Forgot password

SEMC 2026 Workshop

June 15, 2026 - Jackson, Mississippi 



We are pleased to open registration for a funded opportunity to attend a one-day workshop: 

Legacy in Action: Practical Exhibit Planning & Installation

Workshop dates/times: 

  • Monday June 15, 2026- 9:00AM-4:30PM

Workshop location: 

  • Two Mississippi Museums, Jackson, Mississippi 

Cost:

  • This workshop is free to attend, with space limited to the first 15 registrants. A waitlist will be available once capacity is reached.

Register Here

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Workshop Overview 


The Mississippi Department of Archives & History (MDAH) and the Southeastern Museums Conference will present a one-day exhibit planning workshop on June 15, 2026, at the Two Mississippi Museums in downtown Jackson, Mississippi. This program is offered as part of SEMC’s 75th Anniversary Legacy Forward Learning Series.

Are you planning a new exhibit? Are you looking for advice on exhibit standards for artifacts, mount fabrication, and budgets? Led by MDAH curatorial staff, this workshop will provide attendees with practical advice on developing an exhibit from conceptual design to installation, with ADA considerations in mind; gathering, documenting, and staging artifacts; installing exhibits in historic spaces and more. 

Designed for museum professionals at various stages of exhibition development, this hands-on workshop offers an opportunity to strengthen planning strategies and implementation practices. 

Preliminary Schedule:  

9:00–9:30 AM – Welcome & Workshop Overview

  • Introductions and workshop goals

  • The installation phase in context: why preparation, planning, and communication matter

  • Overview of tools, materials, and workflows used throughout the day

9:30–10:45 AM – Session 1: Collections/Curatorial Overview 

Presenters:

Jessica Walzer, Curator of Collections & Exhibitions

Ivette Ray, Director of Curatorial Services

Discuss exhibit theme development and engaging audiences, artifact selection, artifact documentation (forms, etc.), loans, artifact label writing.

10:45–11:00 AM – Break

11:00 AM–12:15 PM – Session 2: Design Phase; Wall Prep, Layout & Label Placement 

Presenters:

Sam Butz, Director of Exhibits

Hannah Battey, Exhibit Designer

Discuss general exhibit design, case layouts, exhibit flow, label layouts and label installation, exhibit mounting hands-on exercise.

12:15–1:15 PM – Lunch (provided)

1:15–2:45 PM – Session 3: Exhibit Standards and Preventative Conservation

Presenter:

Kathryn Etre, Director of Conservation

Discuss industry standards for environmental controls, light levels, case materials, etc. Artifact handling discussion. Hands on monitoring exercise.

2:45–3:00 PM – Break

3:00–4:15 PM – Session 4: Mount-Making and Hanging Techniques 

Presenters:

Sam Butz, Director of Exhibits

Kathryn Etre, Director of Conservation

Discuss mount making strategies for various artifacts and exhibit hanging techniques. Hands-on installation activities.

Open Q&A and scenario-based troubleshooting with facilitators

* If time permits: Tour the exhibits workshop 

 4:15–4:30 PM – Wrap-Up & Next Steps

  • Translating workshop skills to participants’ home institutions 

  • Resource packet: tool lists, supply recommendations, safety checklists

  • Participant reflections and takeaway commitments

If time allows, participants will have the chance to tour the temporary exhibit “Mississippi Made” at 8:30 am before the workshop begins. 

Meet the Instructors

Hannah Battey, Exhibit Designer

Hannah Battey is an exhibit designer for the Mississippi Department of Archives & History. She designs immersive environments that combine ideas, artifacts, and information to create engaging experiences for visitors.


Sam Butz, Director of Exhibits

Sam Butz is a museum professional based in Jackson, Mississippi, serving as director of exhibits at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. With experience as a preparator, as well as in exhibit fabrication, development, and project management, he leads the creation of engaging exhibitions that connect audiences to Mississippi’s past through thoughtful storytelling and design. 

Kathryn Etre, Director of Conservation

Kathryn Etre is the director of conservation at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History and manages all conservation activities at MDAH’s 11 sites. Kathryn has an undergraduate degree from Boston University with majors in History, Archaeology, and Classic Civilizations. She graduated from the Institute of Archaeology of University College London with a Master’s of Science in Conservation for Archaeology and Museums in 2007. She was the Andrew W. Mellon Fellow for the Detroit Institute of Arts from 2007-2010 and the Assistant Conservator of the Michael C. Carlos Museum – Emory University from 2010-2016. She joined the staff of the MDAH Museum Division in 2016.

Ivette Ray, Director of Curatorial Services

Ivette Ray serves as the director of curatorial services for the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. In this role, she oversees the Exhibits and Collections sections within the Museum Division, which encompasses all MDAH museums and historic sites. Ivette brings experience from her previous positions, where she developed and produced engaging exhibitions across a range of museum settings, including historic houses and natural and living history sites.

Jessica Walzer, Curator of Collections & Exhibitions

Jessica Walzer is the curator of collections and exhibits for the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. In this role, she took the lead in selecting artifacts and writing object labels for the "Mississippi Made" temporary exhibit. Jessica studied history at the University of Tennessee and is completing a master's in history from the Jackson State University. She has worked in both MDAH's archaeology collection and historic object collection.

For further information, please contact: