People are leaving their positions in a big way these days, and this episode is about how to make moving on a positive event.  My tips on leaving your current gig with gratefulness and sincerity will help you maintain a positive reputation in our community.  These sorts of decisions should be made with the long game in mind.  If you plan your transition with intentionality and restraint, you will not only be successful in your interviews and job offers, you will also hold onto relationships and experiences that will help you build a career.  I hope these tips help you land that next position that will continue to grow your role in our community and bring you bigger and better challenges.

Art Pro Net Podcast

Moving Up Instead of Moving On

One of the things I love about my work is being with the objects.  As collections managers, we build familiarity with our spaces that many people crave.  That being said, controlling access to storage is paramount to great collections management.  In this episode, I explored how access should be considered when running a storage space.  Unlike galleries, collections storage should be a highly controlled space where people are managed in very predictable processes.  Even though many professionals and researchers outside collections care desire to access objects and back-of-house spaces, it is not what they are trained to do.  Building expectations and processes for vetting requests can help you control everything from schedule management to staff burnout, to the safety of your objects.  It's important to remember that not everyone needs to visit secure spaces...even if they want to.  I hope this episode helps you write protocols that set realistic boundaries for your institution and priorities.

Access Management in Collections Storage

Framing is often considered an accessory or as an afterthought, and my institutions look at it as a temporary presentation method for objects.  The truth is, framing can be an important part of long-range collection and exhibition planning.  Using the right materials, and building an overall stock framing protocol can extend the value of the process.  It can save resources like time and money involved in everything from planning to installation.  It also can help with the future care of the work.  In this episode, I cover everything from glazing to climate cases and how your decisions now can build a strong reputation for your institution in the future.

Frame Theory

Conservation is not a one size fits all practice and can be overwhelming for many smaller institutions to keep in mind when planning their exhibitions.  In this episode, I focus on some of the overarching and predictable elements of conservation that everyone can count on.  From understanding the materials you need to use to predicting all things that "touch" the art, a lot can be worked out in planning without bringing in a conservator.  While it is always a good idea to consult an expert on what you are planning, there are some things that you can rely on while budgeting and scheduling an installation.  I hope that this podcast can help you find the right frame of reference to keep your expectations in line with your capabilities.  

Cliffs Notes Conservation for Exhibition Planning

Just look at the news today and you will see that people are leaving their jobs at unprecedented rates.  There are many reasons, but most stem from unfulfillment and burnout.  How can we work to retain our talent in the art pro world?  We can start by changing our mindset when it comes to staff appreciation and recognition.  Our staff members need to feel valued, supported, and trusted and this can only come with a consistent process of acknowledgment.  In this episode, I look at the three main levels of staff appreciation and how to utilize them in a way that builds loyalty and dedication.  In the new post-pandemic world, we need to focus more on building up people and helping them grow, and less on funding unsustainable models that grind them down and burn them out.  I hope my thoughts on this help you find a way to move forward with a fresh perspective and priorities.

The Key To Staff Retention is Appreciation

There are so many parts to exhibition planning that sometimes it is easy to discount steps like graphics installation that seem routine.  In this episode, I go into everything from vinyl murals to silkscreening and give you tips and tricks to consider.  All processes have good sides and challenging sides to them, and picking the wrong one could cause unpredictable issues that will hurt your schedule and budget.  I help you think through everything from editing to installation.  The goal is to achieve a professional look and feel, and that is not something you have to spend a ton of money to find. Also, make sure and visit my home page at to sign up for my newsletter today.  It is totally free and full of resources to help you figure out all sorts of ways to manage your arts logistics needs.

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly Recovery of Graphics Installation.

One thing that has not stopped since quarantine...storage planning.  In this episode, I take a look at a process that can be challenging, exhausting, and rewarding.  These 5 tips and truths come up no matter what size storage space I am working on.  From home closets to massive offsite storage facilities, you can always depend on the fact that there will be many voices, many perspectives, and many different expectations.  I hope this episode helps you start your journey or possibly get perspective on one that is in process.  Just remember, it is a marathon and not a sprint.

Storage Truths

In this episode, I have the pleasure of interviewing Larissa Wild, founder of Larissa Wild Fine Art Consulting ().  She is a fantastic new connection and opens up with me about her journey as an art pro. She shares her perspectives on everything from networking in our industry to her process for helping people achieve their art collecting goals.  It is a wonderful look at a pathway that is not as well understood as some, and I can't thank her enough for being a guest on the podcast. Make sure to check out her podcast too, The Art Elevator ().  Especially since I was a recent guest!  

Interview with Larissa Wild

The world is opening up and people all over the industry are beginning to look for art pros.  Your interview starts from the moment you hit send on that email or Indeed application. Are you ready to make the right impression?  In this episode, I am going over my top five Don'ts for when you apply for a position.  I also give tips on how to get through the software filters, and what makes me as a hiring manager consider applications.  I also hope this podcast helps give everyone out there searching for their next position, some perspective on how it feels from the side of the hiring manager.  We are all in search of building the best team, and how you present yourself from the moment your application comes through, is vital as to how far you go in the process.

Getting Noticed for the Right Reasons

No matter where I work there is always one consistent challenge...natural light.  There are many reasons it is beneficial to visitors and how we experience museum spaces, but the thing we can all agree on is that it's rarely a positive for collections.  In this episode, I look at the reasons windows are in our world and how to deal with them in a way that safeguards against unnecessary damage.  I also discuss the misconceptions and myths surrounding both natural and man-made light exposure and give you tips on how to discuss the needs of your collection regarding exhibition, storage, and all kinds of viewing possibilities. Understanding your space and what your objects are made out of is key to success.  Art Pro Net is here to help you make all your variables work as well as possible to utilize and steward your collection.  Don't be shy. Reach out at to find out how we can help you!

The Inevitable and Irreversible Element

Pop-up Installations are one of the most flexible scenarios I've come across as an art pro.  They often require some really creative and out-of-the-box thinking.  They have also been some of the most frustrating projects I have been a part of, and it really comes down to knowing how to plan them.  In this episode, I go through the basic and not-so-basic things to keep in mind when working with non-traditional installations.  Whether you are in a hospital or a bank lobby you will need to consider these details, and with some strategic planning, you will be able to focus on the amazing possibilities of these unique installations.

Strategic Pop-up Planning

This episode is inspired by a question I found on a listserve this week..."How do you deal with the anxiety and stress that comes from handing valuable collections?"  I have thought a lot about this including the core priorities we need to focus on while building our teams and careers.  These include leaving time for people to continuously learn and grow in their skills, training those joining the profession so they continue to contribute to its growth, and considering short-term and long-term decisions and who should be making them.  This episode will help you think through managing the worries that come along with being entrusted with collections and installations no matter what their value in dollar signs.  In the end, it's about so much more than just putting a picture on the wall.

Managing the Anxiety of Handling Collections

Planning for collections care can be confusing and complicated.  You have to balance the object's needs alongside many other factors...budget, time, and staffing to name a few.  Not to mention the regular changes in the availability of materials.  In this episode, I look at all these factors, the reasons they exist, and ways to cope with them.  Whether you're new to collections management or have been at it for years, I hope this helps you consider some concepts to make the best of whatever your scenario can be.

Planning Collections Care from the Ground Up

2021 is here and APN is renewing our connection with you by focusing on how you can revive your network and build it stronger.  Now is the time to get back out there and check-in with those people you know and connect with those people you want to know.  Creating a network is something we should all work on regularly but let's get real...2020 was about survival and keeping it together.  This episode is about how to get started or dust off those skills and make an impact in this new year and different climate.  It is great to be back and I can't wait to reconnect with all of you!  

It's Time To Revive Your Network.

I want to start this season finale with a big thank you to everyone who has supported us this year.  I know that this has been, is, and will be one of the hardest years in memory.  It is difficult to find reasons to be thankful in 2020, and so I have dedicated this episode to how we can find opportunities in the midst of challenges.  I hope that we can all keep this year in perspective as we find a new path forward in 2021.  I am grateful for what I have learned this year and the new priorities that we have in our communities.  I hope we have all learned a lot. The Art Pro Net Podcast will be back in January 2021.  Also, subscribe to our newsletter and keep an eye out for our newly revised Resources page at We are here to help art pros in our expanding network.  Be well.

Finding Ways to Be Thankful in 2020

Art Pro Net Podcast is a bi-weekly podcast exploring topics and people in the art logistics and collection management fields. Each episode will include information about art handling, registration, collections care, conservation, fabrication, mount making, and other art logistics topics.  

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Art Pro Net Podcast

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