AAM is pleased to announce the winners of the 2012 Brooking Paper Competition on Creativity in Museums, which honors ideas that produce new ways of thinking within many aspects of the museum field.

Funding was provided through the generosity of Dolores Brooking, retired professor of arts administration at California State University, Dominguez Hills, and former director of education at the Spencer Museum of Art at the University of Kansas.

This year's judges were: Katherine French, director, Danforth Museum of Art, Framingham, Mass.; Dennis Kois, director, DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park, Lincoln, Mass.; and Susannah Cassedy O'Donnell, managing editor, Museum magazine.

Following are the winning essays and comments from the judges.

First Prize Winner:

David Beach, director, GreenCityBlueLake Institute, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, for "PNC SmartHome: An Inspirational Exhibit of Extreme Energy Efficiency and Carbon Reduction"

Judges' comments: "Beach's exploration of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History's ambitious and entrepreneurial project to address climate change proved that museums can take on challenging and complex issues. In addition to having a great idea, CMNH took risks. There was no guarantee that they could actually realize the project. The potential of failure was great and would be very public. Not only did they commit to finding a suitable lot on which their SmartHome could be built, they also had to work with architects to come up with a design, get permits and approval from the local government, and raise the money to build it. CMHH should be applauded for publicly tackling a problem that some find insurmountable."

Honorable Mentions:

Merilee Mostov, assistant director of education for visitor engagement, Columbus Museum of Art, for "Get Your Game on at CMA!"

Judges' comments: "Here is an excellent example of an institution that has turned the philosophy of the participatory museum into reality. The concept of 'connectors' has apparently been very successful in engaging visitors with the experience of being at the museum and looking at art. In this way, the works of art on display are no longer remote objects to be observed and considered, but things that relate directly to visitors' lives. This should serve as inspiration to museums concerned about engaging their community and growing their visitorship."

Amanda A. Ohlke, adult education director, International Spy Museum, Washington, D.C., for "Developing the Spy in the City Game at the International Spy Museum"

Judges' comments: "With only 25,000 feet of exhibition space, the International Spy Museum found an ingenious way to turn the entire city of Washington, D.C., into a museum. Use of hand-held gadgets to conduct the spy games was not mere gimmickry. Instead, espionage tools forced participants to experience surveillance and data-gathering for themselves. By using actual cases, both historical and current, the museum managed to teach the history of spycraft in a unique and engaging way."