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What is Innovation Anyway?
One of the goals AAM set for CFM is to “foster innovation.” Why? Because innovation is to museums’ survival what genetic variation is to evolution—a source of novelty, producing structures or strategies that succeed better than the old … -
The Future of Conferences, cont.
I blogged last year about AAM’s steps to “go green” with its annual meeting. Fact is, we may face a future in which professional conferences are profoundly different because of heightened sensitivity to travel’s ecological impacts as well … -
Hello Museum People!
My name is Pinky and I am from The Pinky Show. Bunny and I were invited do a guest CFM blog, so here we are. We realize that many of you may not know who we are or why we are interested in museums, so we will start with that. We run an … -
The Future is Collaborative Part II: Early Exemplars
This is the second guest blog post by Günter Waibel, Program Officer at OCLC Research on the convergence of libraries, archives and museums (LAMs.) Read part I here. When OCLC Research recently studied LAM convergence through a workshop … -
Spotting the Long News
I sometimes use this blog to highlight news items that may presage important developments in the future—the leading edge of trends lapping at our toes. This short TED talk by Kirk Citron asks a good question: how do we know which stories … -
Museum Design 2034: Perpetual Beta
I blogged last week about how futurists write stories of the future based on trends we can observe now. This helps people explore what their lives, and their organizations, might look like in these potential futures, which in turn helps … -
Museum Design 2034: The Distributed Museum
Museum practitioners are pre-adapted to be futurists. Why? Because futurism is, basically, the process of telling compelling stories about things that haven’t happened yet. These stories help people explore what alternate futures … -
One Potential Future for Museums, Archives, Libraries
The IMLS wiki UpNext kicked off last week looking at changing roles of museums and libraries as they adapt to the changing needs of their communities. The latest discussion focuses on shifts in power–are museums evolving into … -
Convergence? Explore the Future of Museums and Libraries
The Institute of Museum & Library Services has just announced the launch of UpNext, a wiki site where people can share thoughts about IMLS’s recently published Discussion Guide on the future of museums and libraries. Starting next … -
Mapping the Future
The Institute for the Future and Business for Social Responsibility have released their Sustainability Outlook Map charting four potential stories of the future. The map explores ways of approaching challenges to the environmental, social …
Future Forecasting
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Category:
On-Demand Programs
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Scholarship Opportunity! Learn Museum Foresight
Category:
Center for the Future of Museums Blog
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When Business Partners Become Advocates: Event Network at Museum Advocacy Day 2026
Category:
Advocacy
For over 15 years, Museums Advocacy Day has brought together museum professionals, …