Of Law and Ethics: What do museums need to know in this new era of cultural property ownership disputes?
This article originally appeared in the Summer 2020 issue of Museum magazine, a benefit of AAM membership. A tension often exists between the law and the ethics of collecting cultural property, and nowhere is that more apparent than in …
Going Off-Script: How can museums use their galleries to create more inclusive communities?
This article originally appeared in the Summer 2020 issue of Museum magazine, a benefit of AAM membership. A little over a year ago, the Museum of Pop Culture began planning some in-gallery presentations for the museum’s celebration of the …
Fear Factor: In a contentious cultural climate, museums are wise to recognize the pressures to self-censor
This article originally appeared in the Summer 2020 issue of Museum magazine, a benefit of AAM membership. In January 2020, it came to light that the National Archives had altered a photograph that introduced the exhibition “Rightfully …
The Art of Conversation
The National Museum of Women in the Arts’ “Fresh Talk” series gives breath and breadth to bold ideas about the interplay among women, art, and social change. This article originally appeared in the March/April 2020 issue of Museum …
The Life and Legacy of Harriet Tubman
In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment that gave women the right to vote, we pay tribute to a luminous spirit that enlightens our quest for human rights and dignity. This article originally appeared …
Practicing What We Preach
Museum studies graduate students co-curate a feminist art exhibition to test assumptions on ideal approaches to inclusion. This article originally appeared in the March/April 2020 issue of Museum magazine, a benefit of AAM membership. …
Abstract Art, Concrete Goals
The Des Moines Art Center diversified its audience—and educated its staff—with an exhibition on queer abstraction that transformed the frame of reference for its cause. This article originally appeared in the March/April 2020 issue …
Beyond Binary
Developing an exhibition on the many faces of identity unmasks the slippery nature of truths and beliefs about gender. This article originally appeared in the March/April 2020 issue of Museum magazine, a benefit of AAM membership. At the …
Forging Deeper Connections
This article originally appeared in the January/February 2020 issue of Museum magazine, a benefit of AAM membership. A look at two museums that are successfully engaging their audiences through their collections. By Redmond W. Barnett and …
Curators Take Flight: Four curators cast a wide eye on the shifting landscape for curatorial practice
This article originally appeared in the January/February 2020 issue of Museum magazine, a benefit of AAM membership. It’s an exciting time to be a curator. The role is evolving and the field is broadening. Recently, four professionals at …
