This guest post is by Becky Gaugler, an independent Museum Educator in Pittsburgh. In her previous position, Becky managed programs for school and adult groups at Carnegie Museum of Art as an Assistant Curator of Education. A native Pittsburgher, Becky returned to her hometown after coordinating school programs at the Rubin Museum of Art inContinue reading “How can we support local networking among museum educators?”
Category Archives: Museum Administration
Museums and political thought: A follow-up
My two most recent posts have suggested that museums may have techniques at their disposal that help transform thinking, in particular fostering critical thinking and tolerance. Since sharing those posts, I have come across articles and video clips that I think further the argument, and may even help museums train staff. Demonstrations of how to facilitate andContinue reading “Museums and political thought: A follow-up”
How do museums help to create a better world?
Because we live in a culture in which we primarily receive information written and shared by those who think just like us, I have spent the last two weeks immersed in a flood of media that deepens my despair at the world this election has cast us in to. Some day, it will be the jobContinue reading “How do museums help to create a better world?”
What responsibility do museums have for shaping the public’s relationship with facts?
In March I had a conversation with an insightful colleague, Amy Boyle, an educator at the Guggenheim Museum. Amy suggested that open-ended interpretation might be problematic in a climate in which political discourse disregards facts, and candidates and supporters make up their own truths. I’m not sure I’ve captured the challenges and opportunities offered by thisContinue reading “What responsibility do museums have for shaping the public’s relationship with facts?”
What is Museum Disruption?
This post is the result of a conversation with Ethan Angelica from Museum Hack, who is a Tour Guide & also responsible for VIP Partnerships. Ethan Angelica, Tour Guide at Museum Hack [HD] from Museum Hack on Vimeo. My conversations with Ethan from Museum Hack led to a number of questions about how they areContinue reading “What is Museum Disruption?”
What is an “Interpreter in Residence?” Interview with Michael Christiano
Michael Christiano is the Interim Senior Director of Museum Programs at the Smart Museum of Art at the University of Chicago. In this role he develops strategies and programs that reflect on the nature of the Museum’s institutional practice, with a particular focus on education, interpretation, engagement, hospitality, installation strategy, and other key issues. When visiting the SmartContinue reading “What is an “Interpreter in Residence?” Interview with Michael Christiano”
How do you get the word out?
This week, I am thinking about marketing museum programs. Museums generally have a variety of programs to market, often to a range of audiences. And our success varies: At the PlayHouse we have some workshops that are full, and others we have to cancel due to low registration. When I worked at The Noguchi Museum, we had some lecturesContinue reading “How do you get the word out?”
How can museums contribute to dialogue about social justice when we are exemplars of segregation?
At the PlayHouse last weekend we celebrated Eid-al-Fitr — the Muslim holiday marking the end of Ramadan — as part of our Celebrate Peoria series. One visitor approached the manager on duty that day, and asked her if we would be celebrating Christmas. When she told him that we do not have plans to do so, heContinue reading “How can museums contribute to dialogue about social justice when we are exemplars of segregation?”
What did I learn in my first year?
The Peoria PlayHouse Children’s Museum turned one year old last week. Amidst the birthday celebrations and thank you emails, I have been reflecting on the question: What did I learn from my first year as a museum director? What did we learn from the first year of operation of a new museum? I came upContinue reading “What did I learn in my first year?”
How does information help museums build capacity? Interview with Eileen Setti
A few weeks ago, I heard Eileen Setti speak on the topic of capacity building. I was struck by her emphasis on information, and began to wonder about what information we are bringing into museums, and who has access to that information. I asked to interview her in order to pursue this line ofContinue reading “How does information help museums build capacity? Interview with Eileen Setti”
Museum Questions 