Reposted from HENTF

SAVE THE DATE

FOCUS ON CONSERVATION 2024 – DISASTER RISK

MANAGEMENT FOR CULTURAL HERITAGE

DECEMBER 2–5, 2024, ONLINE CONFERENCE,

FREE PARTICIPATION, REGISTRATION REQUIRED

What are the risks for objects in our collections?

What can we do to protect them before, during and after disaster strikes?

This international conference will look into preparation, response, training,

research and networks to address and mitigate the effect of disasters on cultural heritage.

Save the dates to be part of this four-day online conference – participation is free, but registration is required.

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Reposted from ArtSentry

As many museums continue to face tighter budgets, finding efficient ways to maintain high standards with limited resources is essential. Staffing costs, a significant part of museum budgets, require innovative approaches to stretch funds without compromising visitor experience or collection care. Strategies such as community-based cooperative volunteer programs, advanced monitoring technology, and flexible digital staff training can all help museums make the most of their resources, supporting their mission and financial sustainability. Read on for some innovative approaches' museums have used to maximize their staffing resources

Volunteer & Co-op Membership Programs

Innovative cooperative volunteer programs offer museums a powerful way to extend their budgets and bring fresh energy to their operations. By involving community members and young people in roles like exhibit guides and event assistants, museums can reduce staffing costs while creating opportunities for engagement and learning. Museums like the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis, The Museum of Russian Art (TMORA) in Minneapolis, the Smithsonian Institution, and the High Museum of Art in Atlanta offer enticing benefits to volunteers, recognizing their critical role in supporting operations and visitor experiences. Volunteers at these museums often receive perks like free or discounted memberships, admission to special events, and shop discounts. These benefits make volunteering a rewarding, mutually beneficial arrangement, encouraging community involvement while allowing volunteers to immerse themselves more deeply in the museum’s offerings.

Leveraging Technology for Staff Efficiency

Museums increasingly leverage advanced digital tools to enhance security and streamline visitor management. These technologies reduce costs, allowing fewer staff to effectively oversee larger areas without compromising safety. Art Sentry’s camera-based protection system, with its audible alerts and discreet guard notifications, enables each guard to monitor up to three times the typical number of galleries. This optimized guard allocation not only safeguards collections but also creates a more seamless, welcoming environment for visitors, enhancing their overall experience.

Extend the Reach of Digital Collections

Digital collections access initiatives, such as the exceptional digital collections offered by the National Gallery of Art, The Getty, and the Rijksmuseum, allow for a broader reach without requiring a physical presence, indirectly aiding in budget management by lowering in-person visitor surges. Creating online school and group tours and bringing museum stores online can help monetize digital visits. While digitizing collections can be intimidating for museums on a budget, programs and grants are available to help.

Some larger museums and organizations have developed programs to assist smaller institutions in digitizing their collections, promoting access and preservation. The Smithsonian Institution’s Digitization Program Office (DPO) provides best practices and resources to museums looking to digitize their collections, supporting them with high-quality imaging techniques and digitization workflows. Similarly, the British Museum offers its expertise to smaller institutions globally through its Knowledge Sharing Program, guiding digitization processes.

Several U.S.-based grant programs fund digitization for smaller museums. The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) offers Museums for America and Inspire! Grants for Small Museums aimed to support projects that improve collections access, including digitization. The Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) provides grants through its Digitizing Hidden Special Collections and Archives program, which funds the digitization of rare and unique content, enhancing public access. The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) also offers grants for Humanities Collections and Reference Resources to support digital access to humanities collections. The Digital Empowerment Project for Small Museums, also funded by IMLS, provides training on digital strategies and collections management for smaller institutions.

These initiatives and collaborations help ensure that institutions of all sizes can participate in the digital preservation and sharing of cultural heritage materials across the United States.

Digitally Training Staff for Cost Efficiency

Digital training solutions allow museums to efficiently upskill their employees without the logistical costs of in-person sessions, such as instructor fees, meeting space, and travel reimbursement. Digital modules can be accessed on-demand, making it easier for staff to stay updated on the latest security protocols and operational changes. This flexible format reduces training expenses and ensures that employees receive timely, consistent instruction on new technology, security protocols, and visitor management practices, creating a more agile and knowledgeable workforce.

These examples illustrate how a strategic blend of staffing models, community engagement, and smart technology can impact museums’ operational efficiency and budget management. For more information on maximizing your budget, download our digital guide here.

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Reposted from ArtSentry

Did you know one negative interaction can change a visitor’s entire view of your museum? A recent survey conducted by the American Alliance of Museums reveals some enlightening insights into how museum visitors perceive their experiences. Even a small number of negative visitor experiences can cast a long shadow over a museum’s reputation. For most visitors every interaction shapes their perception of the museum. Positive encounters enhance a visit, promoting loyalty and engagement, while negative experiences can result in dissatisfaction and potentially harmful reviews. This highlights the crucial importance of the visitor experience. 

According to the 2024 Annual Survey of Museumgoers, only 3% of respondents reported issues with staff, describing interactions as rude, inattentive, or unfriendly. While this is a small number, visitors who have negative experiences are nine times more likely to discuss their visit or leave a review compared to those with positive or neutral experiences. This amplifies the impact of these interactions on public perception, making it crucial for museums to promptly and effectively address potential visitor concerns.

Compared to those with positive experiences, dissatisfied visitors were:

• 60% more likely to be people of color

• 70% more likely to be parents/guardians of small children

• 29 times more likely to say the museum “doesn’t do anything well”

• 2.5 times more likely to criticize exhibitions

• 3 times more likely to mention high costs as a barrier

• 3 times more likely to feel museums are “outdated”

Family Friendly Spaces
Camera-Based Surveillance
Clear Signage and Wayfinding
Enhanced Visitor Services

 

Interestingly, many dissatisfied visitors still feel passionate about museums, often visiting for their children’s learning experiences. However, negative interactions can overshadow their overall experience, showing how one bad encounter can heavily influence perceptions.

By contrast, respondents who praised the museum for being welcoming and engaging were more involved and frequent visitors. These individuals generally find museums enjoyable and view them as valuable community assets, demonstrating how positive interactions foster a virtuous cycle of engagement and satisfaction. For the two-thirds of respondents who expressed neutral opinions about staff interactions, this likely indicates experiences that were neither memorable nor noteworthy. This segment is less engaged overall. Their connection has the potential to grow with more personalized, positive interactions. Museums can take several practical steps to improve visitor experience and minimize the risk of negative encounters: Many dissatisfied respondents were parents or guardians of young children. Museums can address this by creating family-friendly zones and interactive exhibits that engage children, and by training frontline staff to recognize developmentally appropriate behaviors for different age groups. When staff understand children’s behavior, they are better able to enforce rules with compassion, making visits less stressful for parents and enhancing their overall experience.

Surveillance cameras allow staff to monitor visitor flow, address congestion, and identify potential issues proactively. This helps staff respond discreetly to situations without disrupting visitors, enhancing security while reducing unnecessary interventions. By creating a more seamless experience, this technology can reduce stress on both staff and visitors, leading to a more welcoming atmosphere. Well-designed signage helps visitors navigate the museum independently, minimizing confusion and frustration. By helping visitors feel more confident in their surroundings, clear wayfinding reduces reliance on staff for basic inquiries, allowing for smoother, more self-guided visits. Providing well-trained frontline staff who can assist with everything from basic information to specialized guidance creates a welcoming environment. Museums that hire for attitude and provide ongoing training ensure that all visitors feel valued and understood. Although staff interactions are only one part of the museum visit, they have an outsized effect on visitor experience. Addressing concerns, supporting staff, and implementing tools like surveillance and signage can help visitors feel more welcome, secure, and inspired to return.

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Reposted from SafeHaven Security

Upcoming Training

Date: January 23-24, 2025

Time: 8:30am-4:30pm CST (both days)

Location: SafeHaven Security Group Office

212 S 3rd St Unit 201, Rogers, AR 72756

Purpose:

Learn to recognize pre-incident indicators (warning signs) of potentially violent situations, to determine the danger level, and how to keep people safe.

Objectives:

1.  ASSESS situations of potential violence by recognizing warning signs you can identify before violence occurs
2.  MITIGATE and de-escalate potential violence through proven behavioral threat management strategies and tactics
3.  PROTECT the people you care about by keeping them safe and ensuring they feel safe. Protect against liabilities and protect your organization’s brand

CEU:

SHRM has approved this course for 16 credits.
HRCI has approved this course for 16 credits.

Candidates:

Human Resources, Workplace Safety, Security, Legal, Leadership Professionals and anyone who seeks to keep people safe from violence, active shooters, domestic violence spillover, etc

Curriculum:

You will receive life-saving instruction developed and taught by experts with decades of real-life experience in the field of Threat Assessment and Management. Methodologies used by mental health experts and agencies like the United States Secret Service to assess-mitigate-protect against potentially violent situations.

Method of Instruction:

This is a two day in-person course held at SafeHaven Security’s office. Certification requires successful completion of a competency-based exam at the end of the course to ensure you become proficient in the instruction you receive, participation in each course is limited to small groups.

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Reposted from SafeHaven Security

Upcoming Training

Preparing for Civil Unrest

Webinar | Dec 5 | 10:00am CST

With political elections behind us and now an upcoming administration change, as a business professional, you need to be aware of the potential civil unrest and percussions for the business world. From altering economic policies to reshaping regulatory landscapes, the outcome of elections can directly affect your business operations and profitability. This webinar will provide you with practical information and steps on how you can use a combination of strategic planning, risk assessment and operational adjustments to minimize disruption and protect your people.

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Reposted from CISA/DHS

Save the date! We’ve dedicated our November 26 CISA Live! to Making Progress on Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience. Hosted on LinkedIn, this event will feature Dr. David Mussington, CISA’s Executive Assistant Director for Infrastructure Security, and Caitlin Durkovich, Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Homeland Security Advisor for Resilience & Response at the White House National Security Council (NSC), who will discuss the evolution of critical infrastructure security and resilience along with key offerings that can help all Americans Resolve to be Resilient. Bring your questions, since event participants can also participate in a live question & answer session. Join us on November 26 at 11:30AM ET and feel free to share this invite and the event page with others who may be interested, too. 

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Reposted from CISA/DHS

We’ve dedicated our November 20 CISA Live! to Making Progress on Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience. Hosted on LinkedIn, this event will feature CISA’s Executive Assistant Director for Infrastructure Security, Dr. David Mussington, who will share key areas of progress and highlight CISA’s recent initiatives and valuable resources designed to help all Americans Resolve to be Resilient. Bring your questions, since event participants can also participate in a live question & answer session. Join us on November 20 at 11:30AM ET and feel free to share this invite and the event page with others who may be interested, too. 

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Reposted from CISA/DHS

In case you missed it, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a significant set of recommendations aimed at advancing the safe and secure deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in critical infrastructure. The Roles and Responsibilities Framework for Artificial Intelligence in Critical Infrastructure (the "Framework") provides essential guidance to stakeholders across the AI supply chain, from cloud providers and developers to critical infrastructure operators and civil society. This collaborative Framework, developed with insights from the DHS Artificial Intelligence Safety and Security Board—a public-private advisory group with leaders from industry, academia, civil society, and government—marks a critical step forward in ensuring the responsible use of AI in essential services that Americans rely on every day.

Key Highlights of the Framework:

 Collaborative Guidance: The Framework includes specific actions for key stakeholders—cloud and compute providers, AI developers, critical infrastructure owners, civil society, and public sector entities—to mitigate risks, safeguard consumer rights, and promote safe and transparent AI practices.

 Comprehensive Coverage: It addresses vulnerabilities unique to AI in critical infrastructure, such as attacks using AI, attacks targeting AI systems, and design failures, while also supporting a "Secure by Design" approach for AI developers.

 Endorsement from Leadership: DHS Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas emphasizes the transformative potential of AI in strengthening U.S. critical infrastructure resilience, urging leaders across sectors to embrace and implement the Framework.

If widely adopted, this voluntary Framework will not only improve the safety and reliability of critical services like power, water, and telecommunications but also build trust and transparency between entities involved in AI development and deployment.

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Reposted from CISA/DHS

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released the Venue Guide for Security Considerations. CISA is committed to partnering with venue operators in mitigating the threat of targeted violence and preparing for any potential incidents. The guide serves as a broad catalog to support safe and secure day-to day operations and event management planning and execution. Applying the guide will enable venue operators to effectively identify and manage risk. This guide aims to help venue operators enhance safety, protect assets, and create secure environments through effective security measures and best practices. The guide:

1. Provides guidance for venues, such as evaluating security measures, complexity levels, costs, options, and threats mitigated by these measures. By balancing these factors, venues can create a secure environment for operators and guests.
2. Recommends broadly applicable considerations for evaluating security practices, such as assessing measures and improving physical security compliance to ensure staff and visitor safety.
3. Offers actionable guidance for prioritizing the most effective security practices and proactively reducing the risk of major threats.
4. Provides venue operators with a tailored menu of security options, allowing them to select the most suitable and effective measures for their venue’s budget, size, location, and risk factors.

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Reposted from EMR-ISAC InfoGram

On Nov. 7, CISA announced the kickoff of Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience (CISR) Month. CISR Month is CISA’s annual effort to educate and engage all levels of government, infrastructure owners and operators, and the American public about the vital role critical infrastructure plays in the nation’s security and why it is important to strengthen critical infrastructure resilience. The enduring theme this year remains “Resolve to be Resilient.” Throughout November, CISA is highlighting how critical infrastructure organizations can integrate the following practices to help make our critical infrastructure secure, resilient, and able to bounce back quickly and build back stronger when disruptions occur:

Know Your Infrastructure and Dependencies.

Assess Your Risks.

Make Actionable Plans.

Measure Progress to Continuously Improve.

CISA has provided resources on its Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience (CISR) Month webpage, which includes a toolkit and social media graphics. The toolkit includes lists with quick actions that can be taken by various stakeholders. For example, state, local, tribal, and territorial governments can help make critical infrastructure more resilient by connecting public safety officials with private sector businesses, and by conducting or participating in a training or exercise to improve security and resilience.

The toolkit highlights CISA’s resources on the following topics:

Active shooter preparedness

Bombing Prevention and C-IED

Chemical security

Federal facility security

Insider threat

School safety

Resilience planning and supply chain security

UAS security

Public gatherings and physical security

Self-assessments and exercises

On Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 11:30 a.m. EDT, CISA will host a CISA Live! event, Making Progress on Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience. CISA’s Executive Assistant Director for Infrastructure Security will share key areas of progress, highlighting CISA’s recent initiatives and valuable resources designed to help all Americans “Resolve to be Resilient.” Participants will have an opportunity to engage in a live Q&A. Visit CISA’s Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience (CISR) Month webpage to learn more. Join the Nov. 20 CISA Live! on LinkedIn. Access this event and all past CISA Live! event recordings at https://www.cisa.gov/cisa-live. You can also follow CISA on social media to join the #BeResilient conversation. On Nov. 7, CISA announced the kickoff of Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience (CISR) Month. CISR Month is CISA’s annual effort to educate and engage all levels of government, infrastructure owners and operators, and the American public about the vital role critical infrastructure plays in the nation’s security and why it is important to strengthen critical infrastructure resilience. The enduring theme this year remains “Resolve to be Resilient.” Throughout November, CISA is highlighting how critical infrastructure organizations can integrate the following practices to help make our critical infrastructure secure, resilient, and able to bounce back quickly and build back stronger when disruptions occur:

Know Your Infrastructure and Dependencies

Assess Your Risks

Make Actionable Plans

Measure Progress to Continuously Improve

CISA has provided resources on its Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience (CISR) Month webpage, which includes a toolkit and social media graphics. The toolkit includes lists with quick actions that can be taken by various stakeholders. For example, state, local, tribal, and territorial governments can help make critical infrastructure more resilient by connecting public safety officials with private sector businesses, and by conducting or participating in a training or exercise to improve security and resilience.

See Original Post