Webinars & Workshops

TITLE: Embracing Folklife Collections: The Roles of Community and Shared Stewardship - Unfortunately, this workshop has been cancelled.

When: August 11, 10:00 am-4:30 pm EST (1 hour lunch)
Where: Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery, room 259, University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)
Instructors: Mark Breeding, UMBC Special Collections, Ryan Koons, Maryland State Arts Council, Laurainne Ojo-Ohikuare, UMBC Special Collections
Cost: $90.00
Registration Limit: 30

Workshop Description:

This workshop introduces participants to folklife archival collections, sometimes also called ethnographic collections. Ryan Koons (Maryland State Arts Council), Laurainne Ojo-Ohikuare and Mark Breeding (UMBC Special Collections) take the Maryland Traditions Archives (MTA) as their case study. Opened in 2013, this folklife archive contains fieldwork, administrative materials, and collections donated by tradition bearers, circa 1940s - present. Breeding, Koons, and Ojo-Ohikuare will review the history of the MTA, and the role of folklore and other disciplines in the creation of this and other folklore archival collections. Through lecture and guided activity, they will demonstrate the importance of community involvement and outreach, and recommend ways other repositories can improve equitable collections management, notably through shared stewardship. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the value of folklore collections, ways to deepen community engagement, and the ethics that vitally underpin folklore collections. Snacks will be provided; participants are recommended to bring lunch.

About the Instructors:
Mark Breeding serves as the Maryland Traditions Archivist, processing folklife materials housed at UMBC in collaboration with Maryland Traditions, the Maryland State Arts Council’s traditional arts program. He received his Bachelor’s degree at UMBC in History with a Minor in Africana Studies and a Master’s Degree in Historical Studies with a specialization in Public History at UMBC.

Laurainne Ojo-Ohikuare is the Processing Archivist for the UMBC Albin O. Kuhn Library and Gallery, where she arranges and describes the manuscript collections. Before UMBC, she was the Athletics Archivist for University of Maryland, College Park, and processed collections for the Smithsonian Institute’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC). She received her bachelor’s degree from Muhlenberg College in English Literature and Computer Science, and a M.S in Information and Library Science and M.A. in Irish Literature from New York University’s dual degree program with Long Island University.

Ryan Koons has served as the Maryland State Folklorist at the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) since 2025. There he directs grant programs in the Maryland Traditions folk and traditional arts program; manages media; administers MSAC’s award-winning Land Acknowledgement Project; and provides oversight for the Maryland Traditions Archives housed at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. He received a PhD in ethnomusicology from the University of California, Los Angeles, and is a Certified Archivist and member of several professional societies. He has taught, presented, and published on topics in archives, culture, history, and performance.

Questions? Contact Elizabeth Wilkinson at [email protected].

TITLE: Risk Assessments and Emergency Preparedness for Cultural Institutions

When: 8 September 2025, 1:00-2:00 pm EST
Where: Virtual (CCAHA Zoom)
Instructor: Dyani Feige, Director of Preservation Services, CCAHA
Cost: $15.00
Registration Limit: 100

Webinar Description:
One of the most important steps any cultural institution can take to safeguard collections is to be prepared in the event of an emergency or disaster.  This webinar will provide you with a “big picture” overview of emergency planning and preparedness.  You will learn the terminology of emergency planning, the basic components of an emergency preparedness and response plan, and the importance of risk assessment.  Please note that this webinar will not be recorded, so please plan to attend live.

About the Instructor: 
Dyani Feige works with libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural organizations to conduct needs and risk assessments, assist in disaster planning, and help develop policy and planning documents for collections. She also develops and presents education programs on preservation and conservation concerns.  Before joining the staff of CCAHA in 2010 as Preservation Specialist, Dyani worked in the Brooklyn Museum Libraries & Archives. She has also worked in the New York Public Library’s Preservation Division; for the Conference Board; and in the Special Collections & Archives at Kent State University. Dyani received her MS in Library and Information Science with a Certificate in Archives at Pratt Institute and her BM in Music Business from New York University.

Register online at: Stay tuned!

Questions? Contact Elizabeth Wilkinson at [email protected]