visitor experience – American Alliance of Museums

Solving the Engagement Puzzle: A Museum Escape Room Event Captivates All Ages

By Kate Higbee

On a typical day at Chicago’s Griffin Museum of Science and Industry (MSI), visitors move through exhibits with a destination in mind—a favorite artifact, a hands-on activity, or the temporary exhibition that got them in the door. But on …
No Yelling in the Museum: Balancing Security with Visitor Experience

By Colleen Higginbotham

When asked why they don’t visit museums, many people point to a previous negative experience, often involving an interaction with staff enforcing museum rules. I have observed museum personnel enforce rules by snapping their fingers, …
Designing for Discovery: A New Renovation Doubles Down on Engagement, Belonging, and Accessibility

By Anna Alger

Today, walking into the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, located in Northeast Ohio, feels markedly different than it did just a few years ago. The galleries are brighter. The spaces feel more open. Visitors encounter educators leading …
From the President: Experience is Everything

By Marilyn Jackson

As a museum marketing professional, I learned early on that the most effective way to attract an audience is to convey the experience a museum offers. But that experience is about more than what visitors get to “see and do.” It’s also …
The Visitor is for Keeps: Engaging Audiences with the Nurturing Model

By John Connolly

Does admission pricing limit access to museums? At the Harvard Art Museums, we stress-tested this question by launching free admission in 2023. The beautiful entrance piazza transformed into the bustling town square it was conceived to be. …
Peering into Percentages: A Q&A with Susie Wilkening

By Adam Rozan

Spend enough time reading or talking about museums, and you will inevitably come across statistics that convey the vibrancy or challenges of our field. For every percentage point, there is a person behind that figure, working hard to …
Extending the Invitation: Strategies for Welcoming Visitors and Reducing Barriers to Access

By Raphaela Platow

In the aftermath of the pandemic and amidst ongoing calls for museums to become more inclusive and attuned to community needs, many institutions are still seeking ways to recover from faltering attendance and expand the reach of their …
Belonging: Co-creating welcoming and equitable museums

By Sandra Bonnici

“Can you describe a time you felt unwelcome or like you didn’t belong in a museum?” This question was posed during a recent conference call for the Facing Change Senior Diversity Fellows. As I listened to my distinguished colleagues …
Sofa So Good: A word on behalf of older folks

By Bill Tramposch

I don’t know about you, but a career in museums has made it very difficult for me to be a satisfied museum visitor. I find that I am always peering into “how the sausage is made,” as it were, noticing how the front-of-house staff interact …
A Museum ‘Dating’ App Helps Visitors Fall in Love with Art

By Julia Forbes and Ivey Rucket

As the High Museum of Art prepared to completely reinstall its collection in the fall of 2018, we began talking about how we could use mobile technologies in new and innovative ways to engage the public with our newly installed galleries. …