Making the Museum is a newsletter and podcast on exhibition planning for museum leaders, exhibition teams and visitor experience professionals.
NEW: Categories are coming! So far, see everything on budgeting, content, technology … and Phil & Monique. (Click and scroll down.)
MtM is a project of C&G Partners | Design for Culture
Making a Memorial Museum, with Alice Greenwald (New Podcast)
How do you make an institution that's both a museum and a memorial — at the same time? Alice Greenwald (Past President and CEO of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum) joins host Jonathan Alger (C&G Partners) to discuss “Making a Memorial Museum.” ...
A New Home for the Exhibition Community, with Cybelle Jones, Steven Rosen, and George Mayer (Podcast)
Is there any organization for the exhibition field any more? A new initiative is picking up steam. Cybelle Jones, Steven Rosen, and George Mayer join host Jonathan Alger to discuss “A New Home for the Exhibition Community.” ...
The Client Side of Major Projects, with Amy Weisser (Podcast)
“The client’s role is not to solve the problem — it’s to state the problem.” Amy Weisser (Deputy Director for Strategic Planning and Projects at Storm King Art Center) joins host Jonathan Alger to discuss “The Client Side of Major Projects.” ...
Scrappy PR for Museums, with Sarah Maiellano [Podcast]
Can you get big press with a small budget? (Hint: Yes.) This episode is packed with literally dozens of ideas from a master of scrappy PR. Sarah Maiellano (Founder, Broad Street Communications) joins host Jonathan Alger to discuss “Scrappy PR for Museums”. …
Six Keys for Unlocking Your Most Playful, Creative Work, with Jonathan Goldstein and Kyle Talbott (Podcast)
Have we lost a sense of playfulness in our work … and could we get it back? Jonathan Goldstein and Kyle Talbott (Principals, Skyhouse Studios) join host Jonathan Alger (Managing Partner, C&G Partners) to discuss “Six Keys for Unlocking Your Most Playful, Creative Work.” …
Revealing the Story with Light, with Steven Rosen and Ted Mather (Podcast)
Is lighting art or science? If you’re a curator tasked with lighting design, where do you start? Lighting designers Steven Rosen and Ted Mather (Available Light) join host Jonathan Alger (C&G Partners) on Making the Museum to discuss "Revealing the Story with Light". …
The Money Pie Chart, with Amy Kaufman (Podcast)
How do new museums make money — really? What is “the peril of the bicycle wheel”? Is it bad to rely on “anchor funding”? Amy Kaufman (Principal, Amy Kaufman Cultural Planning) joins host Jonathan Alger (Managing Partner, C&G Partners) to discuss “The Money Pie Chart”. …
Circus Lessons for Museum Professionals, with Jennifer Lemmer Posey (Podcast)
What’s the role of wonder in experience design? Can we really design for all five senses? Jennifer Lemmer Posey (Curator of Circus at The Ringling) joins host Jonathan Alger (Managing Partner, C&G Partners) to teach some “Circus Lessons for Museum Professionals”. …
Beyond “Exit Through the Gift Shop”, with David Franke (Podcast)
Do museum stores actually make any money? What are they really for? Can a store act like an exhibition? David Franke (museum store architect) joins host Jonathan Alger (Managing Partner, C&G Partners) to discover what’s “Beyond ‘Exit Through the Gift Shop’”. …
An Economic Planner’s Advice to Museums, with James Stevens (Podcast)
Why is economic planning so vital to any new museum project? What happens if you don’t do it? James Stevens (VP, ConsultEcon, Inc.) joins Jonathan Alger (Managing Partner, C&G Partners) to discuss “An Economic Planner’s Advice to Museums”. …
A Guitar That Teaches Civil Rights, with Michele Y. Smith (Podcast)
What is the “humanities gap” — and why is it a huge opportunity for museums? Why can’t everybody be a philanthropist for the day? Michele Y. Smith (CEO, Museum of Popular Culture) joins host Jonathan Alger to talk about “A Guitar That Teaches Civil Rights”. …
The Questions You Have to Ask Before the Project, with Carolynne Harris (Remastered)
We might think a design concept is the first step — but it’s not. What do you need to ask yourself, before you even start? Carolynne Harris (Museum Planner, Carolynne Harris Consulting) joins Jonathan to discuss “The Questions You Have to Ask Before the Project”. …
Rethinking Climate Control in Museums, with Roger Chang
Why is “70/50” the gold standard? Who decided? Does every gallery really need to be 70 degrees? At what cost? Roger Chang (Principal, Buro Happold) joins host Jonathan Alger (Managing Partner, C&G Partners) on Making the Museum, the podcast. …
Embracing Chaos, with Jon Maass [PODCAST]
What if chaos in cultural projects is something to embrace, not fear?Can chaos theory give us new insights about how to manage complex work? What are the three things upon which the success of a project depends? Are we owner’s advocates — or project advocates? …
The New Louis Armstrong Center, with Regina Bain and Sara Caples [PODCAST]
[NEW PODCAST] What’s the secret to success, when a project lasts years longer than planned? How does the subject matter of a project relate to its form? Which is more important: patience, or pushing? (Hint: it’s a trick question.) Give it a listen! …
Flourishing in Museums (New Book), with Dr. Kiersten F. Latham and Professor Brenda Cowan
What is a “growth mindset” — and why is it more important than ever for our industry? What happens when we combine museology with the fast-growing field of positive psychology? Do we sometimes all take ourselves … too seriously? Give it a listen! …
The Real Bilbao Effect, with Andy Klemmer
Can a museum revitalize a city? Are design competitions a good idea? What comes first in design, practicality or fun? Andy Klemmer (Founder, Paratus Group) joins host Jonathan Alger (Managing Partner, C&G Partners) to reveal “The Real Bilbao Effect”.
“Raising the Voices of People of Color in Museums and Exhibitions”, with Sierra Van Ryck deGroot and Jinelle Thompson (Podcast)
How can we raise the voices of people of color in museums and exhibitions — and what stands in the way? What is Museum Hue? What constitutes a sustainable museum job? Could exhibitions be one of the best places to make visible change happen?
The Near Future of Experience Design, with Neil Redding (Podcast)
What do technologies like the Apple Vision Pro mean for exhibitions and experiences? Neil Redding (Near Futurist and SXSW Speaker) joins host Jonathan Alger (Managing Partner, C&G Partners) to discuss “The Near Future of Experience Design”. …
Assembling a Collaborative Project Team, with Beth Van Why (Podcast)
Great projects happen because of great teams. But how do you build that team in the first place? Who should a museum hire first? How do you decide whether staff should run a project, or if you need help from outside? What’s an “owner’s rep” anyway? …