Community Engagement & Impact

How Culturally Specific Museums Are Revolutionizing Visitor Expectations

Permalink: https://www.eventscribe.com/2019/AAMers/fsPopup.asp?mode=presInfo&PresentationID=490121

Since the opening of the Smithsonian’s National Museum for African American History and Culture in 2016, culturally specific museums are recognizing a change in visitor expectations. Gone are the “Drano” visitors that zip through exhibitions; visitors are now reading every line of text, engaging with every activity, and sitting through entire films. How is this new museum changing visitors, and what is the impact on community engagement, interpretation, and operations? Analyze these questions with perspectives from state government systems, museums, and consultants.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn how visitor expectations of culturally specific museums have changed since NMAAHC’s opening.
• Understand ways to capitalize on these changes.
• Develop a deeper knowledge of how to effectively meet and exceed community expectations.

Moderator(s)

• 

  Joy Bailey-Bryant

  Vice President
  Lord Cultural Resources

Presenter(s)

• MG

  Marion Gill

  Associate Director of Special Projects
  Princeton University
• 

  Angela Thorpe

  Acting Director
  North Carolina African American Heritage Commission
• BT

  Brenda Tindal

  Director of Education and Engagement
  International African American Museum