In the past few years, I have observed an increasing number of museums reinvent themselves as activist museums. Activist museums espouse an explicit agenda and offer visitors concrete ways to create social change. While I am heartened by the trend of activist museums, museums still have a long way to go to gain the trust... Continue Reading →
Have you ever overheard a museum professional make a statement like, “while I know it's important to make sure wheelchair users can get around, the wide aisles really interrupt the flow of the space.” However well-intentioned, statements like these miss the power and importance of making museums welcoming, inclusive, and accessible. At the most recent... Continue Reading →
2018 was a jam-packed year for museums in the windy city! Since I couldn’t see every fabulous exhibit, I reached out to a bunch of Chicago museum professionals and asked them to tell me about their favorite exhibits of 2018. Here’s what they shared: 1. I Was Raised on the Internet at the Museum of... Continue Reading →
Recently, a number of prominent museums have rebranded. From the Metropolitan Museum of Art to the Victoria & Albert, museums are reinventing their public images. But, why are museums choosing to remake themselves? How are they reimagining their brands successfully? On Thursday, the Chicago Museum Exhibitors’ Group (CMEG) met to explore these questions with three... Continue Reading →
On Thursday night, I headed to the Art Institute of Chicago’s pop up bar at the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel, “Dear Carmencita.” The bar is inspired by Sargent’s portrait of Carmen Dauset and is a creative way to get new audiences engaged in the exhibit, “John Singer Sargent & Chicago’s Gilded Age.” The bar will... Continue Reading →
American Perceptionalism 