Center for the Future of Museums Blog – American Alliance of Museums
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Against Efficiency

On occasion, I use this space to comment on norms and practices that I feel do active harm to our sector and our peers. (See, for example, my short rant on “quiet quitting” and the …

Living in a Wild Future

In March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic upended the world for Americans and American museums, my job shifted from focusing on the far future to the immediate present. As museum leaders …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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: …

Introducing Fifteen Visions of Museum Futures

Today AAM published a collection of fifteen papers exploring the next horizon of museum practice with regard to voluntary repatriation, restitution, and reparations. This is your invitation …
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April Alert: Advocacy Activities, Updates on Federal Funding and IMLS

Advocacy Alert – April 28, 2025 In this Alliance Advocacy Alert: Upcoming Advocacy Activities Are you attending the 2025 AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo? Learn about and connect …

Revisiting Wild Times: The Loss of Nonprofit Status

Category: Center for the Future of Museums Blog
In 2018 I published a scenario titled “Wild Times” set in a version of 2040 in which museums lost their nonprofit status due to a combination of political attacks, economic stress, and a …

Conference Confidence: How to connect and learn with purpose!

This recorded webinar on how to make the most of your in-person conference experience through Connection, Community, Collaboration, and Content. Learn practical strategies to engage …

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