The below post was written by Djuna Davidson, MPA, Director of Advancement, Alutiiq Museum:
Conferences are always a fun way to connect with others in your field and, after growing up in a political family, networking is second nature to me. I love being in a group of people who are all interested in the same topics, but each bring a unique perspective to the conversation. The theme of building community echoed in every interaction as people eagerly welcomed one another into the space. Even though I hadn’t attended the conference previously, I have been in the museum field for nearly six years, and it was wonderful to finally have faces to put to the names that I see regularly on emails and in newsletters.
The speed networking event on the first day started out as a cacophony of chaotic murmurs and awkward shuffles but quickly became friendly as people settled into the rhythm of clever summaries of who we are. Even those who squirmed a little at the idea of talking about themselves over and over eased into the activity and started enjoying the opportunity for lighthearted introductions. This burst of activity became a place for us to creatively tell the same story in different ways and look for new friends to meet. This humanizing activity helped us open to one another and built a platform for us to dive deeper as we got into the more serious discussions of the conference.
And serious the discussions became- from pondering how Artificial Intelligence and Augmented Reality can supplement and enhance exhibits to diving into NAGPRA and how the law impacts museums, we dug deep. We looked at ethical, moral, and practical concerns for how to keep our institutions active, relevant, and accessible community drivers that offer meaningful connection. We explored everything from community engagement to capital campaigns and the number of panels at the conference was particularly engaging for me. Panels provided opportunities for participants to hear multiple diverse perspectives and experiences. I think they also enhance the presenter experience. We can all come up with a PowerPoint that tells a story, but there is something particularly impactful about sitting on stage with colleagues across the state and hearing them say, “Yes- yes we do that do!”
This year’s Museums Alaska conference allowed me to meet museum professionals from across Alaska and marvel at the phenomenal diversity among our institutions. A museum dedicated entirely to one woman’s collection of dolls? Fabulous! A research museum embedded in a university? Fascinating! A children’s museum making activities the exhibits? Creative excellence. And even with all the differences between our focus areas, the challenges are often the same. How will we appeal to funders and secure those large grants? How do we maintain memberships and attract new supporters? What activities, events, and programs does our community want? How do we keep our work accessible and welcoming for all audiences? I don’t know the perfect answer to any of these questions, but after attending the conference I am bolstered with the confidence that there is an entire community of people who are in this with me. We are working together to make museums a place for everyone, and we are making beautiful spaces for community.
