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Using Your Audience as Exhibit Designers
Last week, Barbara Stauffer shared with us the challenges of orchestrating a participatory design experience in an institution with well-established organizational procedures and hierarchies. For her, inviting the input of over 800 … -
Museums & the Spectrum of Control: Part I
This week’s guest post is by Barbara Stauffer, chief of temporary exhibitions at the National Museum of Natural History. This is the first in a series of posts exploring how museums are adapting to people’s desire to contribute, share, … -
Some Great Museums Ready to Move
How can we make sure museums are recognized for all the good things they do for their communities? Kudos from the White House would be one great thing, wouldn’t it? That’s why AAM is partnering with ACM and APGA to launch a “Let’s Move … -
Saving the Historic House—While Saving the World
This week’s guest post is by Laurie Ossman, director of Woodlawn, a property of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. As I pointed out in an earlier profile of an historic house, museums can use food to build community and tackle … -
The Path to Sustainability—Working Together
This is part two of an essay by Sarah S. Brophy, co-chair of AAM’s PIC Green. You can read part one here.For the museum field, the way to close the distance between activities like Seafood Watch and our present-day reality is to take the … -
A Hard Look at Sustainability, Part I: How Pretty Good is the Enemy of Good Enough
Since CFM first gleamed in AAM’s eye, I have had fascinating discussions with members of the Association’s Green Professional Interest Committee (PIC Green). After all, if we don’t figure out how to live sustainably, the future looks … -
Natural History Specimens as Social Media Celebrities
The rise of social media is transforming the landscape of communication for all organizations, including museums. There are myriad new ways to connect directly with the public, and new spokespeople have stepped forth to fill these niches. … -
Using History to Build Community
This week’s guest post is by Dr. Tom Hanchett, staff historian at the Levine Museum of the New South, one of the museums profiled in AAM’s recent report on the challenge museums’ face in coming decades to serve an … -
Update on Empowering New Immigrants through Art
This week’s guest post is by Patricia Lannes, director of education at the Nassau County Museum of Art in Roslyn Harbor, N.Y. Demographic Transformation and the Future of Museums briefly profiles NCMA’s work with new immigrants. Patricia … -
Engaging and Empowering New Immigrants through Art
AAM’s recently released forecasting report Demographic Transformation and the Future of Museums highlights the gap between current museum audiences and the majority minority future of American society. The sobering statistics are leavened …
Tag: Case Study
Upcoming Events
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Beyond the Gallery: New Ways to Connect with Communities
Event Date:Presented by: Ohio Museums Association -
Reframing Leadership: A Leader-as-Coach Model for Museums
Event Date:Presented by: New England Museum Association and American Alliance of Museums -
Museums & Social Media Summit
Event Date:Presented by: MuseumNext -
Museum Store Sunday
Event Date:Presented by: Museum Store Sunday/Museum Store Association
Latest Stories from AAM
Cracking the Gen Z Code: How Museums Are Rethinking Membership to Engage Younger Audiences
Category:
Alliance Blog
For decades, the traditional museum model was simple: charge an entry fee, offer an …
Museums and Censorship: A 2026 Annual Survey of Museum-Goers Data Story
Category:
Alliance Blog
This visual Data Story is based on findings from the 2026 Annual Survey of Museum-Goers, …
Accessibility by Design: Empowering Staff for Human-Centered Change
Category:
On-Demand Programs
What does it mean to build a truly human-centered museum? This webinar supports staff at …