Anne Richardson

Anne Richardson, Exploratorium ’s chief experience officer, has been with the institution since 2003. In her current role, she focuses on research, development, and production strategies for content across Pier 15 and global museums.

San Francisco’s iconic Exploratorium is a global leader in science education. For more than five decades, it has captured guests’ attention with its innovative approach to learning, blending the disciplines of science and art to encourage exploration and discovery.

At its core, the Exploratorium’s mission is focused on democratising access to learning. Through hands-on experiences, it promotes curiosity and fosters a deep understanding of the world.

Talking to blooloop in 2024 about what brought her to Exploratorium, she said:

“I was attracted to the Exploratorium’s pedagogy and how it feels to be a learner here. It emphasises the visitor’s journey in making sense of real things based on their own observations and questions. I was also attracted to how the Exploratorium blends art and science; that felt like a unique approach."

This seamless blending of art and science is one of the Exploratorium's defining characteristics. The institution views artists and scientists as inquirers—professionals seeking to understand the world by exploring and creating new knowledge. This interdisciplinary approach is at the heart of many of the museum’s exhibits and programmes.

In her time at Exploratorium, Richardson has also led global collaborations, from developing new institutions like the Kiewit Luminarium in Omaha, Nebraska, to the SESI Lab in Brasília, Brazil. Rather than replicating the San Francisco model, these partnerships allow the museum to help shape institutions that reflect local needs and cultures while maintaining the Exploratorium’s ethos of hands-on, inquiry-based learning.