her career at community and house museums in the GTA where she has worked in a variety of roles. Karen led the project to transition Spadina Museum's interiors and programming to focus on the 1920s and 1930s period. In 2010 Spadina Museum closed for about 10 months while it underwent a complete interior re-restoration. The change of time period has set this site apart from other house museums in Toronto, and has attracted new audiences.
ILENA ALDINI-MESSINA, Spadina Museum | MAKING MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES POP!
Ilena Aldini-Messina is a 15-year veteran of using Marketing & Communications to build relationships with the public for non-profit organizations and museums. She works closely with a dynamic and strategic team in Museums & Heritage Services at the City of Toronto to engage people in participating and contributing to the myriad of events, programs, exhibits and lectures that take place every year.
Ilena has led successful campaigns that have received a high-level of awareness including the "What the 'Fact" transit shelter project, Downton Abbey Costume Exhibit, Pop-up Museums at the Market Gallery & Spadina Museum, The Fort York Visitor Centre Opening, and most recently the Gertrude Kearns – Art of Command Exhibit at Fort York. Currently, Ilena is busily working on creating an awareness campaign for Magna Carta – Law, Liberty & Legacy which will be in Toronto as part of a four-stop Canadian tour in October of this year.
As a mother of three boys ages 10, 6, 4, Ilena has very little time to pursue her love of jewelry-making and is just hoping to survive the next ten years
Ilena Aldini-Messina is a 15-year veteran of using Marketing & Communications to build relationships with the public for non-profit organizations and museums. She works closely with a dynamic and strategic team in Museums & Heritage Services at the City of Toronto to engage people in participating and contributing to the myriad of events, programs, exhibits and lectures that take place every year.
Ilena has led successful campaigns that have received a high-level of awareness including the "What the 'Fact" transit shelter project, Downton Abbey Costume Exhibit, Pop-up Museums at the Market Gallery & Spadina Museum, The Fort York Visitor Centre Opening, and most recently the Gertrude Kearns – Art of Command Exhibit at Fort York. Currently, Ilena is busily working on creating an awareness campaign for Magna Carta – Law, Liberty & Legacy which will be in Toronto as part of a four-stop Canadian tour in October of this year.
As a mother of three boys ages 10, 6, 4, Ilena has very little time to pursue her love of jewelry-making and is just hoping to survive the next ten years
ELYSSE LEONARD, TIFF | MAKING MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES POP!
Elysse Leonard coordinates an outreach programs at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) called Reel Comfort. Reel Comfort brings film screenings, facilitated discussions, special guest visits and film craft workshops to mental health clients within the psychiatric units of Toronto General, St. Michael's, Mount Sinai, and Baycrest Hospitals. Elysse has a Master’s degree in Cinema Studies from the University of Toronto, as well as an Honours Bachelor of Science degree with a specialization in Psychology.