Museum EXP

Do you work for a museum that is looking for the latest and greatest in traveling exhibitions? Join us for the TREX Traveling Exhibition Forum & Awards on May 7th from 6:00-9:00PM at the GRAMMY Museum. Evening will consist of 25 traveling exhibit presentations, networking, and drinks! Special thanks to our traveling exhibits community for making this FREE event possible! Presenting sponsor: Imagine Bar sponsor: Semmel Exhibitions Supporting sponsors: Exhibition Hub, The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, Ripley Entertainment, Flying Fish https://lnkd.in/gixiaG2T

?? This is your call to action! ?? Please contact your elected official to voice your support of museums, libraries, and cultural centers. You can do so via this link: https://lnkd.in/e8RaueEY The Executive Order, "Continuing the Reduction of Federal Bureaucracy," issued on March 14th, proposing the dismantling of seven agencies, including the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), has raised significant concerns within the museum community and elsewhere. For years, IMLS grants have been instrumental in enabling museums of all types to deliver impactful programs, exhibits, and services to children and families nationwide. While we understand and support the goal of government efficiency, the potential loss of IMLS funding would be devastating to these organizations and communities. IMLS serves as a critical lifeline for our sector, not only supporting initiatives that enrich communities and promote learning, but also funding vital research that drives improved programs and practices within our field. The numbers are clear: ? Museums directly support 726,000 jobs and contribute $50 billion to the U.S. economy annually. ? They generate $12 billion in tax revenue, boosting both local and national economies. ? 76% of all leisure travelers participate in cultural activities like visiting museums, spending 60% more than other travelers.

The Executive Order, "Continuing the Reduction of Federal Bureaucracy," issued on March 14th, proposing the dismantling of seven agencies, including the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), has raised significant concerns within the museum community and elsewhere. For years, IMLS grants have been instrumental in enabling children's museums, Association of Children's Museums (ACM) members, and museums of all types to deliver impactful programs, exhibits, and services to children and families nationwide. While we understand and support the goal of government efficiency, the potential loss of IMLS funding would be devastating. IMLS serves as a critical lifeline for our sector, not only supporting initiatives that enrich communities and promote learning, but also funding vital research that drives improved programs and practices within our field. We are actively collaborating with colleagues across the museum field and other affected sectors to develop a coordinated and strategic response. This is not a moment for panic, but a call for focused action. We are committed to advocating for the preservation of essential support that our institutions rely upon. Stay tuned for updates as we work to ensure the continued vitality of our museums and the children, families, and the communities they serve. #IMLS #Museums #Advocacy #Children #ChildrensMuseums

Cynthia Brown is fresh off a benchmarking trip to Washington D.C. with new friends and clients. There is palpable uncertainty on the Mall, but amid it all, there are amazing conversations about connecting with communities, reflecting our visitors through museum experiences, and providing relevant entry points to history. These are the glimmers that shine bright. In true Cynthia fashion, she packed in a number of experiences over two days for active discussion, comparison, and reflection. As museum planners, we find benchmarking an integral part of our process. By visiting these experiences together, we can open doors to new possibilities, level-set expectations, establish a shared vocabulary, and gain a better understanding of what our clients envision for their museum or exhibition. This trip included: ARTECHOUSE D.C. Planet Word - Thank you Brittany (Britt) Oates! ?? National Museum of the American Indian International Spy Museum - Thank you Lauren vonBechmann! ?? United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Smithsonian National Museum of American History Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture The People's House: A White House Experience - Thank you Amanda Scherer! ??

The 2025 Building Museums Symposiums was nothing short of awesome. Cynthia Brown and John Shaw left St. Louis inspired and thankful for the opportunity to spend time with our museum friends. Ooooh and we saw a #ProudMuseumPerson shirt out in the wild. Museum EXP is proud to support this initiative and the Association of Midwest Museums. Information about the 2025 Exhibits Professional Fellowship will be released soon—and you can support this program via our online impact store: https://lnkd.in/gpWjmc9Z

We're thrilled for our friends at COSI - Center of Science and Industry! Five years and counting! Your team and the Columbus community are incredible—and we are so honored to work with this inspiring organization. ??

Cynthia Brown and John Shaw are attending the Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums Building Museums Symposium in St. Louis next week. Let's connect and talk museums! Schedule some time here: https://lnkd.in/gwFYT6UP or shoot Cynthia a message to connect.

Beep! Beep! New project coming through! What better way to jump into a master site plan than with a golf cart tour?! ?? We're thrilled to collaborate closely with the Conservancy of Southwest Florida hand-in-hand with our friends at Main Street Design, Inc.

Our Museum EXP team hit the ground running as we rang in 2025. We are so thankful for our museum friends as we celebrate awesome collaborations and meaningful work—we're definitely feeling the love! Join us and spread some museum love with a fun game of BINGO. Share a selfie with your 'BINGO' for a special prize!??? Check out what is in the works at Museum EXP and nab your own museum BINGO card here: https://lnkd.in/ggR5ZQWZ

?? BIG NEWS! ?? We have added a new star to our constellation—and we couldn't be more excited to welcome Laura Geake to the Museum EXP team. Laura's first museum experience was an overnight with her Girl Scout troop at the Science Center of Iowa. After being appointed captain of a "space shuttle" and safely landing back on earth, Laura discovered that learning could be fun in ways she never imagined. An internship “just for fun” in the education department at the Discovery Center Museum in Rockford, IL squarely ruined her for any other career possibilities. She was a museum person. While Laura's job title supported education departments, her "I can help" attitude added skills in staff management, DEI initiatives, community partner collaboration, museum education workshop facilitation, face-in-the-hole enthusiast, exhibition installation—and even carpentry. Her Bachelor of Science in Child, Adult, and Family Services offers a unique lens into visitor experience and creating museum experiences in collaboration with communities and partnerships. Laura holds a Master of Arts in Museum Studies focusing on education and visitor experience from Johns Hopkins University. She has held management positions at the Science Center of Iowa (full circle moment!), Iowa Children's Museum, and Science Museum of Minnesota prior to joining the team. Laura sees her role in museums as infusing fun and relevancy into management of programs, projects and staff. As an Exhibition Project Coordinator, Laura will support the many projects Museum EXP has percolating. #museumwork #museumlife #museumfriendsarethebestfriends #museums #museumexhibition #exhibitiondesign #museum #experiencedesign #museumplanning