The American Alliance of Museums will host the 2024 AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo from 16 to 19 May in Baltimore, US. During the event, attendees can connect with and learn from their peers. The agenda includes educational sessions and networking events, as well as hands-on workshops. Meanwhile, the combined MuseumExpo and Museum Store Association trade shows will showcase the latest services, products and solutions.
The 2024 AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo theme is Thriving museums, healthy communities.
“Museums play an essential role in promoting health and well-being,” explains AAM. “For the millions of people who visit museums annually, whether to learn or seek solace and inspiration, our institutions uniquely facilitate social connections, physical and emotional health, and empathy. Research and the medical field are reaffirming that our field’s belief in the healing power of our work is more than wishful thinking.
“As the museum field continues to prioritize well-being as a fundamental value of museums, recognizing the intrinsic link between personal, community, and institutional well-being is crucial.”
The AAM Annual Meeting brings together museums of various shapes and sizes, from zoos and botanic gardens to art and history museums. Over the course of the event, they will be able to exchange ideas and create life-changing connections. It is a space where museum professionals can gain knowledge from one another, form alliances, and leave feeling motivated to change their museums, their communities, and the globe.
Read on to find out more about what to expect from AAM 2024.
Session tracks and an inspiring keynote
The AAM 2024 programming will comprise four tracks that enhance health, well-being, and quality of life for employees, guests, community, or society. These are Personal, Organisational, Community, and Society. Every session will have something to offer everyone, inspiring delegates to increase the impact they can make.
The keynote panel, Wired for the Arts: Revitalizing Society through Museum Engagement, is supported by .art. This session will explore the close relationship between societal health and arts and culture. It will also consider how museums may be effective platforms for this integration.
The AAM 2024 keynote speakers are Renée Fleming, acclaimed singer, five-time Grammy award winner, and arts advocate; Dr Maria Rosario Jackson, chair of the National Endowment for the Arts; and Terri Lee Freeman, executive director of the Reginald F. Lewis Museum. Susan Magsamen will lead the session. She is executive director of the International Arts + Mind Lab, Center for Applied Neuroaesthetics, Pedersen Brain Science Institute at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
AAM 2024: Friday 17 May
The keynote session will occur on day one as part of the opening general session, which begins at 8 a.m. Following this, MuseumExpo will open its doors at 10 a.m. and be available until 5.30 p.m. On the trade show floor, attendees can enjoy a range of Solutions Center presentations, Poster Talks, and NeighborHub meetups.
Concurrent roundtables, sessions, and flash sessions will take place during the day. Highlights from the morning of day one include a session entitled Transformative Experiences in Art Museums Support Flourishing in Medicine. The speakers are Suzy Wolffe, director of tour experiences at the Baltimore Museum of Art; Margaret Chisolm, professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; and Kaitlin Stouffer, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
In a research update session called Breaking News from the Annual Survey of Museum-Goers, attendees can hear from Elizabeth Merritt, VP of strategic foresight and founding director of the Center for the Future of Museums at the American Alliance of Museums and Susie Wilkening, principal at Wilkening Consulting.
Meanwhile, in Activating Museums Through History and Heritage Months Across the US, delegates can hear insights from Michael Glickman, founder and CEO at jMUSE and the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History; Edward Tepporn, executive director of the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation; and Emily August, chief public engagement office at the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History.
Sustainability, rebranding and more
Ian Kerrigan, senior vice president of Exhibitions at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum; Rae Ostman, research professor at Arizona State University; Francesca DuBrock, chief curator at the Anchorage Museum; Stephanie Ratcliffe, executive director of The Wild Center; and Katie Chandler, senior researcher at Kera Collective will speak in Alternative Realities: Shaping Our Collective Climate Future Today.
In the afternoon, Micah Parzen, CEO, and James Haddan, senior director of development and external communications at the Museum of Us will present a session called Thinking of Renaming/Rebranding? A Case Study of the Museum of Us. Elsewhere, Setting a New Bar for Citizen Science, Transforming the Cleveland Museum of Natural History will feature Meenakshi Sharma, senior VP and chief strategy officer and Cleveland Museum of Natural History; Mark Morris, design leader and principal at DLR Group and Josh Gallagher, managing director at G&A.
Natalie Bornstein, senior consultant at Lord Cultural Resources, and Baye Adofo-Wilson will speak during an Empowering Community: A Museum’s Role in Economic Revitalization session. Then, in Entering the Circular Economy: Sustainability that Saves Money, Douglas Flandro, exhibit designer and sustainable design leader at CambridgeSeven and Timothy J. McNeil, director of the UC Davis Design Museum at the University of California, Davis, will share insights.
Other topics covered on day one include placemaking, inclusive design, and staff well-being, as well as impact investment and more.
The CEO/Directors Reception and the Connect Networking Event will also take place in the evening.
AAM 2024: Saturday 18 May
On day two, MuseumExpo will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. In addition, there will be a closing happy hour and networking reception at 4.20 p.m.
The day’s concurrent roundtables, sessions, and flash sessions will cover various subjects. These include prototyping in exhibits, social-emotional learning, F&B and retail that supports the mission, building inclusive cultures, and more. During the morning, there is also a chance to get to know AAM’s new president & CEO, Marilyn Jackson.
Day two agenda highlights include Rematriation of the In’zhúje’waxóbe / Sacred Red Rock. This session features insights from James Pepper Henry, director/CEO of the First Americans Museum; Sydney Brooke Pursel, curator for public practice at the University of Kansas Spencer Museum of Art; Diane Lochner, vice president at PGAV Destinations; and Thomas C. Owen, vice president at PGAV Destinations.
Attendees can also hear from Laurel Humble, head of creative ageing and lifelong learning at the High Museum of Art, and Jeanine Ancelet, principal at Audience Focus, in Dispatches from the High: A 3-Year Investigation into Older Adult Audiences. Later in the morning, Lieven Bertels, segment marketing manager for themed entertainment at Barco will speak during Barco Immersive Experience presents the future in Museum Visualization.
Meanwhile, Creating New Models – Digital Shared Stewardship and Making Emerging Technology Accessible will feature speakers from the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino, Melissa A. Carrillo, director of new media and technology; Lola Ramirez, digital media exhibition manager; Jose Ralat Reyes, digital media manager; and Sarah Elston, registrar. They will also be joined by Ashley Grady, senior program specialist at the Smithsonian Institution.
Future trends
AJ Goehle, CEO and principal at Luci Creative; Nicolle Figueroa Rosado, manager of education and strategy at the Big Break Foundation; Rachel Ferrante, executive director at Maine MILL; and Cynthia Brown, principal at Museum EXP, will speak during Inclusion by Design: Collaborative Planning with DEAI at the Center.
In the afternoon, a session called Design for Change: Exhibits That Do More will include thoughts from Douglas Simpson and Paul Herbert, associate principals at Cambridge Seven Associates, Inc.; and Shelley Kobrenski, director of interactive media at RLMG. They will be joined by Shannon Perich, curator of history of photography at Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.
Elizabeth Merritt will also present the annual TrendsWatch session, giving delegates a glimpse into the future. Later, in Algorithms & Artifacts: Deciphering AI’s Role in Museums, attendees can hear from Jack Ludde; Nik Honeysett, chief executive officer at Balboa Park Online Collaborative; Uma Nair, management and strategy consultant at The Strategic Museum; Jonathan Munar, arts team at Bloomberg Philanthropies and Jessica Herczeg Konecny.
Imagine Exhibitions, Inc. will present A Block Party: New Traveling Exhibitions with LEGO® Bricks – Imagine Exhibitions & Science North Collaboration.
A series of ticketed experiential workshops will also take place in the evening.
AAM 2024: Sunday 19 May
Day three includes several concurrent workshops and industry sessions. Topics covered include tools for civic learning, professional wellness, LGBTQ+ programming, community archiving, and more.
Highlights include Climate Resilience Resources for Cultural Organizations and Communities. This features insights from Stephanie Shapiro, co-founder and managing director of Environment and Culture Partners, as well as José Ortiz, archives director at the Sila M. Calderon Foundation.
In Not the F Word You Know: Embracing Failure to Move Forward, delegates can hear from Jacqueline Eyl, chief program officer at KID Museum; Annalise Phillips, managing director of programs and learning innovation at KID Museum; Cat Scharon, senior manager of research and evaluation at KID Museum; and Adam Maltese, professor of science education at Indiana University.
Finally, in the evening, delegates can celebrate the event’s conclusion at the ticketed AAM 2024 party. They will be able to join with peers, new connections, and colleagues for dancing, music, food, drinks, and more.
See also: Highlights from the AAM Annual Meeting 2023
Meet the suppliers
BECK Interiors Ltd.
BECK Interiors Ltd., a leading restoration and refurbishment fit-out specialist, is heading to Baltimore for AAM 2024. The firm is eager to engage with old and new friends during this welcomed opportunity to nurture international relationships and explore new opportunities.
Sarah Charley Lee, business development executive, will attend. She is keen to explore the latest developments in the museums and culture sector on the opposite side of the Atlantic. BECK Interiors Ltd. has a strong history in the United States. Museum directors Mark Banham, Chris Lawrenson and Dalbir Chana have been heavily involved in previous AAM attendance. This year, while celebrating the 30th anniversary, they are excited to further their knowledge, with Charley Lee’s presence playing a pertinent part in the ongoing engagement.
To book a meeting at the show, attendees can get in touch via email.
Electrosonic – booth #4313
Electrosonic, a leading international audiovisual and technology services company, will be attending AAM 2024. This year, the firm is celebrating 60 years of audiovisual innovation.
During the event, delegates can take a break and recharge with a complimentary coffee, courtesy of Electrosonic and Trivium Interactive, at Trivium Interactive Booth #4313. While there, they can network with the team of experts to discuss the latest advances in media and experiential technology.
Those wishing to arrange a meeting with one of Electrosonic’s experts to unleash their creativity in building next-generation museum experiences can email Chris Johnson, VP of sales and strategic partnerships.
Electrosonic is renowned for creating award-winning museums and visitor experiences. Recent projects include View Boston, Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame, Jodrell Bank, and the Mascot Hall of Fame.
Experiential Media Group (E/M Group) – booth #4619
Experiential Media Group (E/M Group), an industry leader in creating travelling exhibitions and experiences, will attend AAM 2024.
Attendees can learn more about the TITANIC: The Artifact Exhibition where the story of the Titanic is told through authentic stories from real people. It features over 200 artefacts and full-scale room re-creations. The exhibition opened in Brussels on 15 March and opened at Ohio’s Center for Science and Industry (COSI) on 9 March for a 6-month run.
Meetings can be booked with Gautam Chandna, director of business development via email.
Exhibits Development Group & culturenut – booth #4825
Exhibits Development Group (EDG), a global leader in travelling exhibitions, and culturenut, a marketplace where cultural institutions can buy, sell and exchange idle assets, will also be exhibiting.
During MuseumExpo, ADG will launch its newest exhibition, Death by Natural Causes. This was created in partnership with the Houston Museum of Natural Science. It has also announced that it will offer a new Mineral exhibition called Masterworks of the Mineral Kingdom. Again, this is in partnership with the Houston Museum of Natural Science.
Other new offerings include SAMURAI: Sunrise, Sunset. EDG has teamed up with long-time creative partners Contemporanea Progetti of Florence to bring this important international tour to reality. Its soonest availability is May 2025. EDG is also offering Colors of Rome. This is an exhibition from Centrale Montemartini in Rome, marking the first international showcase of Roman mosaics.
Attendees can meet Amy Seitz, CEO and founder; Carrie O’Keefe, director of business development; and Dennis Wint, EDG board member.
Guide ID – booth #3513
Guide-ID, the audio tour specialist, will present the Podcatcher Pro, the world’s smartest audio guide, at AAM 2024.
“Here is an invitation to dwell in sound, to let narratives unfold, to feel the pulse of artistry through the whispers of audio,” says the firm. “And there’s more. Our platform marries AI, a daring dance of technology and intuition. Thrilling? Indeed. But it’s the depth of connection it fosters that truly captivates.”
Last year, we spoke to founder and CEO Frits Polman to learn more about Guide-ID’s journey so far, its mission to make content as accessible as possible. He also spoke about what the new Podcatcher Pro can offer.
Meetings can be booked with sales director Jeff Danziger and COO Johan Romkes via email.
Imagine Exhibitions – booth #5022
Imagine Exhibitions, a leader in worldwide travelling exhibitions and entertainment, invites attendees at AAM 2024 to learn about its new exhibitions, Brick Planet, Brick Masters Studio, Ice Dinosaurs, and Food: Science, Culture, and Cuisine.
The company’s presentation, A Sean Kenney Block Party: New Traveling Exhibitions with LEGO® Bricks—An Imagine Exhibitions & Science North Collaboration, will take place on Saturday, 18 May, from 3:30 to 4 p.m. at the Solutions Theatre. This will include insights from acclaimed artist Sean Kenney, renowned for his groundbreaking LEGO brick creations spanning nearly two decades. He will be joined by Amy Henson, senior scientist at Science North.
This year, Imagine Exhibitions commemorates 15 years of leading the way in delivering awe-inspiring and educational experiences to global audiences. Producing more than 56 unique exhibitions in the last 15 years, Imagine Exhibitions has toured shows to over 354 venues across 193 cities and over 55 countries in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. It has reached over 26 million visitors worldwide.
Visitors at the Imagine Exhibitions booth can explore the company’s diverse portfolio of 40+ travelling exhibitions. These range from 5,000 to 25,000 square feet, with options tailored to every mission, venue, and budget.
Lord Cultural Resources – booth #5413
Lord Cultural Resources, the global cultural professional practice, will be present at MuseumExpo. The team will also speak in several sessions at AAM 2024.
On Friday, from 3:50 to 4:15 p.m., Natalie Bornstein will speak during a session called Empowering Community: A Museum’s Role in Economic Revitalization. Then, on Sunday, from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m., Gail Lord will share insights in a panel entitled Toward a More Human Museum: Trust and Well-being for Staff and Visitors.
Team members will also participate in book signings at the bookstore during the event. On Friday from 10:30 to 11 a.m., Brad King will sign copies of New Directions in University Museums. Gail Lord will sign the Manual of Museum Management for Museums in Dynamic Change on Saturday from 11 to 11:30 a.m.
The Manual of Museum Management for Museums in Dynamic Change, the third edition of the classic, is an exciting guide in a time of sweeping changes. Renowned museum planner and Lord president and co-founder Gail Dexter Lord applies her international experience to create this comprehensive and detailed guide to the tools and strategies needed to address today’s issues and opportunities successfully.
Luci Creative – booth #4513
Luci Creative, a full-service museum design studio and creator of dynamic experiences for civic, cultural, and corporate organisations with offices in Chicago, Boston, and Seattle, will again showcase its expertise at this year’s AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo.
CEO and principal AJ Goehle will moderate the session, Inclusion by Design: Collaborative Planning with DEAI at the Center. This will take place on Saturday 18 May at 11:30 a.m. It promises a deep dive into the transformative integration of Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEAI) principles into museum projects, challenging conventional exhibit planning norms by prioritising DEAI from inception.
Attendees can discover Luci Creative’s latest exhibits and upcoming projects at the booth. They can also connect with team members AJ Goehle, David Whitemyer, Morgan Bury, Rachel K. Strack, and Sarah Ingraham. To schedule time, contact Whitemyer via email.
Mad Systems – booth #4913
Mad Systems Inc., the award-winning audiovisual and interactive system designer and integrator, is returning to the AAM Annual Meeting and MuseumExpo. Here, the team will be on hand to chat about subjects ranging from the design and implementation of traditional AV systems to its latest AV++ innovations with this year’s attendees.
The company’s journey of blending creativity with cutting-edge technology has led to
groundbreaking new solutions. These include QuickSilver, an AV system that can be implemented as a wired or wireless solution; patent-pending Alice, an AI-based tool for hyper-personalisation of media delivery from a curated Body Of Knowledge; and patented Lory, a tour guide system that uses visitor’s own smart devices to deliver audio, sign language, subtitles or other information for ADA and multi/lingual support.
The team will reconnect with industry colleagues, make new connections, and discuss how Mad Systems’ unique technology and comprehensive services can transform creative concepts into reality. Attendees can drop by the booth to connect with the team or book a meeting via email.
Museum Studio
Abby Coombs, co-MD head of creative services, and Georgia Ropek, senior bid manager, from Museum Studio will attend AAM 2024. Museum Studio is an international group that includes Event, one of the UK’s most acclaimed design and advisory firms for the cultural sector, which has delivered over 350 international projects since its founding in 1986, and DPM, which provides project management services for museums and cultural sectors worldwide.
Event, a global experience and exhibition design agency, recently announced that three projects it has worked on have been shortlisted for this year’s Museum + Heritage Awards. These include Oman Across Ages, which is up for International Exhibition of the Year. The Carl Nielsen Museum and The Book of Kells Experience at Trinity College in Dublin are both shortlisted for Best Use of Digital International.
Attendees can email Coombs and Ropek to book a meeting. They will be looking to meet potential clients, collaborators, and partners during the event.
National Geographic – booth #4822
National Geographic, a leading creator of documentaries, live events, experiences, and travelling exhibitions, will also exhibit at AAM 2024. The team will showcase new exhibitions, including Root for Nature. This is an immersive experience produced and travelled by OASIS Immersion in collaboration with National Geographic.
It also has openings for the award-winning exhibition Becoming Jane beginning in autumn 2025. Attendees can pick up National Geographic’s catalogue of photo+ shows, immersive experiences, and large-scale interactive exhibitions. These are available for booking in the US and internationally.
They can also visit the booth for more information on National Geographic LIVE. This renowned touring explorer series features acclaimed speakers who transport audiences through captivating tales, breathtaking imagery and unparalleled expertise. It is designed to ignite a passion for exploration that resonates long after the final applause.
Cynthia Doumbia, senior director of business development (distribution – exhibitions and immersive products); Alexa Fedynsky, manager of international traveling exhibitions; Owen Guard, business development representative; and Diana Tan, booking manager for National Geographic LIVE, will be at the booth.
Roto – booth #5014
Roto, a leading planning & design-build firm, will return to this year’s AAM Annual Meeting to showcase its latest work created for iconic institutions like the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, Kaleideum, Orlando Science Center, Kentucky Science Center, and more.
Since 2004, Roto has been a leader in creating genuine human connections in the built environment through nature, play, creativity, multisensory immersion, and more. This year, as part of its 20th anniversary, Roto is not just celebrating milestones. It is also setting the stage for the next era of experience design.
Delegates who want to discuss their own projects can schedule a meeting at the booth.
Maurice Twomey, CFO; Dana Russell, VP of marketing and business development; Jeff Pecchio, VP of production; Meg Dunfee, principal; Rachel Escusa, marketing director; Sarah Lima, project director; Mary Noxon, senior exhibit designer; and Samantha Rubino, associate producer, will all be in attendance.
