GEMM Circles
What's a GEMM Circle?
​
For people at any level or role at a GLAM organization, we offer virtual and in person opportunities to come together. You'll hear from voices in the field with expertise relating to gender equity issues. These are never recorded, so bring your questions and experiences to share with others facing similar issues. We're here to help!
​
Upcoming GEMM Circles + Events
Fall 2024​
​
Charlie Gibson’s Queer Boston: A Tour and Discussion of Gender and Identity with GEMM and the Gibson House Museum
IN-PERSON EVENT
​
Thursday, October 3, 2024, 6pm
Gibson House Museum
137 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02116
Join the Gibson House Museum and GEMM (Gender Equity in Museums) for a tour and conversation about how and why museums are changing their interpretation to share new and lesser-known stories with their visitors. We will begin with a tour of the Gibson House, exploring the museum and the gay subculture of early 20th century Boston through Charlie Gibson’s eyes. Then, we will host a conversation with museum interpreter, Catherine Carver, museum curator, Meghan Gelardi Holmes, GEMM Board Member Elise Couture-Stone, and the audience about how the Gibson House has approached this work in recent years.
Accessibility Note: Tour will include periods of standing and going up and down several flights of stairs. The Museum is not air-conditioned.
​​
Shaping a More Equitable Future: Feedback and Strategies for Gender Equity in Museums with GEMM
Thursday, November 7, 2024
New England Museum Association Conference,
Newport, RI
​
​Join GEMM for a discussion focusing on their upcoming book about the contemporary landscape of the museum field. Through an interactive discussion, participants will gain insights into GEMM's research and contribute valuable ideas and feedback on the book's content. This session offers a crucial opportunity to collectively address gender disparity and pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable museum future.
​
​
Don't miss the latest GEMM news. Sign up for our eNews!
Past GEMM Events
​​
GEMM presentation at the Connecticut League of Museums Conference​
June 3, 2024
​​
Boston-Area GEMM Meet-up
We're Writing a Book: Come Workshop Ideas With Us!
March 5, 2024
Cambridge, Mass
The Art of Becoming: Exploring Gender Equity Through Textile Art with SJSA
February 27, 2024
Virtual
With Sara Trail, Jocelyn Gama, Dyese Matthews, and Stacey A. Watson.
​
Broadening the Conversation on Gender Equity in Museums
December 7, 2023
Alexandria, Virginia
Meet up with GEMM steering committee members Ashanti Davis and Sophie Pugh in person for conversation and networking.
​
Ask GEMM!
GEMM Steering Committee at the New England Museum Association Annual Conference
November 8-10, 2023
​
Shifting Perspectives & Bridging Differences: VTS with a Social Justice Lens
Monday, March 20, 2023
​
“What’s going on in this picture? What do you see that makes you say that? What more can we find?” These three questions form the basis of Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS), a facilitation method that fosters collaborative, inclusive, and community-building dialogue. In this GEMM Circle, participants will be introduced to VTS through a social justice lens. Participants will engage in practicing the principles of VTS via a group activity followed by a discussion on the applied framework, its traditional uses, and the ways in which it can impact future work in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB).
​
Passing the Torch: A Conversation with Joan Baldwin
Wednesday, March 8, 2023
​​
Join us for a special GEMM Circle as we talk with author, blogger, museum people advocate, and GEMM co-founder Joan Baldwin about her decision to sunset her popular Leadership Matters blog and what she sees next for the field.
​
November 16, 2022
Shifting Perspectives & Bridging Differences: VTS with A Social Justice Lens
With Erin Wederbook Yuskaitis (she/her), Principal for Yellow Room Consulting and Walae Hayek (she/they), founder and president of ROYA
​
“What’s going on in this picture? What do you see that makes you say that? What more can we find?” These three questions form the basis of Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS), a facilitation method that fosters collaborative, inclusive, and community-building dialogue. In this GEMM Circle, participants will be introduced to VTS through a social justice lens. Participants will engage in practicing the principles of VTS via a group activity followed by a discussion on the applied framework, its traditional uses, and the ways in which it can impact future work in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB).
August 18, 2022
GEMM Circle: National Council for Public History
​
A GEMM Circle Reflection
By Anne Mahoney and Elise Couture-Stone
​
As many museum professionals can tell you, as soon as they enter the field, gender discrimination and/or sexual harassment experiences are common. That was our reaction to the Report on Data Analysis of the Survey on Gender Discrimination and Sexual Harassment in the Public History Field (“Report”). Given the ubiquity of this knowledge among employees, why is this report so important, and what can we glean from the contents that will lead to measurable change in the field?
To answer these questions, the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH), and the National Council on Public History (NCPH) teamed up with the Gender Equity in Museums community for the latest GEMM Circle discussion. Read more about the discussion here: https://www.genderequitymuseums.com/single-post/a-gemm-circle-reflection
​
March 17, 2022
GEMM Circle: How can Unions Fight for Gender Equity?
​
Join GEMM on Thursday, March 17, 2022 (11 PT/ 12 MT/ 1CT/ 2 ET) for our next GEMM Circle "How Can Unions Fight for Gender Equity?" with Kara Furman from the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The COVID-19 pandemic has not only highlighted systemic inequities in the workplace but created new issues often drawn on gender lines. What role do unions--and the fight to create them--play in raising awareness of these problems and working towards gender equity?
January 26, 2022
GEMM Circle with the National Emerging Museum Professionals Network
The National Emerging Museum Professionals Network and GEMM Steering Committee members enjoyed a GEMM Circle talking about how all museum professionals navigate discussing gender issues in the workspace. The NEMPN provided a resource document for folks to explore. Download the GEMM NEMPN resource document here.
​
September 16, 2021
GEMM Circle: Women in Preservation with Nzilani Glass
​
About Ariana Makau:
Makau is the second person in the world – and the first woman to receive a Master’s Degree in Stained Glass Conservation from the Royal College of Art in London. Equally comfortable on a job site, at a board meeting or in a museum, Makau has over 25 years of experience with art and architectural preservation. She is a Board Member and Health and Safety Chair of the Stained Glass Association of America and is a Fellow of AIC. Before Nzilani, she worked at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, London’s V&A Museum, and the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art. Nzilani Glass Conservation is one of the few companies in the United States qualified to create new or preserve historical glass works. Explore the company website here: https://www.nzilani.com/about
​
More about Makau and her incredible work:
​
-
Dumbarton House, Washington D.C. - Power in Preservation This exhibit is a celebration of the role that women have historically played, and continue to play, in the broad field of preservation. Ariana/Nzilani is part of the gallery that features 10 of the innumerable, trailblazing women working in preservation today.
-
Dovetail Workwear - Women at Work Series: Stained Glass Conservator Ariana Makau Interview.
-
Move Over Bob (MOB) - "Behind the Glass: Creating a Space For Women In A Centuries Old Craft" editorial by Angela Cacace interview.
Thursday, October 21, 2021:
GEMM Circle on Anti-Bullying with Tamsin Russell
​​
Download Tamsin's PPT presentation for GEMM here.
​
​
About Tamsin Russel:
Tamsin’s career to date has been on workforce and organisational development and she has worked in both public and private sectors, moving to the cultural sector 20 years ago.
Starting as head of training and development for the Science Museum Group, she led the function and implemented new approaches to leadership development; at National Museums Scotland highlights included the development of their Competency Framework, at Historic Environment Scotland her role was in organisational transformation and at National Trust for Scotland she worked on a comprehensive online resource looking at organisational change.
Her current role at the Museums Association (MA) looks at workforce and careers in the broadest sense. Providing career workshops, speaking on workforce ethics, equality, and wellbeing; as well as leading all the MA’s formal professional development, mentoring and online learning programmes. Her recent research Sticks and Stones: Bullying in Museums has highlighted the extent and diversity of the experience of the sectors workforce and the report and recommendations to affect change to become a sector with a zero-tolerance to bullying.
In addition to her paid role Tamsin volunteers for Museums Galleries Scotland on behalf of Scottish Government on their Recognition Scheme Panel and as an accreditation mentor. Tamsin works with Arts Council England sitting on the UK Accreditation Committee; is a Steering Group member of the Heritage Volunteers Group, leading on the equality and inclusion work, as well as undertaking pro bono and paid freelance work for the sector.
For more insights into #Museums and #Careers follow her on Twitter - @TamsinRussell or email Tamsin@museumsassociation.org
​
Thursday, November 18, 2021:
GEMM Circle during the NEMA Conference
11 PT/ 12 MT/ 1CT/ 2 ET