Week of October 26

FEMA tells states to handle disasters on their own

Politico, 10-20-26 [Projections]

The Trump administration’s disaster chief told state officials Tuesday they must increase their financial reserves and emergency capabilities to handle most disasters on their own, without federal help. The agency will face substantial challenges — both logistically and politically — preparing states to take a lead role in disaster prevention and recovery. A FEMA report released Friday found that state disaster agencies “are typically understaffed and underfunded” and that many agencies are heavily dependent on federal funding.  President Donald Trump threatened to abolish FEMA early in his current term and has since called for states to take more financial responsibility. Hamilton told the conference attendees that changes could begin “in the next six months.”

What this means for museums: According to a recent GAO report, 6,900 museums (41 percent) of US museums experienced a natural disaster or extreme weather from 2020 through 2024. Museums might monitor the status of emergency funding and preparedness in their state and reassess their own preparations for recovery in the wake of natural disasters.

The Ford Foundation will throw more weight behind democracy

Chronicle of Philanthropy, 10-23-26 [Trends]

The Ford Foundation, one of the world’s largest private grantmakers, committed Thursday to driving more funds toward the basic building blocks of democracy. In a report to trustees, Ford Foundation President Heather Gerken— widely recognized as a leading expert on constitutional law and elections — framed the changes in the context of an “emboldened strain of 21st-century authoritarianism.” Seven new programs — focused on democratic governance, inclusive economies, trustworthy information, public safety, gender equality, global cooperation and racial justice — will be detailed throughout next year. Foundation funding for democracy broadly tripled from 2016 to 2020, according to the nonprofit research service Candid, and has climbed slightly since a 2021 dip. George Soros’ Open Society Foundations pledged $300 million in May toward initiatives intended to defend democratic rights. In response to the funding constraints faced by the philanthropic sector, the Ford Foundation vowed to deliver more larger-sized, multiyear general operating support.

Museums might: use their status as trusted sources of information and nonpartisan places of engagement to strengthen democracy, with the support of this growing source of funding.

Can This Museum Affect Your Heart Rate?

The New York Times, 10-22-26 [Museum innovations]

When the Drift Museum has its soft opening later this year in Amsterdam’s Oostenburg district, once a major Dutch East India Company shipyard, visitors entering the first gallery will be greeted with a 10-foot-tall version of the Switch Pitch ball, a spherical toy that changes colors when thrown in the air. This version of the ball has an internal mechanism made of steel with two different surfaces that can be turned inside out: On the utopian side, roughly a thousand small lights move together to resemble a flock of birds, while on the dystopian one, 1,500 screens flash a steady stream of confusing and conflicting information. The 86,000-square-foot space also includes a new interactive exhibit invites visitors to wear bio-trackers that will measure their heart rate and temperature before and after touring the museum; the data gathered will be uploaded on a plastic module, one per person, that pulses with color, light and movement. Each module is then added to an ever-changing sculpture.

Gen Z is bringing back something the digital age was supposed to replace

Fast Company, 10-16-26 (Trends)

A 2026 report by Quad and The Harris Poll explored how consumer behavior is changing in favor of physical experiences, finding that “real is the new premium.” The shift seems to be driven by fatigue from scrolling, texting, emailing, and using AI tools. While nearly a third of older generations agree with the sentiment, Gen Z is leading in fatigue, with 49% of those polled reporting they feel drained from scrolling on social media, and 74% saying they wished they could more easily disconnect from devices. The report found that 28% of Gen Zers intentionally attend phone-free experiences, and 25% buy analog alternatives to digital devices—rates that are both higher than the national average. Opting for physical experiences and non-digital objects seems to be part of a wider trend for American consumers. In fact, around 80% of Americans said they are drawn to real-world experiences that don’t revolve around screens.

Many Americans Are Struggling to Afford Basic Necessities

Pew Research, 10-14-26 (Research)

A Pew Research Center survey conducted this fall found that more than four-in-ten Americans (44%) indicate they have had trouble paying for at least one basic necessity—medical care, daily transportation, rent or mortgage, or food—in the past year. 60% say they do not currently have enough income to lead the kind of life they want; 53% say they do not have emergency funds that would cover their expenses for three months; 27% cannot pay some of their monthly bills or can only make partial payments; 32% say they worry every day or almost every day about the cost of healthcare and the amount of debt they have. Overall, 70% of U.S. adults say they have cut back on spending for extras – such as eating out, streaming services or other entertainment – in the past year. And 54% say they have not been able to save money for the future.

Food for thought: in financially tight times, even a “free” museum visit can entail significant costs, and people struggling to make ends meet are often time-stressed as well. How can museums provide affordable, accessible experiences? An how might they lean into the essential services they provide (contributing to health and wellbeing, education for children) even as people cut back on spending for “extras?”

Government represses protests over ‘erasure of history’ after National Museum exhibits removed

Justice for Columbia, 10-19-26 (Trends)

Colombia’s far-right government has sparked protests and fierce criticism after ordering the removal of more than 30 exhibits and artifacts relating to peace, political violence and social rights from the National Museum in Bogota, the largest and oldest museum in the country. Tensions grew worse when authorities, rather than engage in dialogue over accusations of ‘erasure of history,’ deployed riot police to repress a peaceful protest outside the museum on consecutive days over 17-18 October. Where exhibits relating to the 2016 peace agreement, state-backed violence against the Patriotic Union political party and the struggle for LGBTQ rights were previously on public display, visitors to the museum are now presented with empty gallery spaces. It is the latest attempt by Colombia’s political right to control narratives and public understanding of historic conflict, state repression and social struggle.

Editor’s note: As author William Gibson observed, “the future is already here, it is just not evenly distributed.” The experience of Colombian museums might illuminate challenges facing U.S. museums in coming years , an prompt readers to revisit an essay by Yelena Litvinov and Tatyana Margolin on global lessons for resilience when cultural organizations are targeted by authoritarian regimes.

Independent Sector Releases Advocacy Guidance for Charitable Sector

Independent Sector, 10-7-26 [Tools for the Future]

Independent Sector President and CEO Dr. Akilah Watkins announced the release of Guiding Advocacy Decisions: A Framework for Nonprofit Boards and Executives in a Dynamic Policy Environment — a discussion guide created to help nonprofit boards and senior charitable sector leaders make informed decisions about advocacy grounded in their unique mission and circumstances. [Created by] Independent Sector’s Principles Panel on Advocacy, this guide to provide practical guidance for leaders of the charitable nonprofit sector to consider how and when advocacy can further an organization’s mission. This framework includes a series of discussion questions for charitable sector leaders on five key factors critical to the development of an organization’s advocacy strategy: Identifying Mission-Critical Policy Priorities; Aligning on Assessment of the Political and Legal Environment; Assessing Risks and Rewards; Exploring Organizational Structure and Governance; Understanding Legal Parameters.

England’s cultural organisations unprepared to deal with extreme heat, survey finds

Museums Association, 10-13-27 [Research]

A survey by the Arts Council England found that almost all (96%) of the 296 respondents were affected by this summer’s heatwaves, citing staff wellbeing, falling visitor numbers and financial losses among their main concerns.  The survey asked about the effects of extreme heat between May and July 2026 on arts organisations, museums and libraries. The heatwaves had a noticeable impact on footfall and income over the summer. Two-thirds (67%) saw reduced attendance, while almost a third (31%) of respondents said they had cancelled events or activities. Almost a quarter (24%) reported partially closing their premises; 10% closed entirely; 22% changed or reduced their opening hours. Almost a fifth (19%) experienced visitors leaving earlier than usual, while 28% reported equipment or technical issues.  Respondents also highlighted the effects of the heat on people at their venues, with 45% saying indoor spaces had become too hot to occupy and 43% reporting an impact on visitor wellbeing.     

US museums might: regard this as a preview of what many regions of the US will experience in coming years, and prepare their own responses to extreme heat.

Holographic Zoo Leases 51K SF Coconut Grove Building For First Location

Bisnow, 10-7-26 [Museum Innovation]

A new zoo is coming to Miami. But instead of live wildlife, visitors will observe and interact with holographic projections of animals. Turkish entrepreneur Tan Umut Koker expects to attract 1.5 million annual visitors to Holozoo Florida, which “transforms the real zoo experience into a digital format with five unique technologies, setting it apart from simpler competitors and freeing animals from being confined for entertainment purposes.” Koker is already surveying opening other Holozoo locations in Orlando and New York City, which he expects will take less time and money to open than the Miami location, and not just because the technology will be a “copy and paste.” The company is in the fundraising stages for other locations in Istanbul and Antalya, Turkey.

.UNESCO- ICOM Global Survey finds museums embracing AI, but governance and capacity lag behind

UNESCO, 9-16-26 [Trends]

AI is becoming an increasingly visible part of museum work worldwide, supporting activities ranging from administration, translation, and collections research to documentation, exhibition development as well as visitor engagement. However, access to AI technologies and the resources needed to implement them remains uneven. 57% of responding museums report using AI; 55% have no internal AI policy, strategy or guidelines; AI use remains predominantly exploratory or staff-led rather than institution-wide; Accuracy, copyright and data protection are leading concerns of museums in the use of AI. Training and guidance were requested in the technical and ethical use of AI as well as for data-governance and IP rights.

Go deeper: For a basic framework museums use to guide their creation of an AI policy, read Nik Honeysett’s recent post “Three Laws of AI Governance.”

Thriving Together in America: Trends, Discoveries, Community Action and Advice for Leaders

Gallup, 10-5-26 [Research]

The 2026 Gallup-Rippel report examines how Americans’ wellbeing has declined since reaching a post-pandemic peak five years ago. National wellbeing has fallen to levels not seen since the Great Recession and the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, with young adults driving the steepest decline of any age group and a growing share of Americans now classified as suffering rather than thriving or struggling. At the same time, Americans’ optimism about their futures has declined faster than their assessment of the present, reversing a longstanding pattern in which people typically felt more hopeful about what’s ahead than about where they stand today. the report ties higher life ratings to a consistent set of factors: physical health, financial security, strong relationships, regular use of natural strengths and a clear sense of purpose. Insights from dynamic modeling suggest that places with a better-balanced portfolio of investments across wellbeing drivers could generate double-digit gains for thriving within a decade.

Museums might: increase their own contributions to community health and well-being, using AAM’s resources to support this important work.

From ailing cooling systems to toxic chemicals, a museum tour shines a light on the effects of austerity

The Art Newspaper, 9-22-26 [Museum Innovations]

A new exhibition at the Museum of Vancouver (MOV) is turning adversity to an advantage. The museum, like many others around the world, has seen its funding drastically reduced in recent years—a trend that may accelerate amid the Canada-US trade war and the rising cost of fuel. Starting this week, MOV is offering behind-the-scenes “Austerity Tours” of its facilities that highlight the effects of decades of funding stagnation. Timed to coincide with Vancouver’s civic elections on 17 October, and a provincial election that has been called for 24 October, the tour highlights how austerity forces museums into a race against inflation. The tour begins in the lobby beneath a fabulous light fixture that cannot be fully illuminated because it is leaking hydraulic fluid. The ample greenery that used to greet visitors has vanished because upkeep of the plants was thwarted by staff cuts.

Editor’s note: what a brilliant way to illuminate the all-to-often invisible needs of museum infrastructure.

The Center for the Future of Museums Blog shares musings on the future of museums and society, where you’ll read posts authored by CFM director Elizabeth Merritt and guest author posts. If you have a story to share, email us at futureofmuseums [at] aam-us [dot] org.

Explore more resources from the Center for the Future of Museums in the AAM Resource Library.

The new annual TrendsWatch report has been released as the January/February 2026 issue of Museum magazine for AAM members and subscribers. Get a free preview here. It will be available as a free PDF report later this spring.

Dispatches shares summaries of recent news stories illuminating trends and events shaping society, technology, economics, the environment, and policy today. Fuel your museum’s strategic foresight by thinking about the implications of these “signals,” and the kinds of future they might create.

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