Special General Session

August 1 at 3:00

Collaboration is Key – Making Columbus a “Museums for All” Hub City

Museums for All is a national, branded access program focused on removing the barriers to visiting museums and cultural centers. In 2020, six Columbus museums made a commitment to come together to become one of a few Museums for All “Hub Cities.” Furthermore, every museum made a pledge to dig deeper to understand the additional barriers that prevent people from visiting museums. After witnessing the record-breaking attendance results of a one-day event funded by the Columbus Foundation called “Big Explore,” Columbus museums recognized that there are many more people to serve and the best way to do that was through collaboration. 

During this year’s conference, we’ll be offering a special general session with a focus on how six organizations – Columbus Museum of Art, COSI, Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, National Veterans Memorial and Museum, Ohio History Center and Ohio Village, and Wexner Center for the Arts at OSU – joined forces to ensure the success of Museums for All in their city. During a talk show style interview moderated by peers from an Indiana museum, find out how the collaboration formed, how they share responsibilities and remain accountable to each other, what they’ve learned from the process, the results they are seeing, and where they hope to see the partnership go from here. This panel discussion will include time for Q&A, and attendees are encouraged to continue the conversation during the afternoon reception immediately following the program.

Moderators:

  • Lindsey C Horan, MPA, CFRE, VP of Community Engagement, Minnetrista Museum & Gardens, Muncie, IN
  • Jennifer Parks-Strack, MPA, Associate Director of Development, Minnetrista Museum & Gardens, Muncie, IN

Panelists:

  • Lauren Emond, Manager for Community Engagement, Columbus Museum of Art
  • Alexandria Ingley Community Engagement Coordinator, Ohio History Connection
  • Ashley Legg, Guest Experience Manager, National Veteran’s Memorial and Museum
  • Amanda McVey, Vice President of Administration & Finance, CFO, COSI: Center of Science and Industry
  • Jenny Pope Director of Community Outreach and Education, Franklin Park Conservatory
  • Erik Pepple, Director of Marketing Content, Wexner Center for the Arts