Narrative Struggle

I was struck by a recent interview with Bryan Stevenson on the radio show "On the Media."

In that interview, Mr. Stevenson characterized the government's recent attacks on museums, national parks, and allied cultural institutions as a "narrative struggle."

To paraphrase something said in the interview, "We want symbols of achievement and freedom, but not the complete stories behind them."

He went on to argue that the role of museums in narrative truth-telling outside the courts and government could help push for changes inside those halls of power.

It made me think of the powerful institutions created by Bryan Stevenson and the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, Alabama, for that exact purpose of narrative truth-telling.  (You can read a previous ExhibiTricks post about my impressions of the Legacy Museum and The National Memorial for Peace and Justice here.)

In the end, the interview gave me hope and renewed purpose for my work, as well as for the work of colleagues in museums and other cultural institutions.

"Hopelessness is the enemy of Justice."    

~ Bryan Stevenson

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Paul Orselli writes the posts on ExhibiTricks. Paul likes to combine interesting people, ideas, and materials to make exhibits (and entire museums!) with his company POW! (Paul Orselli Workshop, Inc.) Let's work on a project together!

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My Brain For Rent

I've been thinking about how I can help museum folks, especially in the United States, weather this particular moment when cultural institutions of all types are being pressured to do more with less.

So I'm leaning into the notion of "My Brain for Rent" to create lower-cost, shorter-term opportunities to work together to come up with creative solutions to your current challenges.

With over 40 years in the field, I help museums of all sizes think bigger, do more with less, and build the internal capacity needed for long-term success. Whether you’re reimagining an exhibit, stretching a tight budget, or strengthening your team, I bring fresh ideas, strategic connections, and a no-nonsense approach to get things done.

I’ve worked with museums and cultural institutions around the world—large and small, established and emerging—to turn vision into reality. My approach blends deep industry knowledge with real-world practicality and a dash of creative mischief. If you’re looking for honest feedback, innovative thinking, and someone who can move projects from idea to implementation, you’ve come to the right place.

CONTACT ME to put my brain to work for you TODAY!

Don't miss out on any ExhibiTricks posts! It's easy to get updates via email or your favorite news reader. Just click the "Sign up for Free ExhibiTricks Blog Updates" link on the upper right side of the blog.

Paul Orselli writes the posts on ExhibiTricks. Paul likes to combine interesting people, ideas, and materials to make exhibits (and entire museums!) with his company POW! (Paul Orselli Workshop, Inc.) Let's work on a project together!

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Sharing for Resistance

I do not want to underestimate the hateful attacks the current regime in Washington is directing towards cultural organizations and workers. Still, there is a strength in museums and libraries that can fuel resistance -- and that is SHARING.

It is understandable to feel hopeless at times in the face of the indiscriminate cruelty perpetuated by the rampaging DOGE-bags. You might ask yourself, "What can I do to push against this?"

Rather than facing these culture wars alone, maybe a more fruitful tack is to ask, "What can WE do?" and SHARE resources, ideas, community, and space.

RESOURCE SHARING: I recently gave a Prototyping Workshop at a conference and shared a link to the FREE resources on my website. These include articles, YouTube interviews, and exhibit ideas that can be used to help museum folks build internal capacity at their institutions.

IDEA SHARING: I love the "Creating the Future" website.  It's filled with realistic, actionable ideas for culture workers to push against the headwinds coming out of Washington. This week's post about "Budgeting from a Place of Strength" was filled with helpful (and hopeful!) suggestions.

COMMUNITY SHARING: After attending the recent Museum Association of New York (MANY) Conference, I felt hopeful and energized. I was hopeful that there are fellow museum professionals who are still working to provide meaningful experiences to the public, and I was energized by the spirit of sharing found when we come together in person.

SPACE SHARING: Museums can become true "Third Spaces" for the communities we serve. How can your museum's spaces help address these challenges?  

What helpful/hopeful ideas do YOU have to share?  

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Paul Orselli writes the posts on ExhibiTricks. Paul likes to combine interesting people, ideas, and materials to make exhibits (and entire museums!) with his company POW! (Paul Orselli Workshop, Inc.) Let's work on a project together!

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Cool Online Tool: European Word Translator

Here's a cool online tool that lets you enter individual words into a search box and then see a mapping of the translations shown on the corresponding countries around Europe.

Fun AND informative!

You can give it a try by clicking over to the European Word Translator website.

Don't miss out on any ExhibiTricks posts! It's easy to get updates via email or your favorite news reader. Just click the "Sign up for Free ExhibiTricks Blog Updates" link on the upper right side of the blog.

Paul Orselli writes the posts on ExhibiTricks. Paul likes to combine interesting people, ideas, and materials to make exhibits (and entire museums!) with his company POW! (Paul Orselli Workshop, Inc.) Let's work on a project together!

If you enjoy the blog, you can help keep it free to read and free from ads by supporting ExhibiTricks through our PayPal "Tip Jar"

Signs of the Times: Hopeful Strategies

There are many reasons to be angry, upset, or disappointed about current policies and politics related to culture, in general, and museums, specifically.

But rather than dwelling on these things, I'd like to start featuring examples of what I'll characterize as "Hopeful Strategies" here on the ExhibiTricks blog. These ideas are what museums and cultural institutions are doing to counter the backward notions of "anti-diversity," for example, that other museums might then adapt to their own situations.

The image of the sign at the top of this post from the Museum of Flight acknowledges that some "Stories Are Missing" and asks for help from the community to fill those gaps.

The image below from the Corning Museum of Glass clearly and directly acknowledges the importance of diversity and inclusion.

I say BRAVO to both these museums!  

Do you have other examples of Hopeful Strategies to share? If so, please send me an email with the image(s) or example(s) attached.

Don't miss out on any ExhibiTricks posts! It's easy to get updates via email or your favorite news reader. Just click the "Sign up for Free ExhibiTricks Blog Updates" link on the upper right side of the blog.

Paul Orselli writes the posts on ExhibiTricks. Paul likes to combine interesting people, ideas, and materials to make exhibits (and entire museums!) with his company POW! (Paul Orselli Workshop, Inc.) Let's work on a project together!

If you enjoy the blog, you can help keep it free to read and free from ads by supporting ExhibiTricks through our PayPal "Tip Jar"

Like A Business ...

Over the years, you may have heard well-meaning board members say the equivalent of, "This museum should be run more like a business."

One problem with this idea is that you need to know a little something about a business before you start slashing budgets, firing people, or eliminating long-running programs.  Retracing your steps after an ignorant (and hasty) move often costs more time and money than you initially hoped to save.

Unfortunately, right now in the United States, the DOGE-bag Elon Musk and his minions are taking the equivalent of a chainsaw to many museums and cultural organizations across the country.

This is not efficiency; this is stupidity. 

Worse yet, these ill-considered actions risk the cultural heritage of EVERYONE in the United States, regardless of their political leanings.  The tech bro mantra of "move fast and break things" is especially inappropriate when dealing with museums filled with fragile, priceless objects.

If you are an ExhibiTricks reader in the U.S., I urge you to contact your representatives in Congress to express your concerns about the risks to museums and cultural organizations that "co-presidents" Trump and Musk pose.

It only takes an instant to damage or destroy something that has taken years to build. 

We must resist and protect museums and other cultural institutions from damage (or worse) in the name of "efficiency."

Don't miss out on any ExhibiTricks posts! It's easy to get updates via email or your favorite news reader. Just click the "Sign up for Free ExhibiTricks Blog Updates" link on the upper right side of the blog.

Paul Orselli writes the posts on ExhibiTricks. Paul likes to combine interesting people, ideas, and materials to make exhibits (and entire museums!) with his company POW! (Paul Orselli Workshop, Inc.) Let's work on a project together!

If you enjoy the blog, you can help keep it free to read and free from ads by supporting ExhibiTricks through our PayPal "Tip Jar"