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 ™
Writing for the JME
Writing as part of your regular museum educator practice: a call to make use of Susan’s Spero’s “Resources for Museum Writing” from the Journal of Museum Education issue 48.1: Words Matter. As members of the Museum Education Roundtable board and museum educators, we (Dr. Alexandra Morris and Wade Berger) are avid writers; we have written numerous grant proposals, articles, interpretive … Read More
A Poet, Wayfinding
As a complement to JME 48.1 Words Matter, we are pleased to share this blog post. Part of our commitment to making the Journal of Museum Education accessible is to provide free access to one article per issue, supported by our partnership with our publisher Taylor & Francis. For the JME issue 48.1, Words Matter, our board selected the article … Read More
Activist Pedagogies in Museum Studies and Practice
As a complement to JME 47.4 Activist Pedagogies in Museum Studies and Practice, we are pleased to share this blog post. Dictionary.com describes lifelong learning as, “the provision or use of both formal and informal learning opportunities throughout people’s lives in order to foster the continuous development and improvement of the knowledge and skills needed for employment and personal fulfillment.”[1] … Read More
Collaborations: Notes from the Field
As a complement to JME 47.3 Collaborations: Notes from the Field, we are pleased to share this blog post by the guest editors Auni Gelles, Beth Maloney, Alexandra F. Morris, and Wade Berger. The Covid-19 pandemic led to a rethinking of society, and has also led to new partnerships which otherwise may have never occurred. This was reflected both inside … Read More
Dime que me ves: Facilitating bilingual programs for the community
“When museums include diverse voices and perspectives, they will attract new visitors who had previously felt disconnected, intimidated, or confused. The inclusion of LatinX voices, perspectives, and opinions validates our cultural importance, creates a different mindset about culture and values, and invites different ways of seeing and understanding,” (Strategies for Engaging and Representing Latinos in Museums, 2021, p.23) I immigrated … Read More
CreatiVets Veteran Art Program in Partnership with the Dallas Museum of Art
Not only is Texas the second-largest state, it is also home to the second-largest veteran community in the country. As of 2018, more than 1.5 million veterans live in Texas, with approximately a quarter residing in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The transition to civilian life can be difficult, especially for those coping with service-related trauma. Artistic expression is particularly effective … Read More
Towards Museum Inclusion: Reflections from Exploratorium STARS internship program
“A STARS Program Was Born” By Sal Bell Alper (they/them) In 2020, while the Exploratorium was closed I was faced with the question of how to expand the equity focus of our museum education work without visitors or exhibits. This led me to ask questions about what was really needed and what was possible at the time. Eventually I focused … Read More
Social Media, Facilitation, and Rapid Response Collecting: Queer Appalachia’s Approach to Activism and Community Building
Introduction Bryn Kelly was a good artist. Her pieces appeared in the New Museum as well as several galleries and other art institutions. Unfortunately, she was never adequately compensated for this work, which factored into financial hardship. Bryn’s situation was further compounded by being an HIV-positive transwoman. In 2016, she died from suicide. The project Queer Appalachia began as a … Read More