Press Releases & Statements

The Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD) will hold its Annual meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota, from May 19 - 21, 2018. This meeting concludes the term of Lori Fogarty (Oakland Museum of California) as the Association’s president; the incoming president is Madeleine Grynsztejn (Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago), and AAMD’s president-elect is Brent Benjamin (Saint Louis Art Museum).

This meeting includes a robust program of panel and group discussions about the role of the arts and museums in addressing questions of social change. Highlight programs include:

• Artist Dario Robleto and Professor of Philanthropic Studies Sara Konrath, discussing the importance of empathy in society—and how the arts can support the process of teaching empathy;

• A workshop led by William Ryan, Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School, and author of Governance as Leadership, on how generative decision-making can help institutions embrace change;

• A conversation between Kim Huskinson, Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) and Andrea Pierre, a frequent museum visitor, on diversity and inclusion from a visitor’s perspective titled Museums as Diverse and Inclusive Spaces;

• A keynote speech by Jonah Berger, Professor at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, and bestselling author of Contagious: Why Things Catch On and Invisible Influence: The Hidden Forces that Shape Behavior, addressing the role and impact of social influences on decision-making;

• A presentation by Chris Taylor of the Minnesota Historical Society on MASS Action (Museum As Site For Social Action), a project that helps museums examine their internal and external practices around questions of diversity, inclusion, community engagement, and social action;

In addition to the Association’s regular Committee meetings, members will also attend presentations about innovative public and research programs at member institutions, including:

• Art Meets Neuroscience: How Brain Science is helping the PEM Transform its Visitor Experience, presented by Dan Monroe and Dr. Tedi Asher, Peabody Essex Museum

• Museum Innovation Laboratories, presented by Hank Hine, Salvador Dalí Museum; Lisa Phillips, New Museum; and Janne Sirén, Albright-Knox Art Gallery.

The Association was invited to hold its meeting in Minneapolis by three local member museums: Minneapolis Institute of Art, Walker Art Center, and the Weisman Art Museum.

The 2018 Annual Meeting will have an active social media presence, with attendees encouraged to live-Tweet and Instagram their experiences with the hashtag #AAMDMinneapolis. The full schedule for the meeting is available here.

The Association of Art Museum Directors advances the profession by cultivating leadership capabilities of directors, advocating for the field, and fostering excellence in art museums. An agile, issues-driven organization, AAMD fosters engagement, leadership, and shared learning. Further information about AAMD’s professional practice guidelines and position papers is available at www.aamd.org.