How to Face the Future, Cultivate Optimism, and Defy Dystopia
Over the past month I’ve been immersed in conversations with directors, staff, independent professionals, funders, and association staff, all trying to find a way forward in the face of the massive uncertainty created by the new …
Strengthen Your Museum with Data
The past few weeks have many of us feeling uncertain about the future. I’m writing to remind you of an opportunity to reduce some of that uncertainty with cold, hard facts. Since 2020, AAM has partnered with Wilkening Consulting to provide …
Responding to Rapid Change by Assessing Risk and Asking Questions
In recent weeks, museum leaders have often been forced to make decisions on the fly, in advance of crafting a comprehensive (or even a tentative) plan for coping with the current tsunami of change. That being so, I’m working on a series of …
Ctrl+Alt+Preserve: Why Museums Must Invest in Digital Resilience
One major theme of this year’s TrendsWatch report is the inherent fragility of digital records, tools, and services, and the need to plan for the long-term costs of keeping these assets stable, functional, and accessible. (Read the …
Three First Steps You Can Take in a Time of Rapid Change
The executive orders issued over the past week are having profound effects on people, communities, and organizations. While we can’t yet quantify the impact on our field, it’s clear that many museums and museum workers are tracking the …
Introducing TrendsWatch 2025
The new edition of TrendsWatch is available first to AAM members as the January/February 2025 issue of Museum magazine. Become a member today for immediate access to the digital edition, before the report is freely available later this …
Speculative Options for the Future of Democracy
Many pundits are warning that our current version of democracy itself may be in danger, and research suggests the public may agree. If so, what’s next? How can we expand our thinking, before defaulting to the easy (and frightening) …
Forecasting 2025
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been studying a variety of forecasts to prepare for the coming year. The most useful sources are people whose views on a given topic are informed by experience, training, and data, saying “I think this is …
Closing 2024 and Opportunities to Engage with CFM in 2025
“Hope is a muscle, a practice, a choice that actually propels new realities into being. And it’s a muscle we can strengthen.” –Krista Tippett (journalist, author, creator and host of On Being) I’m going to close out the year by penning a …
Podcasts for Edification, Inspiration, and Comfort
According to Edison Research, about 100 million Americans listen to at least one podcast every week, and regular podcast listeners average a bit over 8 episodes a week. Full confession: I’m one of that 100 million, and my average is …
