Open Forum

Museums Can Do More

If our museums are to exceed conventional expectations, we must embrace some basic principles: 1) Center Relevance:  History is not for the dead. Our understanding of the past is always evolving, and the meaning we take from our past informs our understanding of our society today.  2) Embody the Changes We Want to See:  Before we change the world, we have to change our own policies, workplaces, and practices. 3) Value Warmth, Kindness, and Humor:  To support deep community engagement and address complex, even troubling subjects, museum leaders must engage in focused and generous listening, and share a sense of possibility and personal growth.

Sean Kelley is the Principal of Museums Can Do More, a strategic and interpretive planning practice. At Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, Sean oversaw all aspects of the visitor experience for nearly 30 years.  His work was noted for addressing complex contemporary issues, including mass incarceration and racial disparities in the U.S. prison population. Among other innovative practices, he and his team centered the voices of currently and formerly incarcerated individuals in both programming and hiring practices.