As a regular attendee at the CAGE symposium since 2012, I have always been inspired by the work of my colleagues from across the country. I’ve learned from museum professionals whose work addresses regional challenges and the needs of local communities. I’ve been inspired by the heads of education departments at large institutions who have been involved in major expansion projects as well as colleagues who are departments of one, coordinating school programs, lectures and workshops with dedicated groups of volunteers. The case studies have always been a highlight of each symposium, demonstrating the scope of the work happening at our institutions.
A topic that regularly comes up during each symposium and the CAGE executive’s monthly conference calls is our desire as a community to better document the work that we do. Those of us working in the field of museum education are aware of the many reasons why this work is not always visible, and, personally, I always find it is a thrill to encounter the name of a Canadian institution or colleague whose work is featured in Muse Magazine or the Journal of Museum Education. This fall, the CAGE executive is committed to sharing what’s been happening at our respective institutions through the CAGE blog. We hope other museum educators will share their comments on these posts, fostering conversation about our practice before our next symposium in spring 2020. We also encourage others to share their own practice through this platform; please direct your ideas to me.
Susan Fohr
Senior Chair, CAGE
Curator of Education, Textile Museum of Canada