ANNUAL CONFERENCE
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The West Virginia Association of Museums annual meeting and conference will be held April 13-15, 2023, in Ripley, West Virginia.
The theme of WVAM’s 2023 conference is “Back to Basics: Covering Museum Fundamentals.” Those who attend the conference will learn museum fundamentals to enhance and strengthen the museum community and improve our institutions' attention to museum best practices.
Click on the link above to register and purchase tickets for pre-conference tours & workshops, or print and mail the registration form.
Lodging & Meals at Cedar Lakes Conference Center
WVAM has a block of rooms held for conference attendees at the Holt Lodge.
Rooms are 2 full sized beds at $89 + taxes/fees per night (if two people share a room they split that cost)
Meals at the Cedar Lakes Dining Hall:
Breakfast (Friday and Saturday): $7.50
Lunch (Friday): $8.50
Dinner (Saturday): $10.00
WVAM will cover Saturday lunch and the Saturday night banquet
To reserve a room & meals you must complete the additional form posted here and submit directly to Cedar Lakes Conference Center.
Pre-Conference: Thursday, April 13, 2023
Pre-conference tickets can be purchased during conference registration
If you are not attending the WVAM Conference, but want to attend a pre-conference tour or workshop you can complete a separate pre-conference only registration here
Pre-Conference Tours:
Tour 1: Jackson County Museum Tour
Tour the Great Bend Museum in Ravenswood and visit America's smallest community museum in Ripley.
Leaves Cedar Lakes at 10:00am,
returns approximately 12:30pm
Cost: $20
Tour 2: Distillery Tour
Visit the Hatfield Family Distillery and Appalachian Distillery for tours & tastings. Must be 21+ to participate.
Leaves Cedar Lakes at 1:30pm,
returns approximately 5:30pm
Cost $20
Pre-Conference Workshops:
WVAM is partnering with the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia to run two pre-conference workshops.
Workshops will begin at 3:00pm in the Vocational Building
Cost: $30
Workshop 1: Historic Windows Care & Restoration
This workshop will cover the importance of retaining and restoring historic windows, types of windows, and the restoration process for historic windows.
Workshop 2: Preserving and Documenting Cemeteries Using Find a Grave
The classroom portion of this workshop will orient participants to using Find a Grave to document cemeteries and graves, and teach the steps to effectively use the Find a Grave platform as a tool for cemetery documentation. This portion of the workshop will also discuss the importance and process of cemetery preservation. This classroom portion will be followed with fieldwork in a local cemetery.
Conference Sponsorships
Gold Sponsors
The Magic Lantern is an digital media production company located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. We are a certified veteran owned small business and have been producing videos and interactive museum exhibits for 50 years. Our company's business philosophy is that video and interactive media improve the visitor experience. We are a full service production company. We write scripts, shoot digital video, edit and program interactive exhibits. We specialize in bringing the excitement of history into the digital age. We also stand by our work and provide repair services.
Silver Sponsors
MuseuM Services Corporation offers equipment, supplies and services for art conservation, restoration, and preservation. Visit our website featuring thousands of products for the conservator, curator and archivist. Whether you are setting up a new laboratory or looking to restock on the essentials for maintaining your collection, MuseuM Services Corporation is here to help. Our friendly, knowledgeable staff are available to assist you in finding the right tools, chemicals, storage supplies, and display hardware. Order from our website, call or email today!
In 1950, members of the Ski Club of Washington DC flew over Canaan Valley and noticed an open meadow with huge snowdrifts. In 1951, the Ski Club opened Driftland near present-day Canaan Valley Resort, bringing snow sports to the Southeast. Resorts helped develop and continue to contribute to a thriving tourist industry.
Snow sports enthusiasts work hard and play hard and this attitude has spawned stories and legends. Longtime West Virginia snowsports enthusiasts believe in the importance of preserving and documenting these amazing stories. A group of these dedicated individuals founded the Snows Sports Museum of West Virginia in 2018.
The West Virginia Humanities Council, an independent nonpartisan nonprofit, is the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Council is supported by the NEH, the State of West Virginia, and contributions from the private sector. The purposes of the West Virginia Humanities Council are educational, and its mission is to support a vigorous program in the humanities statewide in West Virginia. Find out more about our programs and grants online at www.wvhumanities.org
Bronze Sponsors
2023 Institution of the Year Nominations
We are now accepting nominations for our 2023 Institution of the Year. The winner of this award will demonstrate exceptional creativity and proficiency - whether through innovative programming, new exhibits, community and staff support, or any project considered an outstanding model or best practice.
It is free to nominate an institution, and anyone may submit a nomination. The nominated institution must be a member of WVAM in order to receive this award. Please refer to a list of our current members here (www.museumsofwv.org/museums) or become a member today (www.museumsofwv.org/members).
The winner will receive a commemorative plaque and a $250 prize. The winning institution will be announced at our conference banquet on the evening of Saturday, April 15th.
The deadline for submitting a nomination is March 17th, 2023.
The winner will be determined by vote of an impartial committee and will be judged on their merits within the context of their own institutional capacity.
Submit nomination here or download and print the PDF version.