Couldn’t make it to Los Angeles this spring for the AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo? Wishing you could replay a session that’s been on your mind ever since? Good news! A select number of recorded sessions are now available to AAM members in the Resource Library.

Following the Annual Meeting’s theme of “Museums & Trust,” the sessions explore ways museums can protect their trusted status and wield it to cultivate a healthier society. Here’s what you’ll find:

A Holistic and People-Centered Approach to Accessible Exhibition Design

Developing an accessible exhibition requires collaboration among museum staff, artists, and audiences. In this session, learn how presenters developed guidelines for producing exhibitions that go beyond legal compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and center audiences from the outset. Follow the process from the research phase to drafting and revision in partnership with the Institute of Human Centered Design, to user testing by staff and community stakeholders. Explore strategies for developing accessibility standards for exhibition design at your institution.

Presenters:

• Sarah Lampen, Associate Director of Learning and Accessibility, Walker Art Center
• Erin McNeil, Associate Director of Curatorial Affairs, Walker Art Center
• Doc Czypinski, Associate Director of Exhibition Installation, Walker Art Center

Artificial Intelligence in Museums: Discussing Ethics and Protocols

Artificial intelligence (AI) is here to stay. AI is used to generate marketing graphics, design websites, curate exhibitions, write text for educational materials, and formulate strategic plans. Now is the time for an essential conversation about AI’s limitless possibilities in museums—and the ethical concerns that come with them. In this facilitated roundtable discussion, learn how museums are using AI, engage in deep discussion on related ethical considerations, and brainstorm protocols for guiding the use of AI at your institution.

Presenters:

• Eileen Tomczuk; Researcher, Consultant, PhD Student; Tulane University
• Anne Duquennois; Lead Visual Communications Designer; University of Colorado Denver

Balancing Act: Honoring Feedback While Staying True to Your Mission

As museums take on challenging topics, audience reactions may be strong and varied. In this session, consider how museums can utilize feedback while remaining true to their mission and collections. Gain insights from a candid panel of museum professionals on how to thoughtfully accept or reject feedback and build trust by communicating these decisions to the community. Then join in a facilitated conversation on how to make choices in similar situations and garner support to complete your best work.

Presenters:

• Dorothy Rivera; Manager, Research and Exhibits; The Mary Baker Eddy Library
• Amalia Kozloff, Senior Curator, Museum of Pop Culture
• Stephanie Rayburn, Evaluation Researcher, Denver Museum of Nature and Science
• Erica Frazier, Curatorial Specialist, Arab American National Museum

Recovery and Resilience: Cultural Institutions in Response to Environmental Disaster

From wildfires and hurricanes to floods, recent environmental disasters have tested our communities and cultural institutions—both as vulnerable entities and as essential sources of resilience. As we rebuild, cultural institutions have a unique role in shaping a more resilient future. This convening will bring together experts from diverse sectors to explore how these institutions can strengthen communities, share knowledge, and collaborate across disciplines, geographies, and time scales to confront ongoing environmental challenges. Together, we will examine how cultural institutions can harness their power to support recovery, renewal, and long-term resilience.

Presenter:

• Camille Kirk, Head of Sustainability, The J. Paul Getty Trust

Out of Our Depth: Navigating Discomfort, Growth, and Trust in Leadership

Taking on a leadership role comes with high expectations. What happens when you step into a position that feels larger than you imagined—meaning you must guide a team while grappling with imposter syndrome and uncertainty? In this session, leaders share their experiences of moving into roles that stretched their skills and pushed them far outside their comfort zones. They’ll discuss how discomfort can be a catalyst for growth and how embracing vulnerability, cultivating a growth mindset, and building trust allowed them to navigate new roles with confidence.

Presenters:

• Axel Estable, Director of Operations, Natural History Museum of Utah
• Stephen Ashton, Senior Director of the Butterfly Biosphere and Curiosity Farms
• Rayanne Darensbourg, Chief Executive Officer, Children’s Museum Houston
• Paul Martin, Co-Director CIISL, Arizona State University
• Ken Wesler, CEO/COO, Universal Services Associates

Delivering Difficult, Human Stories of Incarceration

The Old Idaho Penitentiary (OIP), a prison that operated from 1872–1973, holds difficult stories and controversial subjects. Navigating these topics requires significant thought, community engagement, and public trust. The Idaho State Historical Society, along with scholars and advisors, crafted a master plan for the OIP that incorporates perspectives from tribes, law enforcement, the judiciary, educators, currently incarcerated individuals, and criminal justice professionals. Find out how the museum is deploying this knowledge to create a compelling exhibition that shares complex stories of tragedy and redemption.

Presenters:

• Janet Gallimore, Executive Director and State Historic Preservation Officer, Idaho State Historical Society
• Dr. Gloria Totoricagüena, Idaho Policy and Consulting
• Courtney Kleinman; Director, Projects; nFusion
• Nolan Brown, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Original Territories and Historical Research Program Manager, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes
• Anthony Parry, Historic Sites Administrator, Idaho State Historical Society

What’s An Image Worth? Rights Management 101 for Non-Lawyers

Whether selecting images for an exhibition, celebrating successes in a publication, or sharing updates on social media, museums rely on good images. But what’s an image worth? This session, designed for non-lawyers, covers best practices for dealing with image rights, strategies for finding low/no-cost resources, and important legal and ethical considerations when making image selections. Learn how to navigate image selection responsibly—and when to go to legal counsel for guidance.

Presenters:

• Kathrin Halpern, Project Director, Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service and Smithsonian Affiliations
• Wendy Hurlock Baker, Intellectual Property Manager, Smithsonian Institution National Museum of the American Indian

In Our Voices: Designing Victim-Centered Exhibits about Human Rights Issues

In a recent survey, a major Holocaust museum unearthed a disturbing truth: Far more students could name Nazi officials than Holocaust victims. Sites that tell the stories of atrocities must place victims’ dignity at the center of their storytelling, yet perpetrators’ viewpoints are often far more apparent. In this session, explore three major challenges that museums face in centering victims—portraying them beyond their traumatic experiences, addressing silences in the archive, and determining whether and how to present perpetrators—as well as potential solutions.

Presenters:

• Kiah Shapiro, Managing Director, Luci Creative
• Suzanne Grimmer, Senior Director of Museum Experiences, Holocaust Museum for Hope & Humanity
• Deana Dartt, Independent Museum Consultant and Curator, Live Oak Consulting
• Johanna Obenda, Research & Exhibition Development Specialist

Creating Trust through Exceptional Visitor Engagement & Employee Experience

Learn how two museums built trust within their communities by refining visitor engagement standards and examining the employee experience. Gain insights into how the museums’ revamped standards resulted in measurable improvements, such as increased visitor satisfaction and heightened community trust. Explore how to design experiences for employees that create a trusting environment, and participate in exercises that shed light on visitors’ perspective. Leave with a clear, personalized roadmap for improving trust within your own institution.

Presenters:

• Christie Dentry, Guest Engagement Manager, Utility Exploration Center
• Jenny Rydeen, Head of Visitor Experience. Minneapolis Institute of Art

Beyond the Tour: Building Trust by Reimagining Public Programming

Museums are trusted to be good stewards not only of their collections but also of their communities. Fulfilling this important aspect of public trust requires programs that go “beyond the tour” to activate museum spaces and collections in approachable, accessible ways. In this session, three presenters consider novel ways to attract diverse audiences through programming that fosters emotional responses to artworks and spaces. Explore strategies including mindfulness sessions, sensory explorations, and programs built through intentional partnerships with out-of-sector professionals.

Presenters:

• Ames Morton-Winter; Coordinator, Youth and Family Programs; The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art
• Katie Nickel, Head of Educational Programs, The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art
• Lilit Sadoyan, Gallery Educator II, J. Paul Getty Museum

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