Source: The Museum Leadership Pipeline
Museum’s Audio Guide Informs Visitors How Much More They Getting Out Of Experience Than Others
Actually From The Onion
Vol 50 Issue 44. November 3, 2014
CHICAGO—In addition to providing background and analysis of the artwork on display, the audio guide for the Surrealists exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago reminded visitors this week how much richer of an experience they were receiving than was everyone else, sources confirmed. “Dali was heavily influenced by Freud’s The Interpretation Of Dreams and often wrote down his dreams in a notebook, a fact that those passing through this exhibit without an audio guide are woefully unaware of,” the recording reportedly said before inviting listeners to turn their attention to a nearby Marcel Duchamp work whose nuances would “only truly be understood” by those listening to the prerecorded narration. “And if you look to your left, you will notice a number of attendees who are appreciating Yves Tanguy’s The Rapidity Of Sleep far less than you are…
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Chicago election delays Obama library decision
We’ll have to wait another month before we find out about the Obama Library.
How To View Critics Telling You How to View Art in a Museum
The blind fingerless art critic
by Flickr user Shareheads
CC-BY 2.0
I have a confession to make: art critics baffle me. Especially when they venture to make grand pronouncements about the right way to go about experiencing art in museums. So when I saw the title of Philip Kennicott’s piece in the Washington Post, titled “How to view art: Be dead serious about it, but don’t expect too much” I will confess that I died a little bit inside. “Sigh. Another ‘you people are doing it all wrong’ piece.” Just what the world needs, another art critic holding forth on the sad state of museums and museumgoing. But, though there is plenty of sneering, there’s also a lot worthy of discussion. And debate. Kennicott’s post didn’t stand alone too long before Jillian Steinhauer posted a reply at Hyperallergic, and Jen Olencziak a rebuttal at Huffington Post. So, let’s take a…
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In a 22nd-Century Museum
I’m just happy that in this rendition of the 22nd Century, there are still humans in a space having a shared experience comparing objects from different time periods and perspectives. Glass is half-full, right?
Celebrating 5 Years at Cincinnati Museum Center
I know it is hard to believe, but today is my five-year anniversary (work-iversary, work-anniversary, whatever) at Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal. In the last five years I have been apart of some of the most amazing blockbuster exhibits ever traveled. I’ve been knee-deep in Gold, lived in an underwater archaeologist’s dream with Cleopatra and relived the final hours of Pompeii. I’ve stood in awe at one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of all time – the Dead Sea Scrolls and celebrated the life of Princess Diana.
When I started five years ago, I had 65% of a bachelor’s degree completed and Union Terminal had been just approved to go onto the fall ballot for an operating levy for the upkeep of Union Terminal. I had just moved to Cincinnati and did not fully comprehend the importance and magnitude of the building. My how we have come full circle. Not only have I completed my Bachelor of Arts in History, but am 60% done with a Master of Arts in Museum Studies with a target completion date of May 2015, and Hamilton County Commissioners again voted to allow us to be on the ballot this fall, but this time for the full restoration of Union Terminal.
I am blessed to have terrific colleagues and a team that is relentless, passionate and fun, and am proud to call Union Terminal my home. I would not have gotten here without the support (before and after moving to Cincinnati) that I have gotten from many of my friends from the Indiana State Museum. Everyone I have met in my museum career thus far has taught me something that I will remember forever.
Thank you!
M
The Museum Advertising Model
Mad Museums? Yes. We are definitely this cool
There are few things in this world as simple and pure as museum advertising. The standard museum ad quickly gets to the heart of what a museum has to offer. The basic outline of many such ads looks like this:
Come to the museum for our self-guided or daily guided tours, experience one of our special events, and spend time with our art, history, and/or science.
This exciting formula touches people viscerally by showcasing the wonderful experiences the museum has created. It never fails to attract a visitor or two (sometimes, though rarely, even three or four).
To help demonstrate how effective the whole thing is, we applied this age-old advertising strategy to other social venues. Here is what we got:
Movie Theaters – Come down to view our selection of movies (all with sound!). We also have a concession stand, seats…
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My Thoughts on Hamilton County Commissioners’ Decision
Now that I’ve had time to think about the Hamilton County Commissioners’ decision, and I have read this morning’s article from the Enquirer “5 Reasons Music Hall Got Dropped from Tax Levy,” and I have this to say (Opinion expressed here represent my own thoughts and not those of my employer):
News flash: Neither Union Terminal or Music Hall is a stadium. While I know this is not breaking news, it clearly needs to be stated. I am disappointed that the stadium woes continues to be the scapegoat that continues to hold all Hamilton County, and all of Southwest Ohio back. I am disappointed that the stadium finance problems of yesteryear have decided tomorrow’s cultural facilities outcomes. The commissioners should exercise real leadership and quit with the excuses. That is all the stadium argument is; an excuse to make the “easy wrong” as Bob McDonald put it. I do not get to blame people from 10 or 15 years ago for not performing in my job today, right here, right now.
It is a shame that the county and the city cannot work together. I spent years in the Indianapolis area and am used to the UniGov system of government. In 1970, Indianapolis and Marion County consolidated government which made government more efficient with many shared services. It was not an overnight fix, for instance a consolidated Indianapolis Metropolital Police Department which consolidated Indianapolis City officers and Marion County officers did not happen until 2005, and I still think consolidated Fire services has been a bigger struggle still. Overall coordination of the entirety of Marion County, Indiana has been a (relatively) peaceful and efficient process. There are some areas in Marion County that are not part of Indianapolis government, but still receive county benefits. The bickering between city and county is not something I’m familiar with (Bickering between City/County and State, however is MUCH different). Hamilton County could benefit from such a system. I know there are a billion little villages, towns, townships, cities and more inside the confines of Hamilton County, Ohio, but at some point, “leaders” need to consider what they are sacrificing to bloat their own egos. Quit fighting amongst each other because as John F. Kennedy once said, “a rising tide lifts all boats.” Unfortunately, the tide is out in Hamilton County.
I am fortunate to have shaken Bob McDonald’s hand. That is a moment that I will never forget. I was in my yellow Save Our Icons t-shirt, holding a yellow “Speak for Us” sign and of course sporting my yellow Icons hard hat. Bob McDonald, Cultural Task Force chair, former CEO of Procter and Gamble, and now 8th Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shook my hand on his way out and thanked me for my support. He thanked me! If anything, I thank him for his tireless support and model leadership. I only wish I could be half the leader that he is. Bob McDonald called into the Commissioners’ meeting yesterday from Washington because Veterans Affairs, and asked Commissioners “to make the hard right, not to make the easy wrong.” Regardless of the outcome of yesterday’s vote, his words will stay with me forever, and he has inspired me to be a better leader.
10 things everyone thinks when they go to a museum
In the manner of the best distraction and time wasting websites online, I have decided to list the top ten things that go through my mind when I go to a museum or historic site.
1) Am I too old to play with the dressing up clothes?
2) Same for the toys.
3) When it gets busy, its war with all other people. Let me get to the front!
4) Surely its now my turn to pose for that iconic photo?
5) Now this would be a good facebook cover photo
6) Or even profile picture?
7) I want to touch it but the sign not to ….
8) Didn’t they film that show here?
9) I do like a good castle.
10) I hate mannequins, they are creepy.
Do you agree? Disagree? I think the last two says something about me…
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Meet a Museum Blogger: Marcus A. Harshaw, Jr.
Lookie who made one of the hottest museum blogs around! Yours truly!
Eight years into his career and Marcus A. Harshaw, Jr. is still an emerging museum professional. He started in public program and exhibition experience roles for the Indiana State Museum and now manages the department of Special Programs and Exhibits for Cincinnati Museum Center. A self-proclaimed, museum junkie, Marcus loves to travel visiting as many museums as he can. He once visited the International Museum of Shoes in Ville de Romans-sur-Isère, France where he learned the importance of the right shoe for the right situation.
Do you work in a museum? If not, where do you work? Tell us about your job.
I work as the Manager of Special Programs & Exhibits at Cincinnati Museum Center in historic Union Terminal. I oversee the exhibit experience for all of our blockbuster special exhibitions and evening museum rentals as well as public programming for our special exhibitions and OMNIMAX® films.
What’s…
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Museum Avenue 