Today, we’d like to introduce you to Melanie Dellas.
Melanie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I have always had a passion for history and the preservation of it. What began as a fascination with the history and archaeology of Ancient Egypt developed into a love for working with artifacts, historical works, and modern art from every culture and time period.
I started my career as a writer and historical researcher, and this led to a graduate degree in history with a focus on museum studies and the preservation of all historic objects. After working with a large museum in San Diego, Calif., for seven years, I created a company that would allow me to help all museums and private collectors around the country with the objects they have and love.
Since 2017 I co-own Muse Curatorial Consulting Group with my business partner, Karen Lacy. Together, we provide cultural object preservation services, collections management, and exhibit consulting, exhibit design/curation/installation services, and help large and small collectors determine what their needs are. We also provide quality assistance to their teams.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story. Has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
It’s always a risk to start your own company, but I knew we had the skills and experience to make it work. I also knew that most museums around the country and almost all private collectors needed help with curating and project management, artifact conservation, training, exhibit installation, or simply working within a tight timeframe and a small budget.
The only obstacles we hit were COVID and the year-long quarantine in California. It was scary mainly because we didn’t have any clients for almost a year and a half! But that allowed us to take some time and create online classes that museum employees could log into and gain training while they waited to return to work.
It also allowed us to create an expansion plan. We had many clients in Florida, and opening a Florida office seemed like a logical next step.
As you know, we’re big fans of Muse Curatorial Consulting Group. What can you tell our readers who might not be as familiar with the brand?
Muse Curatorial Consulting Group (MCCG) offers customized solutions that are individually tailored to reflect the size, need, and cultural importance of each client’s concerns. We approach each project with the highest standards and best practices in use by museums today.
MCCG is dedicated to training your staff to take the lead after we have completed a project while maintaining open communication for as long as needed. Our staff can do almost anything: exhibit curation/installation, collections management, inventory tracking systems, environmental control, creating custom storage containers and mounts, project management, packing, conservation of almost all types of art and artifacts, workshops and training, and even grant writing!
We have a team of professionals who travel around the country helping large and small museums and private collectors; we work with insurance companies when items in a building or house are damaged due to fire, smoke, water, or earthquakes; and we work with traveling exhibit companies whenever they need a helping hand.
What’s great is that we are the only company in the U.S. that provides all of these services, and we do it on time and within budget! Our new Naples, Fla., office will now make it even easier for our East Coast and Florida clients to get the help they need.
Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I am absolutely a risk-taker! It’s not for everyone, but it is definitely a big part of who I am. I believe in trying. Even if it’s scary, I have to try so that I don’t wake up one day and wish I had. I’ve always been an explorer, a researcher, a lover of the strange and unusual who seeks it out everywhere I go. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit, and all of those things led me to where I am today.
It wasn’t always easy, but it’s always been worth it. My first big risk was moving away from home after college, from Bloomfield Hills, Mich., to Seattle, Wash. I didn’t have a job; I only knew one person, but I knew I had to do it. The work experience there gave me the idea to start my first company: a business magazine for the Native American casino industry in North America. But first, I wanted a little more experience running that type of business, so I moved to New York and became an editor for one of Hearst Publications’ magazines.
When I felt like I was ready to launch my magazine company, I moved to San Diego and did it. I had Native American Casino magazine for almost ten years and even started San Diego Performer magazine, which I had for two years. It was a blast! Big risks, and I’m sure people thought I was nuts, but it was worth it. I had to close the company in 2009 when the recession made it too difficult to continue, but that allowed me to go to graduate school and focus on the next chapter of my life and my next big risk: history. So here I am with another company I created, and it’s even better than I thought it would be.
The people I work with are amazing talents, the collections I get to touch are beyond my wildest dreams, and the thought that I am contributing to preserving our history for future generations makes all the bumps in the road worth it. So yes, I believe in taking risks. When I fall down, I pause to figure out why and make a new plan, and then I get back up and execute it. I have two sons, and I want them to see that their mom went after her dreams. Even when she tripped a little bit, she kept going and didn’t let anything stop her. And hopefully, they’ll be inspired to do the same.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.musecuratorial.com/
- Instagram: @mdellas1
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MuseCuratorial/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxKq09AsJ4vEA8u9ToYVB2w
- Other: https://www.melaniedellas.com/
