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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 …
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 …
Serving Broader Audiences, Museums Engage Communities with Public Space

By Erin Flynn & Andrew Barwick

Many of today’s museum leaders recognize a need to engage more closely with the public, and a related desire to make their facilities and programs more flexible and valuable. In order to achieve these goals, it can be useful to explore new …
A Historic Textile Mill Inspires Creative Agers at Museum L-A

By Denise Scammon

In 2018, twenty organizations enrolled in a special museum cohort of Aroha Philanthropies’ Seeding Vitality Arts program. With funding from Aroha, and training provided by Lifetime Arts, these museums are developing high-quality, intensive …
What Kind of Ancestor Will You Be?

By Omar Eaton-Martínez

As Facing Change Senior Diversity Fellows, I and my associate fellows have been tasked with supporting museums as they address the lack of racial diversity in the governances of their institutions. In this journey, I’ve been reminded of a …