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A Letter from the Frontlines of the AI-pocalypse
This is the second in a series of posts I hope will help readers navigate the perils and promise of AI. In part one, I put on my happy hat and tried to imagine the best plausible future shaped by artificial intelligence. Now let’s veer to … -
Forecasting the AI Future: What’s the Best that Could Happen?
A sampling of recent pronouncements in the news: How can we possibly make sense of these conflicting predictions? Given this range of possible outcomes, how can you, and your museum, navigate the promise and perils of artificial … -
Revisiting Wild Times: The Loss of Nonprofit Status
In 2018 I published a scenario titled “Wild Times” set in a version of 2040 in which museums lost their nonprofit status due to a combination of political attacks, economic stress, and a global pandemic. At the time, I emphasized its … -
Forecasting 2022, Part 3: Build Your Own Adventure
When I sat down to write the third entry in CFM’s scenario set for 2022, I struggled over what kind of story would most usefully round out the collection. Scenario one (A Third Year of Waves) explores a depressing but entirely possible … -
The Long-awaited Tail
“With our imagination, the future is a place where anything, or one hundred things, or everything, can be different—even things that seem impossible to change today.” –Dr. Jane McGonigal, futurist and games designer I want to start … -
Forecasting 2022, Part 1: Waves Ahead
I’d hoped to be forecasting the post-COVID future by this point, but that apparently wasn’t in the cards. (Forgive me a little futurist Tarot humor.) Instead, it’s entirely possible that 2022 will become Year Three of the COVID-19 … -
The next COVID scenario: Delta Force
The near term future is looking much brighter than it was in March 2020, when I published my first set of scenarios exploring how the COVID-19 pandemic might play out. While the death toll in the US has surpassed 600,000 (a grim statistic … -
Mapping Uncertainty in 2021
I have been wishing everyone HAPPY NEW YEAR (in all caps) because I am so relieved to see the backside of 2020. But “better than last year” is a very low bar indeed, and we face many very hard months ahead. That being so, my focus this … -
Reinventing Museums: Pandemic Disruption as an Opportunity for Change
Looking for some good things in a terrible time, people have pointed out that air pollution plummeted as the world locked down, sea turtles are nesting undisturbed, managers are realizing telecommuting actually increases productivity, and … -
Three New Scenarios for Financial Survival in 2020
Support Free COVID-19 Resources for the Field: The current crisis is taking a distressing financial toll on cultural organizations, and AAM is no different. The Center for the Future of Museums is supported by AAM membership and …
Tag: Scenarios
Upcoming Events
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Planning and Budgeting for Fundraising Success – OMA Webinar
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AASLH History Hour: Civic Practice
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What It’s Like to Participate in Museums Advocacy Day
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From Idea to Acceptance: How to Submit a Winning Annual Meeting Session Proposal
Event Date:Presented by: American Alliance of Museums
Latest Stories from AAM
How to respond to new threats to nonprofits
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Center for the Future of Museums Blog
Last week, I learned that the IRS is planning to propose regulations that would give it …
Take Action to Protect the Independence of the Smithsonian Institution and America’s Museums
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Advocacy Alert
Advocacy Alert – July 20, 2026 AAM statement on the independence of the Smithsonian …
AAM Statement on the Independence of the Smithsonian and America’s Museums
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Press Release
The American Alliance of Museums condemns the Administration’s continued attacks on the …