Museums create amazing programs that have a huge social impact. Art museums are partnering with medical schools to improve observation skills and thus patient diagnosis.  Natural history and state history museums are taking their exhibits on the road in the form of mobile museums to reach audiences that might not otherwise get to a museum. Social workers are using museums as safe spaces for clients to rebuild relationships, trust and love.

These are three of endless programs, projects and initiatives that museums sponsor to reach out to audiences and have an impact on their community.

I think these programs are amazing. Lots of other museum folk think so, too. However, most people don’t know about these efforts.  As an emerging museum professional, I want people to know about the impact museums are having in their community.  On the flipside, I want museums to take risks in order to become more integrated into their communities.

No matter what, it’s time museums announced to the world what we’re doing. This blog aims to share these awesome programs with everyone else.

You can also think of this blog as a community hub to share and learn from each other. Museums can learn from each other and from other organizations that are doing innovative things. I’m going to write about the programs I find – but please send me what you find, too! I promise that if you use the form below to send me ideas it will not go into some dark hole.

By the way, my name is Emily. I’m the Assistant Coordinator of Teen and College Programs at the North Carolina Museum of Art.  Check out my website  to learn more about me.

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