What People Are Saying About Museum Education for Today’s Audiences
An astutely curated collection of essays by a selection of profound thought leaders across the field. Filled with kernels (and entire cornfields) of wisdom and timely provocations. This is an important anthology for practitioners and leaders at all levels who seek to uplift equitable and artful informal educational practices.
— Ben Garcia, Executive Director at the American LGBTQ+ Museum
Museum Education for Today’s Audiences lands at a critical moment in the history of museums in the United States. It is equal parts manifesto on the power and potential of museums who center community needs and interests, and handbook for the education staff who have championed and led this work for decades, and are now uniquely equipped to help reshape their organizations’ relationship and value to communities.
— Kelly McKinley, CEO, Bay Area Discovery Museum
Amidst an intense moment of crisis and upheaval, Porter and Cunningham have brought together a practical and hope-filled collection of writings that can guide museum educators—and the entire museum field—into a new future. All of the contributors to this important book make clear the vital role of museum education in leading the transformation needed right now within our institutions.
— Mike Murawski, consultant and author of Museums As Agents of Change: A Guide to Becoming a Changemaker
Museums Education for Today’s Audience is an incredible tool that goes beyond program ideas to provide insight on lessons learned by practitioners that are decentering systemic exclusion. More importantly, this book provides the spark for reflective practice to support continued innovation to meet the needs of all learners and increased self-awareness for museum educators.
— Dr. Chris Taylor, Chief Inclusion Officer, State of Minnesota
Porter and Cunningham and their authors have done the impossible—they’ve captured the fast-changing museum education landscape AND projected to the future. The book’s case studies demonstrate how sophisticated museum teaching has become, drawing upon audience research and learning theory without sacrificing creativity or joy. Through highly readable prose, the authors address challenges, issues and opportunities that museums face today, offering ideas, models and solutions to practitioners. The chapters can be read in any order; it’s easy to choose because each starts with an abstract. Many end with reflections about “what we’ve learned,” making reading feel like a conversation with friends.
— Cynthia Robinson, Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Museum Education, and Tufts University Museum Studies Program Director