This space was created by the Museum Education Roundtable to expand upon the most recent Journal of Museum Education (JME) issue, reflect on member events, and address timely issues that we face in the field of museum work. Read about how to write for our blog here.
Knowledge in Action ™
MER Responds: November 3, 2020
The Museum Education Roundtable (MER) Board of Directors believes in the importance of democracy, the ongoing work of building a healthy and equitable society, and the responsibility of all cultural organizations–including museums–to strengthen civic participation and public engagement. While international in scope, many MER members, contributors, and Board Members live and work in the United States, and are actively engaged … Read More
Museum Book Clubs
The latest Journal of Museum Education, Beyond the Cult of the Author: The Literary Museum Today, focuses on museums that are connected to literature and authors. Articles in the journal examine the ways in which these types of museums are using innovative programming to engage audiences in deep discussions. In conjunction with JME 45.3, we have created a list of … Read More
MER’S THIRD ANNUAL EXCELLENCE IN WRITING AWARDS
The Museum Education Roundtable (MER) is proud to announce the 2019 recipients of the annual Awards for Writing Excellence for the Journal of Museum Education: Carissa DiCindio, Bryan L. Davis, Ariel Goldberg, Jessica J. Luke, Eileen D. Tomczuk, Susan Foutz, Nicole Rivera, Lisa Brahms, Kari Ross Nelson, Barbara Hahn, Melissa Swank and Kimberly McKenney. Authors Jessica J. Luke, Eileen D. … Read More
Working together to advance accessibility
Over the past year, MER and Taylor & Francis, the publisher of the Journal of Museum Education (JME) and a number of other journals from the heritage sector, have worked to make our organizations, products, and services more accessible for people with disabilities. Our shared product, the JME, has served as a catalyst for us to collaborate on these efforts. … Read More
How Many Calls to Accessibility Action Do We Need?
“…they will not feel welcome if they discover that their basic needs have been overlooked.” “In all projects we worked with handicapped people, so that we would meet their needs and their wishes.” “Merely hiring an interpreter does not resolve all barrier problems.” “…get acquainted with the local handicapped community and agencies which serve it by forming an advisory committee.” … Read More
MER Responds
The Museum Education Roundtable stands alongside those protesting violence against Black people in Minneapolis and around the country. Museum educators are bridges to and producers of cultural knowledge. We care for our communities intellectually but also emotionally, socially, and physically. As such, we have a responsibility to address structural injustice, oppression, racism, and abuses of power. Museums are not neutral, … Read More
Dear Museums Week #5: Missing You
Welcome to the fifth week of #DearMuseums. This initiative seeks to document and share stories about how this global crisis is affecting people and their work as museum educators. With each week that passes, we notice that the emotions grow more complex. This week’s post takes a look at the many moods and layers to the feeling of longing. Entry … Read More
#DearMuseums Week 4: Inequity
Are these times really that “unprecedented”? For too long, people of color have been disproportionately affected during crises. The power and privilege that is inherent in museum leadership must be used to center equity or we risk setting back the inclusive efforts within the field. These two entries–one image and one open letter– are powerful reminders of the inequity in … Read More