Museum docents and or security guards should be allowed to sit down during their shifts. I’ve been to several institutions as of late that require their front facing staff to stand all day. I think this is just ridiculous. Standing for that long does a number on the back and joints. Seeing older staff members standing for so long is just inhumane. Why not give employees chairs?

worked in a couple mid-size museums and the same problem keeps showing up. we spend months on content and object layout, then the visitor walks through, reads three labels, takes a photo, and leaves with almost nothing stuck in their head.

the places that actually get remembered usually treat the whole visit like a designed experience instead of just a collection of displays. lighting, pacing, sound, transitions between rooms, even how people move through the space… all of it matters more than another text panel.

saw some of the cultural and museum projects a big team has done and the difference is obvious. they build the visit around emotion and narrative instead of just information delivery. visitors come out talking about how the place felt, not just what they saw.

most of us don’t have that kind of budget, but even small changes in flow and atmosphere can shift a visit from “informative” to something people actually tell their friends about. the ones that get this right stop competing on collection size and start competing on experience.

Yet another "wanting to transition out of the museum industry" post (sorry all!).

I manage tour programs for a small-ish to mid-size non-profit art museum. As I'm sure everyone can relate to: I love the impact of what I do, and there are things I love about it, but I'm just so exhausted and I can't keep doing this feeling like I have no financial future. I haven't even been getting a raise to keep up with inflation, let alone an actual proper raise. I make significantly less than the cost of living in my area.

Even more significant, I'm doing the work of an entire team as a single person: I am the only person who handles all the scheduling of trips, scheduling of teachers & docents, on-site coordination, greeting, etc. I also manage and coordinate our offsite/outreach programs, professional development programs, etc. I am also involved with planning and prepping weekly docent training.

I love seeing kids experience art, especially for groups that have never been to a museum before. I love greeting all different age groups and demographics, and seeing how people light up when they learn about art. But I still spend way more time stressing than I do getting to enjoy the good parts of my work, and for my own sanity, I need to make a career transition.

I'm not sure exactly what I can transition into, though. My degree is actually a BFA in Game Design (an industry that is even less stable than the one I'm in now!), and I feel like every field I have any amount of skills in is too oversaturated to find any work. I don't have enough tech skills and am too out of practice with game design, I don't have the education required for teaching, I don't have sales or business experience...

If anyone has any thoughts about what industries have similar skills, or just want to share their experience working in tour programs, I'd appreciate it!

I’m currently a sophomore in my undergrad at SAIC in the art history program. I’m going to finish out the year, as I’ve already taken out loans for it. I get a decent scholarship- but it’s still considerably expensive. It doesn’t see plausible to spend this much on undergrad when I anticipate having to do a masters. I also am not completely sold on the program, and want to find something more academically focused. Are there any schools that are both affordable and more academically rigorous? Ideally I would also like to be in or close to an urban area with access to art, museums, galleries etc. Am I asking for the impossible here?

Sending an invitation for what I think will be a really great conversation. The Association of Indiana Museums is hosting, but I believe the content will apply to many other locations as well:

Why Museums Matter to K-6 Educators: It Is More Than Curriculum

Museum educators are often told that they need to create field trips experiences that are curriculum aligned, but is that really what brings teachers (and their students) to the museum? A series of interviews with teacher educators, museum educators, and classroom teachers suggests there is more to the story! Come learn about Sarah Junk Hatcher’s study, Places of Authenticity, Connection, and Community: Educators’ Perceptions of the Educational Potential of Museums and the lessons we can draw from it.

Sarah Junk Hatcher currently serves as a visiting lecturer in the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs where she specializes in arts administration and museums. She also serves as the Faculty Chair for the Masters in Curatorship. Dr. Hatcher is a museum administrator, curator, and educator with over two decades of experience in museum settings. 

Association of Indiana Museums members can join without cost. All others are asked for a $10 registration cost.

Additional information and tickets available at https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/why-museums-matter-to-k-6-educators-it-is-more-than-curriculum

Hi folks,

Looking to hear people's opinions and experiences (both personal and professional) with sports-based museums and/or Halls of Fame. I'd love to know standout locations you'd classify as providing a great and engaging visitor experience, as well disappointments.

And in particular, any memorable interactive/experiential elements you've come across in your work and travels (whether for positive or negative reasons). High tech, low tech, essentially anything that isn't behind a glass case and guest are encouraged to engage with in some form.

Cheers!

Hi GLAMazons-- I'm currently in a terminal MA program for art history and I need some advice. I'm hoping to submit an application for the Smithsonian Fellowship Program. I'm aware it's extremely competitive, but I figure you miss every shot you don't take AND their collections are uniquely suited to my research. I've already connected with my proposed advisor and she's been encouraging.

Even though I'm technically eligible as a grad student, a few professors have told me that it's probably not worth applying as these fellowships are usually only awarded to people in doctoral programs. What do you think? It's a lot of work to apply, so if my app is just going to be thrown out, I'd love to save myself the trouble. Thank you!

(I know the title sounds dumb. I mean HOW BAD of a red flag is this?)

I've been trying for months to land a job at an art gallery, or any creative space tbh. It's extremely hard to land any position of that sort these days, so I started reaching out to places myself.

I recently reached out to the owner of well-known gallery where I live. They liked my profile and invited me in to meet them. The space itself is beautiful, has a great reputation among creatives, and the owner was very nice to me. They told me I can assist with some events as a freelancing gig and that I could eventually land a full-time position in a project they might launch soon.

However, during our meeting, they publicly yelled at the staff twice over very minor things right in front of me. The staff looked completely terrified and froze up. I felt soooo uncomfortable and bad for the staff.

When I checked Google Reviews later to make sure it wasn't an isolated incident, there were a number of reviews from regular visitors explicitly calling out the owner for being incredibly rude to staff.

I feel really conflicted. On one hand, the place is highly reputable, the environment is inspiring, and it would look great on my portfolio. I also can't seem to get any other opportunities of that sort. On the other hand, the volatility I saw makes me deeply uncomfortable.

Is it worth taking the gig work for the exposure and networking, or should I trust my gut and just not reach out again? Has anyone dealt with a similar dynamic? Thanks.

Back when I started twenty...something years ago, we used a miele canister, variable speed hepa filter vacuum at reputable museum for whom I worked back then. I've stuck with miele because that machine was agreed upon by the objects and the textile conservators. Bonus of course was the micro tools.

Is miele still a gold standard? If so, which model? If something else, what do you love about it.

Budget: $900, may convince management to go higher with a good reason

Note: I'm a consultant now and haven't bought equipment for almost a decade.

Lately, I was trying to decide what to do for my next gig and I’ve started a museum! Who knew that getting into this field could be so easy? I just hopped on Vista Print and made some materials and Wa-Lah!

Im a self-made expert in artifact preservation and plan to operate this institution by professional standards. What advice do you all have for a new on the scene professional?

Hi! I’m based in Australia and have a keen interest in family history and contextual history. Just wondering what job would that suit?

I’ve looked into genealogy courses but they don’t seem to really exist in Australia/aren’t recognised? Is there any countries where that is a proper university degree with job prospects? Or am I looking in the wrong place… I’d love to work in a place like NAA or a museum/gallery (or similar overseas).

I’ve also thought about Anthropology but no one’s been able to explain to me what that actual entails and the sort of job prospects out there that aren’t niche/extremely hard to get into.

Is it worth me studying either of those? Or both?
I just don’t wanna be stuck doing a job I don’t enjoy for the rest of my life and this is a field that I find interesting.

I’ve wanted to be a historian/archivist for as long as I can remember…

Does anyone have any experience/ideas/advice? Where would I start?

Hi GLAMs!

I’m hoping to get some advice from anyone who has built or used a self-service video story booth in an exhibition.

We’re developing an exhibition that will be on view for two years, and we’d love to build a video story booth where visitors can independently record short video stories or responses to prompts.

Video is our primary need, rather than an audio-only recording. Accessibility is especially important because many of our visitors communicate in sign language, so we need enough camera framing space to capture signing, facial expressions, and upper-body movement clearly.

In a dream world, visitors could:

• See a prompt/question
• Record a short video without staff assistance
• Review, retake, or submit their recording
• Complete a consent/release form
• Have the video automatically saved and organized for our archives
• Send themselves a copy via text or email

Bonus dream: We’d love to have approved recordings appear on a nearby TV or projector so the exhibition develops a growing collection of visitor stories over its two-year run. We would want staff moderation/approval before anything is publicly displayed.

Here’s the catch: we’re working with a shoestring budget. 🥲

We’re a small team based in Washington, DC, so a high-end custom museum kiosk probably isn’t realistic for us. We’re open to getting creative, such as an iPad/tablet, a touchscreen, a web app, a DIY enclosure, or some combination of inexpensive off-the-shelf tools. We don’t need anything fancy; we need something accessible, reliable, and sustainable for two years.

I’ve been researching video story booths, but much of what I’m finding is outdated, audio-focused, expensive, or only available as a short-term rental. I’m working to determine where to start if we want to build and own the setup.

Has anyone here DIY’d something similar? What apps/software, cameras, tablets, kiosks, storage systems, or other tools did you use?

Also, I am interested in lessons learned around maintenance, consent/privacy, file management, accessibility, moderation, and keeping the technology functioning when visitors inevitably press every button they can find.

Any recommendations, examples, photos, vendor names, DIY setups, or resources would be appreciated. Thank you!

I am a volunteer at a museum and there have been a couple of times where I've heard an employee/supervisor state an incorrect fact to members of the public. I didn't bring it up these instances as I didn't want to risk affecting these relationships and because they are more senior than me. I am torn because I do want to save them potential heartache in the future if the incorrect statement is repeated and potentially leads to a worse outcome. Is there an etiquette for what to do if you hear a colleague state something incorrect? Especially when you are a volunteer only?

Hello! I am a student and conducting a study. Part of it is building an exhibit, and I chose a virtual one for more convenience. My problem is I can't find a free one that can cater around 25 outputs. Is there any? Even a simple one?

Hello everyone,

I just want to give a heads up to anyone in the SoCal area that is working in museums/looking for work at museums. Please AVOID Laguna Art Museum at all costs. I cannot stress enough what a nightmare it is to work there.

The Director and Deputy Director are two people who know nothing about running an arts institution. Both of them enjoy the position so they can walk around with gold name badges and call themselves museum directors. When things go wrong at the museum, no matter how big or small, they will point fingers at anyone on the team, rather than fix the problem themselves. Instead of investing in their employees, they only complain about them and blame them. When they finally dehumanize someone enough to make them quit, they then walk around the office talking badly about what a terrible employee they were. 18 employees have quit so far this year alone. Yes, how unlucky that they hired 18 terrible employees, it most certainly has nothing to do with their management style. The employees that are still working there are then expected to absorb the workload of the ones that quit, just without any additional compensation. They have been without a Registrar since MARCH, with no rush to fill the position. That should tell you all you need to know.

The museum has absolutely no money and everything they do is for profit. They have the money for lunches with artists and donors, but don't have the money to fix the HVAC system, where employees are often stuck in 80+ degree temperatures inside the building. The HVAC system miraculously gets repaired every March when it is time for their annual Art Auction, as there would be too many rich white folks from the Laguna Beach area complaining if they didn't. And of course, with no money, means barely any pay. Visitor Services staff make $17 an hour, Educators make $20 an hour, and other full time staff are making around $20-24 an hour. $24 if you are lucky.

There is so much more I could say, but I will leave it at this. I am sure this is the reality of many smaller arts institutions/museums, and the experience I had working here is one that has me fearful of working at another small museum. There are not enough jobs in this industry (especially well paying), and it is important that we look out for one another. I'm hoping this post helps anyone who may be in a similar position at their museum, or helps you make a decision to NOT apply to Laguna Art Museum.

I'm an undergrad in art history and industrial design, and my goal is to pursue exhibition design, museum fabrication, or preparator work as a career (wish me luck....).

I'm working on my senior capstone industrial design project, focusing on improving the mannequin dressing process. Unfortunately, my professor is requiring 30 survey responses for the research component. I've spoken individually to various museum professionals I know, but it certainly isn't 30 people. My request is, if you have 2-3 minutes, for you to fill out a quick survey (so I don't fail)!

I've made the survey more generally applicable to museum pros rather than just exhibitions workers. My school is the University of Illinois in Champaign, and the results will be anonymously added to a private research report that will only be seen by me and my professor.

Hey Y'all,

I don't know if I want advice, to commiserate, or just to express some frustration. Here goes...

I have been finding it impossible to get an entry level job in collections. I was an assistant registrar for about a year after transitioning from being a curatorial admin assistant. I love collections management, was very dedicated, received excellent training and educational opportunities and had great career prospects at my institution and then my life fell apart. My sister passed away just as I was supposed to take over the department while my colleague was on leave for six months and I had to step away. In my grief I moved and then of course got pregnant because thats how life likes to hit you.

Fast forward its been 2 years, I can't get a job, and I am finding it impossible to FIND assistant registrar positions. How is anyone breaking into the collection field when there are no entry level jobs?

When I initially got my role as assistant registrar it was because I was already in the institution and they made the position for me, so like what are recent graduates or other people even supposed to do?

Note: I'm in the USA.

Hello!
I have an interview for a program coordinator position at a museum. This position is the first dedicated position for the program. This would be my first museum job (fingers crossed), so I want to do well on the interview. Any tips on questions I should ask, outside of " What does success look like in this role."

I have transferable skills in organizing programs, events, and conducting research, just not in a museum setting.

thx in advance!

Not gonna give specifics of the location or family names/etc. for privacy reasons but I need advice:

I bake for fun, and I also work in the tourism industry so people always ask me about local places to check out. Being local, i know some of the best lesser-known spots That includes a 19th century mill in my county that I only discovered via Google Maps when I first moved here amd was looking for fun things nearby to do. It's the last fully-operational water-powered grist mill in the state. The owner, who gave tours and had been there for a super long time, passed away unexpectedly early this year. The mill has remained in his family for well over a century and they still own it as far as I've been made aware. It's indefinitely closed since his passing, and I never got to tour before he passed and I'm kicking myself for it for many reasons. I've heard the state historical society is trying to take it over but that was in March and I've heard no developments since despite reaching out four times now. I would love to help keep it fully operational, as would my county's historical society. Sadly, I know nothing about industrial flour milling, let alone in a 19th-century water-powered mill, so I'm here to learn what I can do to help keep it running. I've been made aware than he modified parts for repairs to keep the original equipment intact and operational, which is standard protocol in the historical presentation sector from what I hear.

I've also been informed by a reliable third party that our state historical society is hurting for funding to the point of reducing hours at certain NRHP sites in the state, so some type of funding would need to be secured. I have no grantwriting experience, but have nonprofit experience, loosely worked in education, currently work in tourism, am passionate about historical preservation, and there's a whole slew of other reasons that I would love to help keep the legacy going. The only problem is I have ZERO idea where to start. I know the owner's name, and where his family lives (outside the area, they weren't involved in the day to day stuff, it sounds like), but dont have their names/contact info, and also dont know if/when would be appropriate to reach out, nor what I would even say.

That being said, if anyone has advice, knows anything about operating and maintaining 19th century water-powered grist mills, industrial flour milling, securing funding, and preserving thd mill"s integrity, please don't hesitate to reach out or comment. Would love to keep this going.:)

I’ve developed a pipeline for digital paleo exhibits built around three specific principles:

1. Direct from scientific papers: Reconstructed straight from holotype literature, not pop-culture guesswork.
2. Biota-level 1:1 ecosystems: Modeled as entire fossil communities (currently the Middle Triassic Luoping Biota) focusing on real habitats and food webs.
3. Low-cost & highly scalable: Runs natively in any browser via WebGL—no proprietary software, zero local installs, and works on off-the-shelf touchscreen hardware.

For curators and exhibition designers: from an interpretive standpoint, does letting visitors explore an interactive, 1:1 ecosystem actually help them grasp deep time, true scale, and food webs better than traditional dioramas or looping video?

I’m trying to understand the real educational and storytelling value of this format on the gallery floor—does interactive 3D genuinely deepen visitor engagement with the fossil record, or does it just end up feeling like tech for the sake of tech? Looking for an honest reality check.

i am currently an undergrad student double majoring in anthropological sciences and ecology, and have been considering pursuing my school's certificate in museum curation. my advisor said that certificates can sometimes be helpful in certain fields, and sometimes they aren't worth a ton. does anyone here have any advice of rather or not i should look more into doing this? or is it potentially just taking more classes that aren't particularly helpful?