“Testing…Testing… Is this thing on?” Learn from the hosts of Unbound: A Collection of Indiana Stories, a podcast from the Indiana Historical Society, about their podcasting journey and the steps you should consider for starting your own.

Museum funding is at an especially turbulent time. Registrars are expected to stretch budgets further. This session will speak directly to those museum professionals that handle loans and acquisitions by covering what art shippers do, when it is appropriate to use an art shipper, and suggesting ideas for reducing cost.

There are numerous ways AI applications integrate themselves into workflows and content development at museums. From the helpful and harmless applications, to the bold and transformative, this session will discuss real-world examples of the good, the bad, and the scary of incorporating AI at your museum.

This panel discussion helps museum directors and CEOs continue their professional growth by exploring advanced leadership development opportunities, emerging trends and technologies, and strategies for ongoing learning. Experts will provide practical tools and insights to help directors refine their leadership skills, innovate, and ensure long-term success for their institutions.

Let’s re-learn our ABC’s!
A: Why do some people feel they have “A”ccess?
B: How do we make museums places for others to feel they “B”elong?
C: Should we create “C”ommunity content?
We’ll deep-dive into practical applications! Bring ideas & stories of access, a sense of belonging, and inclusion.

Discover how hands-on, play-based learning in museums nurtures children’s cognitive, social, and emotional growth. Learn from experts across science, history, and art museums as they share interactive strategies that foster critical thinking, empathy, and resilience. Don’t miss this opportunity to transform your approach to engaging young learners!

Preparing for a new project can be daunting, but with the right strategy and internal preparation, your museum can set the stage for success. This engaging panel brings together a seasoned museum professional and an exhibit design expert to share practical insights, lessons learned, and proven approaches to ensure your project runs smoothly from concept to completion. Attendees will gain a roadmap for aligning stakeholder goals, assembling a team of staff and contractors, managing budgets and timelines, and avoiding common pitfalls—all while keeping mission and visitor experience at the forefront. Whether you’re embarking on a new building, a major renovation, or an exhibit overhaul, this session will equip you with the tools to start strong and finish even stronger.

Join the Detroit Institute of Arts and SmithGroup to explore the challenges, opportunities, and processes associated with leveraging infrastructure upgrades to modernize storage and gallery spaces of a works-on-paper collection. The presentation will address environmental control considerations, strategic energy conservation measures, and design opportunities and solutions.

Navigating Collaborative Exhibit Development tackles the intricacies of creating meaningful exhibits today. This session provides tangible resources for working with varied communities and stakeholders; creating easy to use documents to guide planning, writing, and oversight; and creatively addressing design, budget, and schedule constraints that embrace varied perspectives, goals, and outcomes.