Sustainability and AI were at the forefront this year at the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) Future of Museums Summit. What role will museums play in creating climate-friendly communities? And how can AI be used to maximize efficiency, increase accessibility, and deepen engagement? Read key conference takeaways from Xueer Ho and Dr. Brett Ashley Crawford.
Announcing 2024-2025 Research Themes and Outcomes
Whether artificial intelligence, blockchain, extended reality, or other developments, technology is hitting the creative sector from all angles. Regardless of where you sit within your organization, you are likely facing questions on how this emerging technology will impact your work. This year, we will continue to share content that sparks conversation and makes you rethink what is possible.
Transportation as Community Space: the Case for Public Art at Bus Stops
When bus stops are transformed from sterile slabs of concrete to works of site-specific art, they become arteries for cultural expression. This success is critical to the growth and overall health of communities, not just in the United States, but around the world. By connecting residents to their own cities, both literally and creatively, transportation authorities can become active cultural contributors. Could this approach work for Pittsburgh's Wilkinsburg borough?
Three Case Studies Intersecting Sustainability, Public Art, and Urban Planning
This study looks into the role of public art in the urban design process, seeking to provide insights as to how public art can intentionally be used in the urban design system to achieve the goal of sustainability. The overarching question of this research is what the purpose of public art is. As a strong visual piece inside cities, usually, on a comparatively larger scale, public art has a strong visual impact on the audience. Thus, what kind of information will be delivered to the audience? While the concept of sustainability, or, more specifically, urban sustainability, can be incestigated with various concentrations, it generates the question of what kind of urban planning governments or professional organizations are using to achieve specific sustainable issues. Is there any relationship between the purpose of public art and the method used by urban design for sustainable purposes?
Defining Public Art and How it Can Interact with Sustainability
When putting the keywords two ‘public art,’ ‘sustainability,’ or ‘urban planning’ into a an internet search, there are plenty of results about articles, research, or press releases. However, when typing all of them together, there are no results relating those three concepts together, yet public art can serve as a key player in urban design for sustainability. This Part One article will dive into the specifics of public art concerning urban design, planning, and sustainability while the Part Two article will dive into specific case studies concerning cities who have implemented sustainable public art plans.
Energy, Innovation, and the Role of Cultural Institutions
Investment in cultural facilities can be transformational within communities, and not just through the services they provide, the jobs they create, or the money channeled into the local economy. Cultural facilities can have tangible impacts on a community’s built environment and energy systems. To evaluate this complex relationship, it is useful to use a case study. This article focuses on the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - specifically, the Oakland neighborhood.
Blockchain Technology for Climate Action in the Arts
Arts and cultural organizations are becoming increasingly aware of their climate impact, and many are taking action to reduce harm. Tracking, reporting, and offsetting emissions may seem like an overwhelming feat for small or mid-sized organizations, but emerging blockchain technology may help make the process more efficient and reliable.
Takeaways: MuseumNext Green Museums Summit
The MuseumNEXT Green Museum Summit, held February 26 and 27, hosted a variety of speakers from museums and cultural organizations across the globe, each which shared their unique experiences in conducting sustainability work within their organizations. In this article, Lead Researcher Hannah Brainard reflects on her experience attending the Summit and her main takeaways.