Museum 2.0

APRIL 25, 2011

I've seen this line of questioning almost completely disappear in the past two years due to many research studies and reports on the value and rise of participation, but in 2006-7, social media and participatory culture was still seen as nascent (and possibly a passing fad). Yes and no.

Question 49

Question Participatory Museum Evaluation 49

Museum 2.0

SEPTEMBER 7, 2010

Our archeology did not aim to uncover the hidden voice of my grandmother, but instead to begin an ongoing practice of recreation. Over time the movement and arrangement of things trails a layered aesthetic that convey histories and narratives of changing communities passing through this unfolding three-story artwork.

Collaboration 36

Collaboration North Carolina Museum Artist 36

Museum 2.0

MAY 24, 2011

When I worked briefly with the Balboa Park Online Collaborative to conceptualize a mobile phone-based game to connect visitors to the park to its cultural institutions and history, I knew Ken would be the perfect person to make it happen. Lesson: what myths are working for you in your game or participatory project?

Lesson 49

Lesson Game San Diego Design 49

Museum 2.0

APRIL 29, 2015

These are the slides and notes for the talk I gave at the American Alliance of Museums conference on Monday, April 27 about the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History. When I became the director of the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History four years ago, I took this work with me. They talked about community building.

Build 20

Build Community Museum Artist 20

Museum 2.0

JUNE 12, 2012

It made me think in ways that I haven't before about the relation of art--as expressive culture--to democracy. It is multi-disciplinary, incorporates diverse voices from our community, and provides interactive and participatory opportunities for visitor involvement. We've continued to do this for future exhibitions.

Participatory 51

Participatory Museum Blackboard Game 51

Museum 2.0

JULY 20, 2016

I never felt like I stumbled into the gallery where no one else dares to tread (as I often feel when I enter the dioramas in many natural history museums, or the period rooms of art institutions). That work showed in the human voices and stories throughout the museum. All were given value.

Museum 20

Museum Audience Music Arts 20

Museum 2.0

AUGUST 20, 2009

While the majority of experience-based museums like children's and science museums have unrestricted noncommercial photography policies, many collections-based art and history museums continue to maintain highly restrictive photo policies. The cultural and educational value of spreadability deserves weight in decision-making.

Museum 54

Museum Photo Policy Open 54

Museum 2.0

NOVEMBER 5, 2013

We need translators within each cultural context. Our museum in Santa Cruz has been slammed by those who believe participatory experiences have gone too far. We always knew that the inclusion of participatory and community-centered practices in arts institutions was controversial. But we do have ''and.''

Participatory 53

Participatory Museum Arts History 53

Museum 2.0

NOVEMBER 5, 2014

There are many curator and museum director voices in the article, but not a single quote from a visitor who engaged in one of these community projects. I meet them doing research in the archives, collaborating on cultural festivals, and contributing stories to exhibitions. What is the metaphor for participatory arts? The circus?

Journal 54

Journal Participatory Museum Community 54

Museum 2.0

FEBRUARY 23, 2010

Yesterday, I had the delightful opportunity to participate in the 3six5 project , a yearlong participatory project in which 365 people write 365 journal entries for every day of 2010. It showcases diverse voices. The reasons to do so are many, particularly for a history-focused institution.

Participatory 34

Participatory Project Museum Journal 34

Everyaction

OCTOBER 5, 2016

The Digital Media and Learning Conference is meant to be an inclusive, international and annual gathering of scholars and practitioners in the field, focused on fostering interdisciplinary and participatory dialogue and linking theory, empirical study, policy, and practice. It is our turn to make history. General / #NI16 / @netimpact.

Conference 111

Conference Calendar DC Washington 111

Museum 2.0

JUNE 2, 2010

Kathleen McLean (Independent Exhibitions), Dan Spock (Minnesota History Center), and Kris Morrissey (University of Washington) all shared thought-provoking and useful insights on visitor participation in museums, but Mark Allen and Emily Lacy brought down the house with their bluegrass rendering of the Machine Project and its engaging, quirky work.

Slides 22

Slides Museum Los Angeles San Jose 22

Connection Cafe

NOVEMBER 1, 2018

Showing voice. And fast forward to the story now, this is the largest crowd funding campaign in the history of the world. So, talk about Giving Tuesday as an example of new power. I mean, it’s amazing and some of the things that are happening are not about money. They’re about people just showing who they are.

Social 22

Social Game Model Fun 22

Museum 2.0

MAY 15, 2008

We have a show coming up right now about synthetic biology, where engineers are building life forms that are new to existence, new to the history of life. After listening to this clip a few times, I wondered: what if museums dropped the authoritative voice, the cultural voice, the friendly teacher voice, and adopted a novice voice?

Conversation 20

Conversation Arts Museum Voice 20

Museum 2.0

NOVEMBER 25, 2008

I didn't grow up staring open-mouthed at natural history dioramas or wandering through art galleries. There are many parallels between free-choice learning and participatory design. BUT we won't acknowledge their voices and their meaning. They are active and awesome. My story is about radical educational philosophy.

Museum 29

Museum Alternative Education University 29

Museum 2.0

MARCH 6, 2019

While I originally wrote this post to advocate for more participatory practice (i.e. In these conversations, people often say, "don't expert voices matter?" It lets you be the only expert with a voice. Single voices represented on single labels is not scalable. If the museum isn't in control, how can it thrive?

Authoring 44

Authoring Share Museum YouTube 44

Connection Cafe

APRIL 9, 2015

Instead, focus on creating a culture that embraces millennials and engages with constituents on their terms. Find ways to empower your supporters to be the voice of your cause. More than any other event in the history, this campaign gave food for thought to many who were critics of slacktivism and clicktivism.

Fundraising 20

Fundraising Offline Blackbaud Social Media 20