"The course content was excellent! I am very pleased with the details discussed and I feel I am walking away with an arsenal of information I can apply to my work and share with my colleagues."

A collections management policy is a living document that spells out not only the raison d'être of a museum, but how its collection is to be used, cared for, and protected. It should be a go-to for all museum staff, from registrars to curators, event staff to security. 

This course will provide an overview of collections management policies, including:

• The necessity of ensuring proper care and protection of collections and loans
• Interpretation of existing policies that may be outdated or lacking
• Development of a document that is clear, concise, and assertive yet allows for flexibility as appropriate
• Museum-wide implementation

Hands-on, practical assignments will be geared toward your current organizational situation or the type of museum in which you hope to work.

Learn how to craft this vital document and increase your effectiveness in all aspects of your career.

Sign up for this course to be able to:

• Evaluate what makes a policy effective or not
• Develop sound yet adaptable collection management policies
• Gain perspectives of other museum departments and professionals
• Manage organizational change across your museum and build buy-in for new policies

How it works

In this four-week, cohort-based, asynchronous course, you can:

• Work entirely on your own schedule
• Access our easy-to-use online platform from anywhere in the world
• Get personalized guidance and answers from your expert instructor
• Engage with other students and learn from their projects and challenges
• Revisit course materials after the class is over anytime you want a refresher

You should expect to spend 4 hours per week (16 total) on this course.

Scaffolded assignments build on each other each week.

No Questions-Asked Drop Period: 

Something else came up? This class isn’t for you?

We offer full refunds within the first 3 days, and partial refunds within the first week.

About the Instructor

Mr. Clouse studied at the University of Nebraska, Omaha and received a bachelor’s degree in art history before going on to earn a Master’s in Museum Studies from the University of Leicester in the U.K.

He worked in commercial galleries before his six-year tenure at Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, Nebraska, serving as Education Coordinator for Outreach and Visitor Resources before moving on to the position of Registrar.

At the Daum Museum of Contemporary Art in Sedalia, Missouri, he served as Registrar and Exhibitions Coordinator for five years and catalogued the entire 1600-piece collection.

For another five years he served as Museum Registrar at University of California Riverside, California Museum of Photography/Culver Center for the Arts (UCR ARTS), spearheading efforts to prepare for accreditation, which was granted in 2022.

Since early 2023 he has been the Registrar for Collections and Exhibitions at Palm Springs Art Museum, focusing on special exhibitions and loans, as well as assisting with management of the permanent collection.

Comments from Past Students