Summer Institute in Museum Studies and Public History
Welcome
You are cordially invited to the second annual University of West Georgia’s Summer Institute in Museum Studies and Public History being held on the University of West Georgia in June 2026.
The Summer Institute in Museum Studies and Public History focuses on regional professional development and training in museum and non-profit processes and skills and public history practice. An extension of the UWG Center for Public History, the Institute seeks to create a community of professionals and practitioners to serve the Southeastern region and nation in ongoing and cutting-edge techniques and trainings through in-person classes and programs.
UWG’s Summer Institute classes will generally focus on collections care and management issues, expanding into preventive conservation and educational development as the Institute grows and professional demand develops. In terms of Public history, the Institute will seek to offer classes on research methodologies, writing skills, public engagement, grant development, and hard field skills to attract the broadest possible professional and interested public audience.
Summer 2026 classes will occur in the first week of June on UWG’s Carrollton Campus.
Why Participate?
The vast majority of museum collection skills and public history methodologies are built and enhanced by repetition and regular engagement. Professional development opportunities to learn new skills and refresh a professional’s expertise on known skills is a critical component of professional growth in the field.
Participants will enhance their careers with new knowledge, expand their resumes, and develop more extended networks of like-minded professionals. A central goal of the Institute concept is professional networking, development of professional pride and community, and the creation of a community of knowledge sharing and collaboration.
The Center for Public History, UWG, and all of our partners look forward to providing participants with supportive learning opportunities, as well as a venue to share, collaborate, and network with other learners. A series of certificate pathways are being created to provide additional professional value and to create opportunities for graduate level study.
Classes and symposia are open to everyone. Meals on campus are included in the daily registration fee. Just bring your enthusiasm for professional development and ideas for the future.
Dates
June 1-5, 2026
Intended Audience
- Archivists
- Curators
- Museum Professionals
- Non-Profit Professionals
- Oral Historians
- Public History Professionals
Topics
- Creating Meaningful Intrepretive Experiences
- Care and Management of Regional Folk Art
- Digital Preservation of Books and Photographs
- Volunteer Support and Management
- Grant Writing and Management
- Non-Profit Board Development
The University of West Georgia • 1601 Maple Street • Carrollton, Georgia 30118
The Summer Institute will run Monday, June 5th through Friday, June 10th, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Two class options per day will be offered with the dates to be announced. Participants can participate in up to five classes for the week.
Creating Meaningful Interpretive Experiences II
Museum interpretation can mean a wide array of different things. This class will build on last year’s ‘Creating Meaningful Interpretive Experiences’ by focusing on a small subset of critical interpretive processes in museum education.
Care and Management of Regional Folk Art
This class will cover all aspects of acquiring, interpreting, and caring for folk art, including handling, storage, condition assessment and reporting, and basic preservation techniques. The class will also include methods for making folk art accessible to the public, including databases, photography, and displays. Materials included.
Digital Preservation of Books and Photographs
The course will cover all aspects of archival arrangement, ethics, and methodologies, as well as the most current perspectives on digitization of collections, including documents, photographs, 3-dimensional objects, and migration of magnetic and digital media.
Volunteer Support and Management
This class will look at all aspects of managing and supporting volunteers at museums and non-profits, both from the perspective of the institution and the volunteer.
Grant Writing and Management
This class will cover all of the aspects of engaging grant writing and development, from finding the opportunities, to constructing a narrative and building a budget for success.
Non-profit Board Development
This class will focus on developing and maintaining a functional and supportive board structure to maximize the stability and effectiveness of smaller non-profit museums and organizations.
The Institute will run Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with a break for lunch on-campus.
Daily class registration of $250 includes instruction, materials, and meals.
Scholarships may be available to students. Submit scholarship request to Mark Janzen at mjanzen@westga.edu.
Registration Opening Soon!
For additional information, please contact Mark Janzen at mjanzen@westga.edu or 678.839.6614.
For assistance with registration, billing, or to pay by phone, please contact Erika McClain at emcclain@westga.edu or 678.839.6611.
Below is a list of hotels available in Carrollton should you require accommodations. All hotels listed are within 10 minutes of campus and are near downtown Carrollton. When booking your hotel, please be sure to request the University of West Georgia rate while staying.
Please note that the University of West Georgia is in no way affiliated with the hotels listed below. The information is provided as a resource to you:
Holiday Inn Express and Suites Carrollton West
770-809-7100
Website
1545 US-27 South, Carrollton, GA 30117
Hampton Inn
770-838-7722
Website
102 S. Cottage Hill Rd, Carrollton, GA 30117
Courtyard Marriott
678-664-5200
Website
180 Barnes Ave, Carrollton, GA 30117