The annual Regional Stakeholder Forum was held at the Museum of Applied Arts and Science on 11 November 2015.

This annual forum is an opportunity for the regional museums and collections sector to get together, discuss current topics and be inspired by new ideas. 

If you couldn’t attend the Forum, or if you’d like to review any of the sessions, they are now available below.

This event is presented by MAAS in partnership with Museums & Galleries of NSW and Regional Arts NSW.

Session 1: Knowing and growing your audience

‘Change the game!’ Ray Christison, President, Lithgow State Mine Heritage Park

‘Growing audiences through programs and events’ Ann Frederick, Creative Services and Public Programs Manager, Transport Heritage NSW

‘Guess who’s going to the museum’ Michael Rolfe, CEO Museums & Galleries of NSW

Session 2: Working with new communities

‘More than just four walls’ Tamara Hynd and Toni Lindwall, Museum Curator and Acting Manager Community & Cultural Life, Shellharbour City Council

‘It’s CALD outside: suggestions on low cost ways to engage your CALD community’ Luke Grealy, Museum Manager, Museum of the Riverina

Session 3: Long distance strategies

‘A day in the life of a regional museums advisor’ Kim Biggs, Museum Advisor for the Bland, Lockhart, Albury and Greater Hume Local Government Areas

‘Community engagement and the tyranny of distance’ Kerry-Anne Jones, Executive Director, South West Arts

Session 4: Indigenous connections

‘Indigenous connections: program planning with an Indigenous perspective’ Marcus Hughes, Indigenous Program Producer, MAAS

Session 5: Using the crowd

‘It’s getting crowded: crowdsourcing for collections’ Elliott Bledsoe, Marketing & Communications Manager, Queensland Writers Centre

Session 6: Short talking big idea

‘Pioneerscape: community connections between a museum and local schools’ Trish Hill, President, Family Historian and Archivist, The Oaks Historical Society

‘It’s a wrap: yarn-bombing a submarine’ Cathy Mann, Voluntary Curator, Holbrook Submarine Museum