Connection Cafe

OCTOBER 19, 2015

After jumping in, you swam across the short length of the hole (about 10 yards), and emerge, wet and freezing, only to get to race through temps in the teens to try to warm up in a lukewarm hot tub. Here are 3 arts and cultural organizations that have given crowd fundraising a go for compelling causes: National Air & Space Museum.

Arts 20

Arts Wisconsin Los Angeles Denver 20

Museum 2.0

MARCH 27, 2009

This week, the Denver Art Museum (DAM) opened a new temporary exhibition called The Psychedelic Experience , featuring rock posters from San Francisco in the heyday of Bill Graham and electric kool-aid. It’s a thrilling challenge to the traditional form of art museum exhibit design, and better yet, visitors like it.

Denver 21

Denver Museum Arts Remix 21

Museum 2.0

JULY 26, 2010

Art spaces masquerading as laundromats and letterpresses. In the past, I've highlighted a few--like 826 Valencia and the Denver Community Museum --that I think have already influenced the way many traditional cultural organization do business. Want some waffles with your art? Skill-sharing free schools.

Culture 49

Culture Alternative St. Louis Los Angeles 49

Museum 2.0

AUGUST 3, 2009

We're always happy for more bodies in the door, but if supporting teens means alienating seniors, there's a problem. The article references connecting with young people via social media, at-risk youth via exhibit co-creation, and urban creatives via public art installations. Imagine what a big museum could do with a little space.

Community 22

Community Museum San Diego San Francisco 22

Museum 2.0

AUGUST 25, 2009

There was a wonderful example at the Ontario Science Center in their Hot Zone area, which features several voting and commenting kiosks popular with teens. There was one kiosk in particular that was drawing several inappropriate comments, until it was moved from a corner into an open space close to the entrance to the women's bathroom.

Design 31

Design Goal Difference Platform 31

Museum 2.0

MAY 5, 2009

Adam Lerner shared the story of Superheroes , a storefront in downtown Denver operated by a web designer who wanted to invite people to use his space to hang out, read magazines, and make things via letterpress. She made the clear point that teens use social networks to connect with people they already know, not to meet strangers.

Slides 20

Slides Participatory Museum Children 20

Museum 2.0

FEBRUARY 24, 2011

I was talking this week with Mark Allen, the founder of Machine Project (an alternative arts space in LA), about different models for community engagement in cultural institutions. For example, consider two independent arts organizations in Los Angeles -- Machine Project and The Public School.

Voice 42

Voice Los Angeles Denver Museum 42