STAMFORD, Conn. — Rachel Desgrosseilliers, executive director of Museum L-A, has created a seminar for the New England Museum Association Conference on Nov. 7-9. The theme is Museums on the Move.

Desgrosseilliers will lead the panel discussion titled “It Can’t Be Done” to “We Can Do It,” with three speakers who have had to deal with major economic downturns as small museums.

Todd Smith, consultant of corporate strategy and nonprofit leadership who recently completed the task of closing the American Textile History Museum in Lowell, Mass., will focus on sustainable outcomes, evaluating goals in context of real world economics and creating action plans with clearly defined financial targets.

Desgrosseilliers, after facing such a downturn, will present how to get the community engaged again while accepting the challenge of not giving up, making hard decisions and not just think outside the box but throw away the box to move toward vitality and sustainability. The outcome of risk is to learn to feel empowered by never accepting “Can’t be done,” “It will never work,” or “You’re just dreaming,” as Museum L-A paves the way toward building a new community museum.

This centennial NEMA conference in Stamford will investigate how museums have evolved since the very first NEMA conference and how museums are positioning themselves for success in the century ahead.

Museum L-A is in the Bates Mill Complex at 35 Canal St., Lewiston. Hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Saturday. Special tour requests and large group tours outside of these hours are available by appointment.

FMI: contact info@museumla.org or call 207-333-3881.

Museum L-A’s Executive Director Rachel Desgrosseilliers. (Photo by Museum L-A)

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