Representatives from the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago’s media, editorial, learning, and curatorial departments shared their expertise on how the museum is changing the way contemporary art is viewed in order to cater for a more diverse audience. Chief among these efforts has been the ‘bilingual initiative’ – a plan to make the MCA a fully bilingual institution. Those speaking were Carla Acevedo-Yates (Marilyn and Larry Fields Curator), Cecilia Gonzalez Godino (Curatorial Fellow), Mayra Cecilia Palafox (Manager of Learning and Bilingual Programs), Antonio Diaz-Oliva (one of the museum’s ..read more

Yolande Sep, founder of Design to Thrive and Retail Consultant for the likes of Museon-Omniversum and Naturalis Biodiversity Centre shares her expertise on how museums can maximise their shop potential with sustainability in mind. With more than 25 years’ experience in retail, Yolande is an economist & foresight researcher, advising several museums in the Netherlands on how to ensure their giftshops thrive. Her work helps cultural institutions develop a healthy, business model and mission-driven products. She believes in connecting with nature and the power of the collective, bringing peo ..read more

Deep K Kailey, Cultural Narrator and Artistic Director of Without Shape Without Form, discusses the importance of bringing people together in an individualistic age, and the vital role art has to play. Through a workshop entitled “The Power of Connection”, Without Shape, Without Form is putting necessary connections in place – inspired by contemporary Sikh knowledge that shines a light on mind wellbeing. First introduced as an art exhibition in 2016, Without Shape Without Form is the UK’s leading spiritual art space dedicated to mind wellbeing. It embodies the values of (un)learning and creat ..read more

Erin Dragotto, Vice President of Development & Operations for the Museum of Art + Light (MoA+L), shares her expertise on how museums can stay relevant in the modern age. Between societal expectations, digital technology, and sustainability efforts, museums are undergoing an immense period of change, and the right decision-making can shape an organisation’s future. With more than 20 years of experience working in museums and non-profits, Erin knows that successful museums can never stand still. The MoA+L was conceived as the first museum in the world to showcase immersive experie ..read more

Rowena Fry, Advertising Consultant at Crafted, shares her advice for museums looking to grow their audiences in the digital age. By testing and trialling new engagement channels and not simply falling back on traditional marketing methods, museums can stay relevant in a world where there’s never been so much competition for attention. Crafted offers digital marketing solutions for arts, culture, and attractions brands across the UK and abroad. It delivers a powerful mix of digital specialists to prioritise audience growth, ticket sales, and maximum engagement for a range of arts clients. As p ..read more

Culture plays a pivotal role in shaping a city’s identity, as UNESCO defines it as a crucial element in social progress. Developing culture is not a way to solve challenges but rather a means to create a “space where individuals can express, explore and re-imagine complex and difficult issues.” Increasingly, the interdependent relationship between culture and urban space is recognised. Within a city’s landscape, cultural infrastructure like museums, theatres, and galleries form integral elements that cater to the creative and cultural sectors. Museums, in particular, offer a distinctive opport ..read more

It’s almost four years since a standard was approved for a Level 7 Curator apprenticeship in the UK, this means a group of industry professionals wrote and got approved what this qualification should contain and is ready for delivery by training providers including Universities. We spent many months staring at the webpage, wondering how to design something that could make a real impact. What is an apprenticeship? The UK government brought these in as new vocational qualifications where you work and study at the same time, and they pay 95% or 100% of the fees. They go from Level 1 (GCSE equiva ..read more

Over the past twenty years, museums have increasingly embraced branding as they fight for attention in a competitive visitor economy. But having a strong museum brand is not only part of a marketing strategy. It underpins everything that a museum does and helps to define the visitor experience from first to the last touch. Branding a museum can seem overwhelming, so it’s good to have an understanding of the basics before you get started. In this article, we will go through the core components, as well as the marketing tactics you need to consider when developing your museum brand. Below, we s ..read more

Prologue at the entrance area / Copyright Museum für Kommunikation Berlin, Yves Sucksdorff   Katja Weber, founder of freelance network, Reflekt, shares the work that she has undertaken with KLIMA_X – an exhibition about communicating the climate crisis in Frankfurt and Berlin. As a curator, sociologist, process facilitator and cultural scientist, she tells MuseumNext how this interactive tour has been shaped to help people explore their feelings in the face of the climate crisis. KLIMA_X – an exhibition on communicating the climate crisis was first displayed at the Museum für Kommunika ..read more

Founder of Climate Museum UK, Bridget McKenzie, outlines how this new organisation is working to build skills and engage audiences with environmental issues. Climate Museum UK is a new experimental museum founded by a collective of creatives including Bridget McKenzie, Justine Boussard, Victoria Burns, Clemence Aycard and others. Based around the concept that a climate museum can be anywhere, the team involved are distributed around the UK, with a diverse range of collections all aimed at opening imaginations to possible futures. The team organise “activations” with local partners to help com ..read more