2020 – Page 27 – American Alliance of Museums

The Case for Digital Facility Reports

By Bernadine Bröcker Wieder

Facility management is one of the core elements of running a museum. As AAM’s core standards say, it is “incumbent upon [museums] to ensure the safety of their staff, visitors and neighbors, maintain their buildings and grounds, and …
The Upside of Aging

By Bill Tramposch

Paul Irving is the president of the Milken Institute, where he leads initiatives to improve public health and aging across America and the world. I have had the pleasure of communicating with him, and he is fascinated with what we are …
The Transformative Power of Inclusive Storytelling in Museums

By Makeba Clay

My mentor Dr. Johnnetta Cole, the former director of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art (NMAfA), often says, “It’s easy to live without art, but it’s hard to live well.” For me, the power of art lies in its transformative …
Can You Help the FBI Locate a Missing Narwhal Tusk?

By American Alliance of Museums

Here at the American Alliance of Museums, we field frequent requests from people across the globe who have an interest in museums, are looking to engage with the broader museum community, or want to share their story on one of our …
An Opportunity to Report from the Future at AAM2020

By Elizabeth Merritt

Would you like to be a conduit from San Francisco to the world, from the future to the present? And get support to attend this year’s AAM conference to boot? The Alliance is seeking social media journalists for the 2020 AAM Annual …
Curiosity About History is Growing Across Generations, a New Survey Finds

By Norman Burns

Conner Prairie, an AAM-accredited and Smithsonian Affiliate living history museum in Fishers, Indiana, is a unique historic place that inspires curiosity and fosters learning by providing engaging and individualized experiences for …
Making Space for Community Partners

By Ravon Ruffin

The 2019 AAM Annual Meeting was hosted in Louisiana—a state known for its rich culinary and musical traditions that attract droves of tourists. But another notable, though less touristy, aspect of Louisiana is that it has historically had …
Creative Aging Strategies from Abroad

By Bill Tramposch

A couple of years ago, New Zealand’s Office for Seniors initiated the development of a “Healthy Ageing Strategy.” Toward that end, they invited leading national organizations and agencies to contribute thoughts to their …
Social Media Can Transform Your Museum: An interview with Lanae Spruce

By Josette Souza

I’ll never forget the moment I began to understand the true power of social media. It was 2015 and I was working for a popular online feminist magazine. My job involved reading every one of the hundreds of Facebook comments that would pour …
Group Learning, Individual Work: An approach to DEAI

By Azuka MuMin

Many years ago, I had the opportunity to prepare my museum and the local communities for a science exhibition presenting race as a social construct. As we discussed the best way for our internal team to support visitors in the exhibit, we …