Through organizational consulting, visitor experience planning, professional development workshops, and development of exhibits and education programs, we nurture competent and confident staff and compassionate organizations to share inclusive narratives of our country’s history.
At Old North Illuminated, we’ve worked with Kristin Gallas of MUSE Consulting on several major projects over the past few years: a comprehensive site interpretive plan; an online, modular training program for our frontline staff; and a new exhibit designed for children. The projects differed greatly, but Kristin’s drive for excellence, her communication skills, and her ability to think about a project on a macro and micro level simultaneously–that was utterly consistent. Kristin cares deeply about her work and shares her knowledge generously. She is responsive, thorough, and committed. We are very, very proud of the results of our work with Kristin and recommend her wholeheartedly.
– Catherine Matthews, former Director of Strategy and Special Projects
Old North Illuminated
NEW OFFERING! “PD+”: Professional Development Training + Mentoring
Are you concerned that your current visitor experience isn’t at its peak potential? Does your staff struggle with how to comprehensibly and conscientiously incorporate the history of slavery into their tours? Do they find it hard to talk about slavery because they fear they’re going to say something “wrong”?
MUSE can help you overcome these and other interpretive obstacles. We’ll assess your existing tour offerings to ensure alignment with your themes, impact statement and values, and evaluate the interpretive methodologies your guide staff are using to deliver the narratives. That feedback will inform the creation of bespoke training, tailored to your staff’s needs, and the subsequent mentoring process to help staff through the development and implementation of a new tour script.
What is it:
• Two full-days of professional development for your team
• Review of and feedback on current tour scripts and training materials
• Observation of and feedback on current tours
• Mentoring staff through the development of a new tour script
• Observation of and feedback on new tours
What does it cost:
The PD+ package is $12,000, plus travel costs for two trips for site visits.
Contact us today to talk about how PD+ can work for you.
Let’s work together!
Professional Development Workshops
Our professional development workshops deepen staff knowledge about the complex history and legacy of slavery and other marginalized stories and develop skills for comprehensive and conscientious storytelling. We share replicable practices for connecting to and extending your site’s interpretation of its history, as well as training to help staff achieve a greater understanding of the complicated emotions that often hinder our work.
We also offer workshops on developing school programs that establish a brave space to talk with young people about challenging history, while acknowledging the presence of historical trauma and helping students empathize with those who were marginalized by dominant cultures.
Visitor Experience Planning & Organizational Strategy
Visitor Experience Planning is the process of establishing the themes, narratives, audiences, and desired outcomes for your visitor experience, including interpretative and education programs, exhibits, online resources, and more. This inclusive process is informed by your board, staff, volunteers, visitors, partners, and stakeholders. The plan helps to define long-term goals, as well as short-term and annual work plans.
To create transformative visitor experiences at your site, we can guide you through the planning process to
– identify and solicit feedback from audiences and stakeholders,
– develop and refine theme statements, essential questions, goals, and outcomes,
– place focus on the stories of marginalized people at your site,
– create empathetic and inclusive narratives,
– foster relevant connections between your audience and your stories, and
– connect with your community.
Education Program and Resource Development
We create programs that incorporate experiential learning and dialogic techniques. Using curriculum frameworks and culturally-responsive teaching methodologies as a foundation, we develop educational resources that bring documents and objects to life.
Exhibit and Interactive Development
From theme development and text writing to interactives and evaluation, MUSE can help you bring your vision to life in 3D or online.
What our clients are saying about us
Please know that your [planning session] made a big impression on many of our committee members. During tense moments with how to proceed, I have heard them reference you as a way to guide us in our decisions … honesty, humanity, and humility.
– Strategic planning client
[I took away] the great way you conducted the activities. You really designed them in a way that allowed participants to engage. It was not forced or uncomfortable. It also was an amazing day of learning about those with whom we work.
– Workshop participant