Kyle Sammy

As creative director at The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Kyle Sammy has built a reputation for highly engaging social media series that eschew traditional museum approaches.

This Detroit museum is dedicated to exploring and celebrating the rich cultural heritage of African Americans, and welcomes hundreds of thousands of guests each year.

Spanning 125,000 square feet, the attraction offers both permanent and temporary exhibitions, alongside a programme of learning, engagement and research initiatives for all ages.

Sammy’s approach extends this work to social media, with content that ranges from sitcom-style mini-series to conversational and game-show-style interviews that reflect the city's culture and perspectives.

These blend humour, authentic workplace dynamics, and mission-driven storytelling to reach audiences locally and internationally.

Sammy is committed to developing people and fostering a collaborative culture, and the museum’s campaigns reflect the storytelling talent within its learning and engagement teams.

“Kyle's work demonstrates that museums can be places of scholarship, joy, humor, and authentic community connection all at once,” says one nominator.

“By empowering colleagues, mentoring emerging professionals, and reshaping how audiences engage with cultural institutions, he has become a leader whose influence extends well beyond a single museum.

“His work is helping define the future of museum storytelling.”