Each issue of Museum consists of four to five feature articles and one point of view article. These articles are typically selected from pitches submitted by individuals working in all types and sizes of museums or supporting the broader museum field.

2026

January/February

TrendsWatch

Members get the first look at TrendsWatch, the annual forecasting report from AAM’s Center for the Future of Museums. Stay tuned for the trends, coming soon!

March/April

The Museum Built Environment

Topics can address, but are not limited to: master planning for future growth, climate sustainability, and adaptation; maintaining architectural integrity while ensuring compliance with building codes, accessibility standards, and environmental regulations; managing facilities risk and resilience planning; designing and retrofitting for sustainability, climate adaptation, and environmental impact reduction; downsizing or rightsizing in alignment with financial or attendance capacity; incorporating smart building technology and adaptive reuse; maximizing space utilization for flexibility and impact; implementing accessible design and effective wayfinding; designing spaces responsive to the needs of diverse audiences—such as older adults, families, or children to enhance comfort, safety, and engagement; collaborating with designers, architects, and community stakeholders; positioning the museum as a community space; undertaking major renovations and upgrades; designing spaces that simultaneously support both collections care and visitor comfort

Article Pitches Due: October 31, 2025

May/June

The Museum Odyssey (Annual Meeting Issue)

Articles will focus on select session topics to be presented at the AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo 

July/August

Public Relations & Marketing

Topics can address, but are not limited to: understanding shifting audience expectations, technology, and social norms; creating compelling narratives that resonate with the public; designing campaigns that convert visitors into long-term supporters; building public relations and marketing partnerships for stronger impact; reaching new audiences and building authentic relationships; using visitor data and AI-driven personalization to inform messaging; partnering with influencers and community ambassadors; communicating around controversial or polarizing topics; tracking and responding to trends in social media and viral moments in museums; managing crisis communication and reputation; developing effective press kits and media outreach strategies; measuring success through metrics and evaluation; ensuring ethical marketing and authenticity in messaging

Article Pitches Due: February 13, 2026

September/October

Visitor Services & Experiences

Topics can address, but are not limited to: aligning visitor services with mission and brand; designing age-friendly services and experiences for older adults (including creative aging initiatives); embedding visitor services into institutional strategy and decision-making; designing data-driven visitor journeys and experiences; implementing self-guided vs staff-guided approaches; applying universal design to exhibitions and visitor-facing applications; developing sensory-friendly programming and accommodations; training and empowering front-line staff; enhancing experiences through technology; creating digital and hybrid experiences that expand access to collections, programs, and interpretation; ensuring security, safety, and visitor wellness (including emergency preparedness); exploring or implementing phone-free visitation policies or programs; building partnerships with hospitality and tourism sectors to extend reach and enhance visitor experience; implementing cost-effective, high-impact visitor service improvements; measuring visitor satisfaction and learning from feedback

Article Pitches Due: April 27, 2026

November/December

Financial Sustainability and Resilience

Topics can address, but are not limited to: innovating earned revenue programs (admissions, retail, food services, licensing, etc.); strategies for securing non-government funding for essential programs and services; strengthening membership pricing, benefits, and retention strategies; tracking philanthropic trends in donor cultivation, major gifts, and planned giving; developing effective incentives (e.g., donor recognition, challenge grants) for sustainable, long-term fundraising; alignment with corporate sponsor values; expanding corporate sponsorships, naming rights, and co-branded initiatives; developing entrepreneurial initiatives and new business models; pursuing shared services and collaborations for cost efficiency; growing and managing capital reserves; applying investment strategies, including impact investing and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) alignment; leading capital campaigns and fundraising for major projects; creating financial contingency plans and scenario planning for economic shifts; adopting ethical funding practices and ensuring donor transparency; advancing financial recovery and resilience strategies after crisis or disruption

Article Pitches Due: July 13, 2026

2025

January/February

TrendsWatch

Members get the first look at TrendsWatch, the annual forecasting report from AAM’s Center for the Future of Museums. Stay tuned for the trends, coming soon!

March/April

Accessibility

Topics may include, but are not limited to: designing spaces; physical accessibility; multisensory experiences; interactive and assistive technology; accessible exhibits; accessible education programs; digital accessibility; staff training and awareness; neurodiversity; universal design; multilingual accessibility

Article pitch deadline: October 28, 2024

May/June

Museums and Trust (Annual Meeting Issue)

Articles will focus on select session topics to be presented at the AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo.

July/August

Artificial Intelligence

Topics may include, but are not limited to: human-centered approaches; societal and ethical implications; AI infrastructure; AI and the visitor experience; AI in fundraising (donor analysis, prospect research); workplace integration and transformation; staff or visitor training; content credibility; museum curation; data privacy; AI-driven visitor personalization; addressing bias in AI applications; chatbots; predictive analysis and data processing; AI and machine learning for collections management; museum operations (security, ticketing, membership)

Article pitch deadline: February 24, 2025

September/October

Collections Stewardship

Topics may include, but are not limited to: digital preservation and accessibility; decolonizing collections; provenance research on object origins and ownership; collection diversification; ethical acquisitions; AI for collections management; intellectual property; public transparency; virtual access to collections; cross-institutional collaboration for collection care; environmental sustainability in collections care; NAGPRA/repatriation

Article pitch deadline: April 28, 2025

November/December

Visitation

Topics may include, but are not limited to: visitor demographics and trends; impact of technology on visitation; post-pandemic visitation; program impact and visitation; community engagement impact; visitation challenges and solutions; membership and loyalty programs for enhanced engagement; pricing models and impact on visitation; visitation and tourism; innovations in programs or experiences to enhance visitation; marketing strategies; visitor evaluation and data driven improvements

Article pitch deadline: July 1, 2025

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Write for Museum

Please fill in the following form to submit your article pitch. Keep in mind each issue of Museum includes four feature articles and one point of view article.

Items of interest about your museum—temporary or permanent exhibitions, education programs, partnerships or initiatives, new building/wing—should be submitted for consideration to bit.ly/MuseumNewsAAM

Career news—transitions, promotions, retirements, in memoriams, accolades—should be submitted for consideration to bit.ly/CareerNewsAAM