American Alliance of Museums

A young black girl and a brown boy look down at an interactive kiosk in the museum.

What Mexican bugs have to do with Italian Paintings: How digital tools can be used to explore complex connections

How is a red bug from Mexico so deeply tied to the representation of papal power in the late-1400s? First some background. It all starts with small red bugs, called cochineal, that live on …

The Quest for Excellence

Dennis Pierce

Small Museums

Small museums might not think they have the resources to pursue accreditation, but these museums prove it͛s possible. By Dennis Pierce When Grace Robinson was director of education programs …

Unpacking Our Understanding of Immersion

Ed Rodley

Technology

When Rob Stein, AAM’s Executive Vice President & Chief Program Officer, first approached the AAM Media and Technology Professional Network with the announcement that AAM and the Knight …

Learning Cultural Competence

Jenni Martin

Community Engagement & Impact

Read the stories of three institutions that grew their capacity for diversity and inclusion via the Cultural Competence Learning Institute: The Wild Center in Tupper Lake, NY; the …

Simple Ways Museums Can Use Content Marketing to Engage Their Audiences (and Attract New Ones)

Jennifer Phillips April

Marketing & Public Relations

Most foodies are familiar with the concept of Michelin starred restaurants. If you’re not, The Michelin Guide is revered by food-centric travelers and ambitious chefs stake their entire …

Where the Seats Have No Name: In Defense of Museum Benches

David Whitemyer

Exhibitions

Sitting gets a bad rap. The last few years have seen articles and media outlets touting that “Sitting is the new smoking.” Standing desks are the latest office furniture trend. And in …

Wild Times: In which social service nonprofits save the day.

Elizabeth Merritt

Future Forecasting

Introduction to This Scenario A wild card scenario explores the kind of low-probability, high-impact event that can disrupt the best-laid plans. Though you shouldn’t obsess about these …

Museum Store Sunday: A Tale of One City

Lori Brazos

Influence of Museums

This article is republished with permission from the Museum Store Association. When I heard of Museum Store Sunday for the first time, my immediate thought was “brilliant!” What a perfect …

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A World of Connections.

Museum professionals and volunteers across the country enjoy connecting with their peers, finding new job opportunities, and accessing valuable resources through the American Alliance of Museums. AAM members benefit from exclusive networking opportunities, products, and services that help advance their careers and enrich their institutions.

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Featured Professional Network

A group of 10 people from EdCom posing in front of the AAM offices

Education (EdCom)

The American Alliance of Museums’ Education Professional Network (EdCom) advances the purpose of museums as places of lifelong learning, serves as an advocate for diverse audiences and educators, and promotes professional standards …

Leadership of this professional network

Sheri Levinsky-Raskin - Chair, EdCom

Assistant Vice President, Research & Evaluation
The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, New York, NY

Tony Pennay - Immediate Past Chair, EdCom

Chief Learning Officer
Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, Simi Valley, CA

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Upcoming Events

Presented by: Museum Store Association

Last year, more than 700 nonprofit museums saw a 37 percent increase in visitors, 23 percent increase in museum store transactions, and 60 percent increase in net store sales on the Sunday …

Presented by: Southeastern Museum Conference

Jekyll Island, GA

Miami, FL

Presented by: Small Museum Association

College Park, MD