C&G Partners

How do you make an institution that's both a museum and a memorial —?at the same time? ** NEW PODCAST ** Making a Memorial Museum, with Alice Greenwald How are exhibitions like theater? Is a museum a group experience, or a personal one — or is that a trick question? When is it time to trust your gut? Why is collaboration so important? When is a single milk can the most important object in a museum? How can one philosophy inform everyone’s work, from the curators to the team making mounts for the artifacts? How are the principles of making a memorial museum different from other types of museums —?or are they so different after all? Alice M. Greenwald (Principal of Memory Matters LLC, and past President and Chief Executive Officer of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum) joins host Jonathan Alger (Managing Partner, C&G Partners) to discuss “Making a Memorial Museum.” Along the way: spackling, reverence, and what happens when a museum director leaves their office door open. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + HOW TO LISTEN: Search for “Making the Museum” at any podcast service, big or small (Apple, Spotify). Or start here, for episodes and links to everything: makingthemuseum [dot] com (Swap in a real dot. This avoids the external link penalty. Which is a thing.) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Talking Points: 0. What is a Memorial Museum? 1. Start With Authenticity 2. It’s About Storytelling? 3. Museums Are Not Books? 4. Practice Conscientious Listening 5. Trust Your Gut 6. Collaboration is Required About Making the Museum: Making the Museum is hosted (podcast) and written (newsletter) by Jonathan Alger. This podcast is a project of C&G Partners | Design for Culture. Learn about the firm's creative work at: cgpartnersllc [dot] com Discover Making the Museum, the Newsletter: ? Like the show? Try the newsletter. Making the Museum is also a free weekly professional development email for exhibition practitioners, museum leaders, and visitor experience professionals. Join hundreds of your peers with an ad-free quick one-minute read, three times a week. Invest in your career with a diverse, regular feed of planning and design insights, practical tips and tested strategies — including thought-provoking approaches to technology, experience design, visitors, budgeting, content, and project management, to name just a few. (Bonus: newsletter subscribers are the first to hear about new episodes of this podcast.) ? Subscribe here (and unsubscribe at any time): makingthemuseum [dot] com

?? Welcome to HHMI’s Beautiful Biology– a celebration of the hidden beauty in science! We’re excited to share a series of stunning images from the biological world that you rarely get to see. These visuals highlight the fascinating details of cells, spores, and flowers—showing how scientific exploration can reveal awe-inspiring beauty. ?? Porcini’s Prodigious Cousin - A cross-section of a fungus, related to the porcini mushroom, displays a colorful and intriguing world under the microscope. (?? Igor Siwanowicz, HHMI’s Janelia Research Campus) ?? Flowery Beginnings - Stem cells in these clusters will become a flower of the thale-cress plant, capable of transforming into various specialized cells. (?? Arun Sampathkumar, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology; Elliot Meyerowitz, California Institute of Technology) ?? Fire and Ice - A fiery glimpse of a flower’s pistil, with the orange xylem (transporting water from the roots) standing out against the blue surroundings. (?? Jan Martinek, Charles University in Prague) Explore the full collection here: hhmi.org/beautifulbiology

Looking forward to meeting everyone at #mcn2024 today!

We would like to thank our incredible Bronze Level Partners for supporting MCN 2024: C&G Partners, Cogapp, Design for Context | User Experience Design Consulting, and Tessitura. Thanks to the generosity of our Community Partners, we’re able to bring together museum professionals from across the globe next week to exchange ideas and explore new horizons in museum technology.

As I visit museums across the country, I’m continually inspired by the unique ways they tell America’s story, provide impactful programs, and serve as beacons of culture and community for those near and far. ? On October 12, we remember the union of Louis Armstrong and Lucille Wilson, an entertainer and dancer who performed at Harlem’s iconic?venues,?The?Alhambra and?The?Cotton Club.?Their anniversary holds special significance because it?was Lucille who, after their honeymoon, made the pivotal decision to step off the road and purchase a home in Corona, Queens, where they would spend the rest of their lives and become integral members of their neighborhood. ? This home, now the?Louis Armstrong House Museum & Archives, serves as the cornerstone for preserving and promoting Armstrong's cultural, historical, and humanitarian legacy. The museum educates and inspires visitors by showcasing archival materials, offering public programs, and engaging with contemporary artists to foster new creations. In July, the museum earned the prestigious?Institute of Museum and Library Services?(IMLS) National Medal, the nation’s highest honor awarded to libraries and museums for their significant impact on their communities.?The Museum offers programs that speak to Armstrong’s legacy and meet the needs of their community – programs on home ownership,?education, incarceration, public advocacy, and artistic creation. ? I had the pleasure of visiting this gem in August and meeting with Executive Director Regina Bain?and Director of Guest Experiences?Adriana Carrillo Silva (Filstrup)?for a tour. My mother (89) and I were captivated by their passion and the incredible two-decade journey it took to preserve the Armstrongs' house and open the?Louis Armstrong Center. Located across the street from the museum, the Center now houses the world’s largest archive for a jazz musician—60,000 pieces strong—and features a 75-seat venue for performances, lectures, films, and educational programs. On the tour, they shared photos of Louis playing trumpet on his front stoop (yep, that's what we call it in NYC), they mingled with neighbors, and told us stories of the how the Armstrongs shared Louis’ music and their home with their neighborhood. ? Lucille’s vision of homeownership made this all possible. After several attempts to convince Louis to buy a house, Lucille took the leap herself and bought the house with her own money and without Louis’ input.??In March 1943, she bought their home, which Louis came to love, living there until his passing in 1971. ? If you haven't yet, I highly recommend visiting the Louis Armstrong House Museum—a true treasure in Queens.