May/June 2024
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Wellbeing Journeys
This issue brings you an in-depth look into many of the topic explorations that were taking place at the 2024 AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo in May. Preview the issue for insights on personal, organizational, and societal wellbeing which were the crux of the 2024 annual meeting theme, Thriving Museums, Healthy Communities.
In this issue:
From the President
The Curious Life
“As we delve into the intersection of museums, health, and wellbeing—the central focus of this year’s AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo and this magazine issue—it’s essential to consider how we can amplify this impact within our communities. We must find novel ways to welcome people into our spaces and then show them that we’re trustworthy and have something to offer. And as you contemplate how you can turn your museum into a community hub… I hope you will tap into the experience and wisdom of your museum peers. Just as we are stronger in our personal lives when connected to our communities, we are stronger as a field when we work together, rooting for each other’s success.”
» Read the full introduction to the issue. This is the first address to Museum readers from AAM’s new President and CEO, Marilyn Jackson, in which she shares about her previous work and early experiences with museums!
Striking a Balance
FEATURE
by Nisha Gulati, Mirella Rangel, and Kim Ondreck Carim
The Oakland Museum of California has changed its financial decision-making to prioritize social cohesion.
Partnering for Community Healing and Change
FEATURE
by Xoe Fiss and Patty Bode
Museums can play a role in destigmatizing addiction disorder.
Creating Restorative Moments
FEATURE
by Lauren Carroll-Bolger
Woodland Park Zoo’s Hope & Healing offers uplifting community experiences for people facing life-altering challenges.
Supporting Those Who Give Care
FEATURE
by Susan Witmer Wolffe and Margaret S. Chisolm
The Baltimore Museum of Art has partnered with the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine to better prepare medical students.
Probing Grief
FEATURE
by Callie Hawkins and Rob DeHart
Historic house museums can connect their physical spaces with personal experiences, including grief.
Designing a Watershed Experience
FEATURE
by Miriam Valle-Mancilla and Marissa Kucheck
With its exhibition on water, the Ontario
Museum of History & Art aims to educate
and empower its community and address
its wellbeing.
The Museum and the Mind
POINT OF VIEW
by Susan Magsamen
The field of neuroarts is documenting how the arts and aesthetic experiences measurably change the body, brain, and behavior.
May/June 2024 issue
By the Numbers:
Thriving Museums, Healthy Communities
The Annual Survey of Museum-Goers asked visitors how museums affect their health and wellbeing. Here are some highlights:
3 out of 5
think museums should share multiple viewpoints so visitors can consider perspectives other than their own. Explore »
9 out of 10
think museums help them feel more connected to others, more specifically: Half feel more connected to those from different cultures. Half feel more connected to nature, including the animals that inhabit our planet. Explore »
60%
think all museums support emotional wellbeing. Explore »
69%
think museums provide intellectual stimulation and support cognitive health. Explore »
» Explore more Data Stories from the Annual Survey of Museum-Goers.
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Stay tuned!
July/August 2024 – Polarization
September/October 2024 – Leadership
November/December 2024 – DEAI, article pitches due July 8, 2024
» Explore the Editorial Calendar for potential topics under each theme.
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