E2 Exhibits and Events Standing Committee

Current/Upcoming Exhibits and Events (E2) Activities

E2 Annual Meeting, “Living with the Lifecycle of Exhibition Programs and Spaces”
Wednesday, August 9, 2023
2-4 p.m. EDT
1-3 p.m. CDT
12-2 p.m. MDT
11 a.m.-1p.m. PDT
10 a.m.-12 p.m. Alaska
9-11 a.m. Hawaii-Aleutian

Registration: https://forms.gle/vPxNcpdtxU5pzqLV6
(Registration is open to all and membership in E2 is not required.)

Meeting Agenda

Welcome + E2 Hive Update + Discussion
Welcome! Francesca Marini, E2 Chair 2022-2023, Texas A&M University
E2 Chair 2023-2024: Michelle Chiles, Providence College
E2’s new model: low intensity support group, Jill Severn, University of Georgia
Living with the Lifecycle of Exhibition Programs and Spaces (presentations + Q&A)
Three 10-15 minute presentations with up to 30 minutes for Q&A (1 hr 15 minutes).
Introduction: Jessica Lacher-Feldman, University of Rochester
Survey + Temperature Check + Discussion
Moderators: Holly Robertson, Jill Severn, Jessica Lacher-Feldman (30 minutes)
Adjourn

Membership

To join this committee, please complete the E2 Membership Form.
You can connect with other E2 members in our Facebook group. All are welcome!

History

In 2017, several members of the Reference Access and Outreach Section of the Society of American Archivists led by Jill Severn, Amy Schindler, and Jessica Lacher Feldman proposed that the Reference Access and Outreach Chair and Steering Committee establish a new standing committee within the Section focused on exhibits and events in archives and special collections libraries specifically. This committee would meet growing demand for training, scholarship, collaboration, and innovation in these spheres as many archival institutions move to embrace more significant and intentional outreach programs that include exhibits (both physical and digital) and public events and programs that are innovative, professional, and meaningful for diverse audiences.

The proponents of this new standing committee assert that existing professional archival resources to support these spheres of outreach work are insufficient to meet current demand and, despite some foundational texts and some good public presentations on the theory and practice of archival exhibit and event development and design, cite the lack of a national professional entity that exists as a nexus for sustained dialogue, collaboration and innovation for these arenas. Furthermore, they point out, to get help and ideas for these endeavors, most archivists have to turn to museum or library organizations for assistance, but archival exhibits and events often have characteristics and interests that diverge from those developed by museums and libraries.

They concluded that exhibits and events in archives need archives-centered solutions.

E2 Scope of Activities

The Exhibits and Events Committee (E2) is a community of practice¹ for those engaged in the exhibit and event spheres. The work of the committee writ large includes:

• Serving as a clearinghouse of information and ideas about relevant practices, training, scholarship, technology, and resources relating to exhibits and events in archives via RAO, SAA, and other interested allied organizations.
• Promotes adoption of best practices in curation, design, execution, and assessment of exhibits and events.
• Creates opportunities for creative and innovative collaboration and experimentation in developing exhibits and events.
• Fosters access to high-quality continuing education and training opportunities through conference programs, workshops, online learning, publications, and other avenues of professional engagement.
• Advocates for the critical role that exhibits and events play in archival practice.
• Provides an annual report to RAO and all interested parties.
• Collaborates and communicates broadly with groups from SAA, AAM, RBMS, and other organizations.

¹ "Introduction to communities of practice - A brief overview of the concept and its uses". Etienne and Beverly Wenger-Trayner. October 2013. Retrieved 18 July 2023.

Communication and Documentation

• E2 communicates information to members via its listserv (e2-exhibits-events_l@listserv.uga.edu).
• The E2 group maintains a Facebook Group.
• The E2 group maintains a Google Drive folder for storage of resource bank materials, minutes, team project materials, rosters, and foundational documents.
• The membership manager manages the listserv and E2 membership roster. Changes of member contact information should be directed to this individual. The membership manager also invites new members to the Facebook group and provides access to the committee's Google Drive folder.

Committee Activities

E2 supports working groups or teams that work on projects of importance to the mission and interests of the committee.

E2 Resource Bank Team: This is an ongoing project to create something like a SPEC Kit  that would bring together relevant examples of E2-related policies, procedures, contracts, MOUs, personnel information (position descriptions, job advertisements, language to describe E2 activities effectively for cv, cover letters, and promotion documents), and other germane materials. The initial agenda for the team working on this would be to create a scope document outlining the resources needed and to develop and implement a strategy to collect examples of materials that would be housed in the E2 Google Drive folder, or possibly on the RAO E2 Web space and which will be chiefly an internal resource for members of this group.

Current Members

• Amy Schindler
• Megan Massanelli
• Kaylynn Washnock Stooksbury
• Becky Becker

E2 Bibliography Team: This is an ongoing project to maintain and grow a bibliography of E2-related literature. This team created a bibliography resource on the Zotero platform. Moving forward, it may be simpler to identify a volunteer to manage and encourage additional submissions from the E2 community via the E2 listserv.

Current Members: (vacant)

E2 Standing Rules

Membership: Membership is open to anyone with an interest in the activities and goals of the Exhibits and Events Standing Committee and who agree to abide by the Code of Ethics of the Society of American Archivists.  E2 operates under the aegis of the Reference, Access and Outreach Section of the Society of American Archivists and thus all members are subject to the code of ethics of its parent bodies.  Committee members will be solicited primarily, but not exclusively, from the SAA RAO Section membership. Committee Chairs/Co-chairs will be appointed by the SAA RAO Chair. Prospective members may join the committee by completing  the: E2 Membership Form.
For questions about membership, annual meetings, and projects, please contact the current E2 Chair.

Governance: Leadership of the E2 Standing Committee is shared by the current chair, the vice chair, and the advisory board composed of the founders and past chairs of E2.

Roles:

• Chair: Participates in all aspects of the E2 education and events team, sets all meetings of the E2 leadership, liaises with the SAA RAO Section leadership, prepares an annual report of the committee’s activities to the current RAO Chair, and produces or delegates internal and external communications.
• Vice-chair: Participates in all aspects of the E2 education and events team, attends all meetings of the leadership set by the chair. Attends the RAO standing Committee meetings with or instead of the E2 Chair.
• Advisory Board: Provides advice and assistance to chairs as needed. Oversees all activities associated with identifying excellent individuals to recommend for appointment as incoming vice chair by the RAO Chair.

Elections and Appointment of Leadership:

• Appointment/election of vice-chair begins with the advisory committee putting a call out to current members in July for applicants to serve as vice-chair/chair-elect. Applicants must provide verification that they are members in good standing with SAA and the RAO section and outline their interest in serving.
• The advisory committee will review applicants and recommend an applicant for approval to the current chair of the RAO Section. If multiple qualified individuals apply, then it will oversee an election process. The new vice-chair position will begin on or before September 15.

Prior Committee Leadership

(2022-2023)

• Chair/Lead: Francesca Marini
• Team Members: Holly Robertston, Julie Judkins, Amy Schindler, Jill R. Severn

(2021-2022)

• Chair: Carlyn Osborn
• Vice chair/Chair-elect: Francesca Marini
• Past chair: Holly Robertston
• Membership manager: Julie Judkins

Send comments on this website to 2023-2024 RAO Past Chair/Webmaster, Jay-Marie Bravent.