KCAA 2007 Symposium

Regional Marketing Experts To Help Museum/Archives Professionals Promote Cultural Institutions

Marketing a museum or archives to the diverse interests of local historians, out-of-town visitors, and the general public can be a daunting task, especially for curators and archivists trying to simultaneously juggle advertising, media relations, Internet marketing, and event sponsorship requirements.

On Saturday, September 29, 2007, the Kansas City Area Archivists (KCAA) will sponsor a free educational symposium, Marketing Your Cultural Heritage Institution, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Kansas City Public Library's Central Library (14 West 10th Street) in downtown Kansas City, MO.

Featured speakers include Rebecca Smith, Director of Public Relations for the University of Kansas Libraries, Anita Dixon, President of the Cultural Conventions and Visitors Services, Bobbi Rahder, Assistant Professor, University of Kansas’ Indigenous Nations Studies, and Rachel Casey, Executive Director of the Irish Museum and Cultural Center. Speakers will discuss their own experiences and share practical tips for a variety of marketing applications (e.g., creating a marketing plan, writing a press release, holding a press conference, creating a media kit, utilizing Web marketing strategies, establishing an institutional brand, etc.).

Attendees will also be treated to a private tour of the Central Library’s Missouri Valley Room collection, which features outstanding images and information about the history of the Kansas City area and the Missouri Valley region.

The event is presented as a free service to the archives and museum community. Those who register by September 20, 2007 will be entered in a door prize drawing; however, “walk-ins” the day of the event are welcome. Register via e-mail to Kate Rogge (krogge@usa.net).

The Kansas City Area Archivists (KCAA) is a non-profit, professional association of archivists, manuscript curators, librarians, historians, and others dedicated to advancing archival collections and historical records. Founded in 1978, KCAA today boasts over 200 members in the greater Kansas City metropolitan area and throughout the Midwest. Through its programs, publications, scholarships, and awards, KCAA fosters professional development and cooperation among its members to support the collection, use, and preservation of area historical records.

Last revised: Friday, September 07, 2007