The five college consortium will build a professional development training program that creates opportunities for museum staff as well pathways for undergraduate and graduate interns entering the…

The Five College Consortium was awarded a $613,357 Project Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under the 21st Century Museum Professional Program (CFDA 45.032) to build a professional development training program for museum staff and create pathways for undergraduate and graduate interns entering the museum workforce. The three-year project, running from August 1, 2024 to July 31, 2027, aims to train 210 professionals and over 100 interns, fellows, and assistants in areas such as administration, education, exhibition development, and collections management. The project partners include the Five College Consortium along with seven campus museums and three affiliated museums in western Massachusetts, and involves seminars, workshops, and trainings to develop skills and grow the next generation of museum leaders.

The five college consortium will build a professional development training program that creates opportunities for museum staff as well pathways for undergraduate and graduate interns entering the museum workforce. The project partners include the consortium of five colleges along with seven campus museums and three affiliated museums in western massachusetts. Project activities include seminars, workshops, and trainings with museum staff based on work areas and career interests to develop paths for gaining skills and helping grow the next generation of museum leaders. The project will result in training 210 professionals and over 100 undergraduate and graduate interns, fellows, and assistants to meet the changing needs of museums in administration, education, exhibition development, and collections management.