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The Messy and Vulnerable Truth about Trust and Museums

By Dawn DiPrince

You could almost hear the cheers across the museum field early in March when Colleen Dilenschneider’s email hit inboxes announcing that “More People Trust Museums Now Than Before the Pandemic.” The numbers are compelling—nearly 75 …
The Carbon Inventory Project and Collective Climate Action in the US Cultural Sector

By Danielle Sakowski

The energy use of buildings is one of the largest sources of carbon emissions worldwide, at an estimated 40 percent of total emissions, and cultural institutions are no exception. The buildings that house your museum, zoo, aquarium, …
In Good Relation: Reimagining the Grant Process for Community-Based Projects

By Kate Hadley Toftness & Lois Taylor Biggs

In recent years, there have been renewed calls for museums to adopt more inclusive and equitable practices, with significant changes to the ways we work and collaborate at all levels of our institutions. As a grants manager, I think about …
AAM’s Strategic Framework: A Progress Report

By Joseph O'Neill

Whether you’re new to the museum field or have been around for decades, you’ve probably noticed that the watchword of this moment is “change.” Our museums, which have conservation in their DNA, are increasingly focused on becoming dynamic, …
Building Community and Connection: Guidelines for Museum Educators Teaching Memory Care Programs

By Beatriz Galuban

In the words of renowned museum educator and empathy expert Elif Gokcigdem, “Museums are safe, informal learning spaces, uniquely equipped to help audiences explore and imagine our human heritage and collective experiences.” Museum …
Trusting the Process: The Collaborative Journey to Reframing a Problematic Object

By Amy Gilman

“Put it in storage.” “Replace it with something else.” “Put up a new label.” “Do nothing.” These were some of the solutions offered up when the Chazen Museum of Art at the University of Wisconsin–Madison began exploring how to confront …
What Does a Curator of Sustainability Do? A Q&A with Chris Hobbs

By Adam Rozan

In recent years, sustainability has gone from a buzzword for museums to an action step, as our organizations increasingly confront and prepare for the adverse effects of climate change on their sites and, more importantly, their …
How to Retain Participants in Visitor Research Studies

By Michelle Mileham & Laureen Trainer

Research and evaluation projects allow museums to engage their communities, visitors, and non-visitors in various ways, but without anyone to participate in them, we are left with only our protocols and questions. That’s why strong …
Elevating Sustainability Efforts in Museum Dining Operations

By Joyce Lee, Jack Fassler, Lisa Claybon

As museums encourage visitors to learn and think about what is possible, sustainability is no longer a behind-the-scenes activity. Beyond LEED-certified buildings and facilities operations, sustainability initiatives are taking center …
Museum Colleague Shoutouts for 2023

By Joseph O'Neill

Last month we asked readers of our Field Notes newsletter to share their shoutouts for outstanding museum colleagues in honor of the new year. Here were some of the responses they shared: “Sarah Curran, Museum of Discovery and …