COVID-19

The below list is a compilation of content related to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis

Giving Back: Museums and Older Volunteers during COVID-19

By Marjorie Schwarzer

As cases of COVID-19 spike across the country, resulting in more museums suspending operations, what are the implications for older docents and volunteers, especially in regard to ageism and creative aging? In part one of this two-part …
A Big COVID-19 Pivot: The Museum Assessment Program Goes Virtual

By Anastasia Wallace & Dr. Matthew White

The Museum Assessment Program (MAP) is one of the most valuable programs offered by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) for emerging institutions, museums undergoing structural change, or organizations looking to improve one or more …
Digital Tools for Pandemic Times

By Elizabeth Merritt

Almost all US museums closed during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. While a few reopened by summer, many decided to remain shuttered for the entire year, and often for these museums the only way to engage with the …
Museums Advocacy Day and Post-Election Outlook

By American Alliance of Museums

Support Field-Wide Advocacy for Museum Relief: The current crisis is taking a distressing financial toll on cultural organizations, and AAM is no different. In these challenging times, we ask that if you can, consider supporting our …
Tales from Campus: Connecting Community in the Time of COVID

By Elizabeth Merritt

What’s it like to be an undergrad this year? The social experience of college is as important as the academic content, but many students are attending class online from their dorm rooms, and most social groups and events are on hold. In …
My Primary School is in a Museum—US Pandemic Edition

By Elizabeth Merritt

Can you imagine being a school-age kid during this pandemic? Whether they are glued to a screen trying to learn via Zoom, attending class masked and distanced, or being home-schooled, this experience will shape our youngest generation for …
How Might We Transform?

By Rachel Ginsberg and Carolyn Royston

This article originally appeared in the November/December 2020 issue of Museum magazine, a benefit of AAM membership. The Interaction Lab at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum seeks to re-envision visitor experience. The idea behind …
Emerging From Crisis

By Arthur Cohen

This article originally appeared in the November/December 2020 issue of Museum magazine, a benefit of AAM membership. One of the largest audience research studies aims to help cultural institutions remain relevant through the pandemic and …
Downsizing Our Museum in the Face of a Pandemic

By Elizabeth Merritt

According to the Alliance’s first COVID snapshot of museum operations, conducted this past summer, one-third of US museums expected to lose over 40 percent of their annual operating income this year. Forty one percent anticipate having to …
The Keys to Sustainable Online Programming? Partnerships and Professional Development

By Megan Ennes

Recently, I’ve been analyzing the efficacy of museum-developed digital programs over their thirty-year history, and I’ve noticed a common theme: Every study extols the benefits of such programs, including increased outreach and engagement …