March/April 2026
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March/April 2026
From Blueprint to Imprint
This issue of Museum details several major construction and renovation projects. What are the pitfalls when planning a renovation at your museum and what impact does it have on your local community? Read advice from an architect and learn how to build with sustainability in mind. The articles offer lessons learned from real-world experiences and give suggestions for how museums might respond to challenges they encounter while undergoing construction.
In this issue:
From the President
Why Design Matters
“Museums must create exterior spaces that welcome visitors in and interior environments that shape how people feel, learn, and connect once they arrive. The question to consider is not only the appearance and design of our museum spaces but also how we use them.”
» Read the full column about rethinking visitation as a discipline to welcome and inspire the public by AAM President & CEO Marilyn Jackson.
Make No Little Plans and Other Bad Advice
Feature
by Nick Nelson
The Springfield Art Museum is in the middle of a major renovation. It’s been complicated.
Right-sized Futures
Feature
by Casey Gallagher
An architect offers advice for museums of all sizes on master planning.
Surviving Your Museum Renovation
Feature
by Cameron L. Saffell
The museum at Texas Tech underwent a major renovation and an addition and lived to tell the tale.
Historic Walls, Modern Vision
Feature
by Deborah Farrar Starker
The Museum of Early Trades & Crafts built a roadmap for restoration, expansion, and community impact.
Sustainability by Design
Feature
by Leslie Tom and Jeff Anderson
The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American history is developing a museum-led model for people, planet, prosperity, and programs.
Small Space, Big Impact
Point of View
by Katie Lee-Koven
The Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art has invested in high-impact design of its space to enable 21st-century learning.
March/April 2026 issue
By the Numbers:
The Built Environment
4 out of 5
Proportion of museum-goers who want places to sit, relax, and decompress when visiting.
50%
Percentage of museum-goers who specifically enjoy outdoor spaces at museums.
86%
Percentage of museum-goers who think museums of all types should be reducing their carbon footprint and operate more sustainably.
Sources: 2022 and 2025 Annual Survey of Museum-Goers (AAM + Wilkening Consulting)
» Learn about the Annual Survey of Museum-Goers and enroll in the 2026 survey!
» Explore additional resources on audience engagement and visitor experience in the AAM Member Resource Library.
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View these recent digital editions by clicking their cover, or access PDFs from the Full Issue Archives.
Jan/Feb 2026
TrendsWatch: Questioning Assumptions
Nov/Dec 2025
Rethinking Visitation
Sept/Oct 2025
Collection Queries and Consequences
July/August 2025
The AI Universe
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Coming Up:
May/June 2026 – The Museum Odyssey (Annual Meeting Issue)
July/August 2026 – Public Relations & Marketing
September/October 2026 – Visitor Services & Experiences (Article pitches due April 27, 2026)
November/December 2026 – Financial Sustainability and Resilience (Article pitches due: July 13, 2026)
» Explore the full 2026 Editorial Calendar and learn potential topics under each theme.