Innovation in Exhibits at the Festival of Innovation

Join us on Wednesday 15 January at 3 pm GMT for a panel discussion led by Judith Zissman,executive creative director at Blue Telescope, who will be joined by Malika Pryor,chief learning and engagement officer atthe International African American Museum, and Amanda Mayne,head of partnerships: international touring exhibitions at British Museum.

Our guest speakers will explore how tocreate exhibits that engage with local communities and visitors who have travelled, and how touring exhibitions can be designed for an international market. They will also look at emerging trends within museum exhibits, and share their insights into what the future might hold.

The session will be available on demand for 30 days.

Innovation in Exhibits is part of the Festival of Innovation, a free, online event taking place from 15 to 16 January. The Festival of Innovation invites the international visitor attractions industry to explore the sector's most innovative projects, products and organisations.

Meet the Speakers

Judith Zissman

As executive creative director of Blue Telescope, Judith Zissmanoversees teams of designers and technologists to create digital interactives that tell fascinating stories and foster human connections. Her enthusiasm for inclusivity and diversity drives her to create unforgettable workthat reflects and expresses the human experience.

Zissman combines expertise in experience design, fine art, and narrative strategy, with cross-industry experience in creative problem-solving, client relationship management, and product ideation and strategy. She began her career in independent film production and distribution in New York City, later moving to Silicon Valley to pursue innovation and product development, before returning to experience design at Blue Telescope.

At Blue Telescope, Zissman enjoys tackling challenging or complex subjectswith precision, compassion, and clarity. The company's recent clients include Sloan History Gallery, Kennedy Space Center, Smithsonian's National Air & Space Museum, Sing Sing Prison Museum, and Historic Hudson Valley (Kofi's Fire). Zissman holds an honours degree in Modern Culture and Media from Brown University and volunteers with Tech for Campaigns.

Left to right: Judith Zissman, Malika Pryor,and Amanda Mayne

Malika Pryor

Malika Pryor is chief learning and engagement officer at the International African American Museum and leads programmes that explore the Middle Passage, the African diaspora, and the vital contributions of African Americans to history and the modern world. Her remit includes exhibitions, school programmes, faith-based initiatives, local and national public programmes, and the Center for Family History, a unique research centre focused on African American genealogy.

Following a career in law, Pryor was appointeddirector of education and activities at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in 2010. She then established a boutique non-profit consulting firm that serves growing community-based organisations, with a focus on BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) founders.

Her experience also includes the formation of the communications and education department at the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas, founding the Curlyfest Bahamas Festival, and serving as senior director of educations programs and outreach for the Detroit Historical Society.

Pryor has earned a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Studies and Afro-American and African Studies at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and a Juris Doctorfrom Wayne State University Law School in Detroit.

Amanda Mayne

Amanda Mayne leadspartnershipdevelopment for the British Museum's international touring exhibitions department, which brings the museum's rich collection to audiences all over the world.

The museum holds more than8 million objects and offers a diverse rangeof travelling exhibitions with up to 14 openings per year. These include Egyptian mummies, Rome: city and empire, Italian Renaissance drawings, Ancient Greeks: an age of luxury: the Assyrians to Alexander, and Goddess, which celebrates the strength and diversity of the divine femalein belief throughout the ages.

Mayne moved to the British Museum in 2007 from the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, London. She is the co-chair of the International Committee of Exhibition Exchange (ICEE) and has served on its board since 2016.

The Innovation Awards

Theblooloop Innovation Awardspresented withAREA15 recognise the incredible dynamism, imagination and creativity that drive the attractions sector.

The winnersofthe 2024 Exhibit category will be revealed at this session. Attendees can browse all the entries during the event, and vote for their favourite to win our Public Choice Award.

Register to attendhere.