The Museum Life

This week I talk with Orna Cohen, an exhibit designer, about the factors that have contributed to the success of her groundbreaking exhibition “Dialogue in the Dark.”

Monica Montgomery and I will talk about her current projects and her consulting practice that helps museums address their diversity issues.

Dean and I will be talking about the Small Museum Association in anticipation of their upcoming annual conference and get a preview of Dean’s session about interpreting slavery.

Richard Conniff will be my guest this week to discuss his recent book “House of Lost Worlds.” Along with telling the fascinating history of the Peabody Museum of Natural History, Richard shed light on the role natural history museums have played in science education and environmental awareness.

There is no argument that many museums were founded by privileged elites who were driven by a variety of motives. Does this mean that museums are bound by their origins? Join the conversation this week as Paula Santos and I wrestle with this question.

Join me this week for a fun and fact-filled discussion with Matthew Tarr, Director of Digital Architecture at the American Museum of Natural History. Matthew will share his thoughts about digital trends and the strategies he is using to the keep the American Museum nimble in an ever-changing digital landscape.

I am pleased to be talking with Devon Akmon, director of the Arab American National Museum about the importance of building community and the challenges of addressing the needs of both a national and local audience.

As the Senior Director of Integrated Content at the American Alliance of Museums and former president of MCN, Liz Neely has a lot to say about how digital technologies are changing the way museums create and maintain their communities. Listen to this great discussion.

Are museums embarking on a never-ending technology arms race? Must museums implement cutting-edge technologies to remain relevant to our audiences? How can museums sustain a digital presence with ever-dwindling resources? Are these even the right questions to be asking? Join the conversation as Nik Honeysett puts these and other digital issues into the context of innovation, risk and leadership.

As part of our technical series, this week I will be talking with Steve Haas acoustical designer and president of SH Acoustics. Steve will explain why acoustical design is vital to a quality museum experience and share a few examples from his current work. While not every museum professional can be an acoustical expert, Steve will provide helpful vocabulary so that we can all talk with one!

Sometimes I worry that mobile apps are just the next “shiny thing” in the museum tech landscape: Here today and gone tomorrow. But Paul Burke, CEO and co-founder of Guru, has convinced me that a good business model can keep the focus on content, not technology, and still improve a museum’s digital delivery.

Nik Honeysett returns to this show this week to give us an update on the Balboa Park Online Collaborative and his perspectives on technology-inspired transformations that are occurring across the museum sector.

Are we there yet? Join me this week for a fabulous conversation with Carolyn Royston, Director of Digital at the Isabella Steward Gardner Museum, Boston. Carolyn will describe her approach to building a forward- thinking digital strategy and, as the President of the Museum Computer Network (MCN) will share the ways that MCN is supporting the museum of the future.

Carol will share her observations from the Museum Computer Network and MuseumNext conferences.

Imagining America is an organization of publicly engaged artists, designers, scholars and community activists dedicated to the democratic transformation of higher education and civic life. They address issues of social justice, inclusion and community engagement in higher education, issues similar to those faced by the museum community. In fact, Imagining America partners with museums and cultural leadership to create stronger communities. Join me this week as I talk with the faculty co-directors Timothy Eatman and Scott Peters about this inspiring and insightful organization.

Lighting is often the first item to be cut from an exhibition budget, if it was even considered in the first place. But lighting is an essential part of the exhibition experience. Steven Rosen, President and Creative Director of Available Light, will share his expertise on this topic and provide tips on how museums of any size can improve their lighting design.

What can the business community teach the cultural sector about diversity? Stephanie Cunningham, Curator of Education at the African American Museum in Philadelphia will share her thoughts on this topic and discuss her upcoming projects.

Much has been written lately about how museums can become more involved in social justice issues. In fact, the 2015 annual meeting of the American Alliance of Museums will focus on museums as places to present and discuss social and political problems. But how do we engage our audiences in tough subject matter? How do we create experiences that seek to transform, not preach? Join the conversation this week with Ben Garcia as he provides insights into these questions.

From the founding of the Happy Museum Project to the redevelopment of the Silk Mill as Derby’s Museum of Making, Tony Butler will fill us in on his past and present projects.

What do cemeteries and museums have in common? Join the discussion this week as Robin Simonton Executive Director of the Oakwood Cemetery explains the history of cemeteries, their role in community building and the variety of innovative programming that they offer. Robin is just one of the authors featured in Cemetery Tours and Programs by Rachel Wolgemeth available through Routledge Publishers.