alma thomas – American Alliance of Museums

The Transformative Power of Inclusive Storytelling in Museums

By Makeba Clay

My mentor Dr. Johnnetta Cole, the former director of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art (NMAfA), often says, “It’s easy to live without art, but it’s hard to live well.” For me, the power of art lies in its transformative …

Latest Stories from AAM

Demographics of US Museum-Goers: 2025 Update

This visual Data Story is based on findings from the 2025 Annual Survey of Museum-Goers, …

September Monthly Advocacy Alert: Federal Funding, IMLS, and Advocacy Webinar

Advocacy Alert – September 12, 2025 In this Alliance Advocacy Alert: Updates and …

Ask the Expert: Collections Insurance

Join Cecelia Walls, Assistant Director, Learning Content & …

AAM Members get exclusive access to premium digital content including:

Featured articles from Museum magazine
Access to more than 1,500 resource listings from the Resource Center
Tools, reports, and templates for equipping your work in museums

Your current membership level does not allow you to access this content.

Upgrade Your Membership

Subscribe to Field Notes!

Packed with stories and insights for museum people, Field Notes is delivered to your inbox every Monday. Once you've completed the form below, confirm your subscription in the email sent to you.

If you are a current AAM member, please sign-up using the email address associated with your account.

Are you a museum professional? Yes No

Are you a current AAM member? Yes No

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription, and please add communications@aam-us.org to your safe sender list.