Now, I'm coming at this from a unique vantage point, because I'm not a museum. I'm an independent contractor brought in as the answer to the problem. I feel like museums often have trouble imagining different kinds of programs that reach people who don't normally come to museums, or people who think of museums as a tourist destination, not a Third Space within their own community. To successfully become a Third Space, you have to be a safe place to play. Museums can have trouble seeing themselves having a relationship to play.
Playing is a lot easier than you think. When Museums lean into the current enthusiasm for Cosplay, and Bridgerton, and Outlander, and so many other popular historical programs, and bring me in to call a historical ball, people will drive from a 100-mile radius to have the opportunity to play dressup, knowing that when they get to the event, they get to DO something. They get to play. People in the local community discover there's a neat art/history/science museum in their backyard, and they need to come back. After a successful event, a museum needs to learn from this success, and repeat it. That's the easy part.
Jeanette Watts
History is My Playground
www.DancingThruHistory.com
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Jeanette Watts
Dance Historian
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Original Message:
Sent: 01-13-2025 01:33 PM
From: Rachel Alschuler
Subject: What are some of the main problems museums face in connecting to the community?
Dear All
What are some of the main problems museums face in connecting to the community? I wonder because I know that each museum does it differently. I look forward to the responses.
Thanks,
Rachel
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Rachel Alschuler
Museum Education/ Visitor Experience
San Francisco CA
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