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B.U.I.L.D.-ing Empathy: A Framework for Reinvigorating Your Workplace
One of the throughlines of my career in social services has been witnessing the power of empathy. I first discovered this power as an undergraduate criminal justice major, when I completed a field placement at a local juvenile detention … -
AAMC Foundation Publishes Best Practices Guide for Conducting Artist Identity Surveys
The AAMC Foundation has released the Best Practices Guide for Artist Demographic Data Coordination, the first resource of its kind for art organizations providing a detailed overview of how to prepare for and execute an artist demographic … -
The Best Museum Cafés and Restaurants, According to Museum People
Any seasoned museumgoer knows that feeling a few hours into a visit. You came in energized, eager, and attentive, ready to conquer some exhibitions, but now you’re losing steam. The wall texts are running together; you’re breezing past … -
The Six Tools for Effective Digital Design
In 2020, after a fifteen-year run working in museums on digital engagement projects, I decided to start my own consultancy. In the process of building it, I often heard from people familiar with my projects, whether from my blog, social … -
How Emotional Intelligence Can Create Happier and Healthier Museums
After twenty years of working in museums, I’ve seen all sides of the field—the good, the bad, and even the ugly. But regardless of the negative experiences, my hopes are still as high as when I began my career. I still believe deeply that … -
Taking a Stand: A Q&A with Micah Parzen, CEO of the Museum of Us
While for some museums the pandemic was a wake-up call to reimagine how they engaged and served their communities, for others it was an opportunity to go deeper. One of those museums, the Museum of Us, had been on a trajectory for several … -
A Farewell from AAM’s Departing President & CEO
It has been an incredible honor to lead the American Alliance of Museums and to work with all of you for the last thirteen years. Throughout my tenure, I visited hundreds of museums and enjoyed meeting thousands of museum … -
Empathy Interviews: A Tool for Museums to Understand the Feelings and Experiences of Others
Imagine sitting down with local community members and hearing stories about the places they feel they can show up as their most authentic selves, or where and how they have learned something interesting in the past, or what drives them to … -
A Human-Centered Approach to Guest Services
Compared to other areas of museum work, guest services (or visitor services, as it’s sometimes known) often gets overlooked for the impact it has on community-building. This may be because, rather than any one big initiative, the work of … -
#AAM2023 General Session
The General Session of the 2023 AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo took place on May 19, 2023 with Chevy Humphrey, AAM Board Chair and President and CEO of the Museum of Science and Industry Chicago; Laura Lott, AAM President & CEO; …
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Latest Stories from AAM
AAM Supports Congressional Action to Protect the Smithsonian’s Independence
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Press Release
The American Alliance of Museums (AAM) endorses The Smithsonian Integrity and …
Demographics of US Museum-Goers: 2026 Update
Category:
Alliance Blog
This visual Data Story is based on findings from the 2026 Annual Survey of Museum-Goers, …
Embracing Community, Building Membership: Reversing the Decline in Lower-Level Giving
Category:
Alliance Blog
Recent news from the world of US philanthropy is both optimistic and concerning. On the …