The American Alliance of Museums (AAM) will hold the Future of Museums Summit online from 29 – 30 October 2024. The organisation is now hosting an open call for proposals for sessions examining the themes of this year’s TrendsWatch report, including culture wars, decarbonising the future, advances in artificial intelligence, and combating loneliness.
Culture wars 2.0
“Pressure is building along fault lines that segment communities, funders, policymakers, and museums’ own staffs, boards, and volunteers,” says Elizabeth Merritt, vice president of strategic foresight at AAM and founding director of the Center for the Future of Museums. “How can museums defuse this tension before it causes more damage? What choices do they face in avoiding or engaging in the current conflict, and how will these choices shape the future of museums and society?”
Proposals could address how legislation and social media/press criticism of DEI influence museums, how they affect operations, and how to prevent or respond to these pressures. They could also explore how to have fruitful, courteous conversations about controversial themes in museums and the community, how to prepare staff for organised protests, and emerging laws that may affect museum content, policy, and operations.
AI Adolescence
“In the past decade, artificial intelligence (AI) has leapt from the realm of science fiction and tech culture into our everyday lives,” says Merritt. Most recently, generative AI is disrupting the work of creators, upending education, and performing key tasks in white-collar work. Some feel AI poses an existential threat to humanity—others forecast that it will quickly retreat into specific, narrow applications.
“What is AI, is the hype justified, and how can museums make informed judgements about this or any other emerging technology? What are the practical applications and implications for museums in the short and long term?”
Proposals are invited on topics such as museum AI policies and ethics frameworks, lessons from working with AI-powered text and image generators, and the creation of programmes to help the public comprehend AI.
Decarbonising the future
“The climate crisis poses an overwhelming threat to museums, the communities museums serve, and the material legacy of all humans have accomplished,” adds Merritt. “Museums’ collections constitute a vast seedbank of human civilization, creativity, and accomplishments. Protecting those seeds will entail a commitment to decarbonizing the future—replacing our dependence on fossil fuels with sustainable systems.
“How can museums decarbonize their own operations? How can they inspire people to take meaningful action in response to the climate crisis, even as they prepare to live in a profoundly disrupted future??”
Proposals for sessions around this topic could include monitoring and managing carbon emissions and establishing climate-friendly policies, imagining “degrowth”, and developing and sharing climate-reduction tools for museums.
Combatting the loneliness crisis
In May 2023, Dr. Vivek Murthy released Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community. These advisories address “significant health challenges that require the nation’s immediate awareness and action.” The research also suggested that cultural organisations could help address this problem.
Proposals are welcomed from museums that are creating loneliness-fighting programmes, collaborating with other community groups to expand support networks, and raising awareness of loneliness and mental health.
Submit proposals
Each virtual session is one hour long, and time for audience Q&A is recommended, with no more than three presenters in each session.
To create a good proposal, those submitting are encouraged to read TrendsWatch: Navigating a Volatile Future for additional information about the conference themes and to check their idea against these crucial questions: Does this expand on this year’s TrendsWatch themes, challenge its conclusions, or raise provocative questions? Does the proposal show how museums are addressing a trend? Does it offer specific solutions for other museums to address these issues?
The call for proposals closes on 12 July. To submit a proposal, please click here. More details about this year’s event, including keynote speakers, are yet to be announced.
Earlier this year, AAM announced that Marilyn Jackson had been appointed president and CEO following an extensive national search.
