May/June 2025
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Trust
This issue of Museum magazine centers on topics explored at the 2025 AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo in May, including the many dimensions of trust across museum operations—from community collaborations in curation and exhibitions, to relationships between staff and leaders, to transparent financial disclosure and storytelling.
In this issue:
From the President
The Superpower of Trust
“For years, our field has reveled in our ‘superpower’ of being among the most trusted institutions in society, amidst a growing crisis in the credibility of public institutions. [The 2025 Annual Meeting explores] how we can use our trust to cultivate a healthier society, and how we can maintain our credibility proactively against threats that might undermine it.”
» Read the full column from AAM President & CEO Marilyn Jackson.
Tackling the Truth
FEATURE
by Amanda A. Ohlke and Courtney Peagler
Explore how three museums—the International Spy Museum, the National Building Museum, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture—have successfully presented programs on difficult issues, from housing and race to the international security community.
Many Visions, Shared Trust
FEATURE
by Lauren Cooper
The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County collaborated with artists—and among departments— to highlight the value of its collections research.
Don’t Miss the Full Picture
FEATURE
by Derick Dreher, Tyler Starkel, and Asha Vyas
A museum’s financial reports must be crafted and communicated in ways that engender trust and strategic decision-making.
Rethinking the Narrative
FEATURE
by Kelsey Grimm and Brandie Macdonald
Three guest Native/Indigenous curators at the IU Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology reimagined collections obtained through extractive and colonialist practices.
Repairing Leader-Staff Trust
POINT OF VIEW
by John Voiklis, Christine Reich, Bennett Attaway, Nicole LaMarca, and Elliott Bowen
Claims about integrity, benevolence, and sincerity are at the heart of many internal organizational conflicts. Learn about the launch of a new project called “Culture of Trust” that analyzes the leader-staff trust dynamic in museums.
May/June 2025 issue
By the Numbers:
Trust
13%
increase in the trustworthiness of museums from 2021 to 2025.
1 in 3
US adults think museums are nonpartisan, neutral sources of information.
Rank #3
Museums rank among the top three most
trusted institutions in a survey with 10 options.
Source: 2021 and 2025 Broader Population Sampling (both AAM + Wilkening Consulting).
» Additional findings and context on trust from the 2025 Annual Survey of Museum-Goers and Broader Population Sampling will be available in the fall from AAM and Wilkening Consulting. Explore Museums and Trust 2021.
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Stay tuned!
July/August 2025 – Artificial Intelligence
September/October 2025 – Collections Stewardship
November/December 2025 – Visitation, with pitches due July 1, 2025
» Explore the Editorial Calendar for potential topics under each theme.
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