When the pandemic hit Indianapolis in March 2020, life was turned upside down and inside out. One of the last classes I had in person was at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis where Don Riefler graciously shared his insights into museum education. We didn’t know at the time what the “lockdown” would mean, how dangerous the threat was to our lives and livelihoods, or when things might return to “normal”. Now, more than a year later, the pandemic has left in its wake tremendous loss of life. It has disrupted our plans, personal and professional. And it has created a new set of concerns museum workers (and those aspiring to be museum workers) must navigate. But next week, I’ll be bringing my undergraduate Museum Methods class back to The Children’s Museum where, masked and socially distant, Don will treat us a glimpse into the wonders of ScienceWorks. This amazing museum community’s resilience and generosity continue to be its lifeblood.
When IU issued the challenge to faculty to use their skills and knowledge to support our community, the Museum Studies faculty and students proposed a modest study in the fall of 2020 – what were the most pressing needs area museums were facing? After interviewing staff in 14 area institutions, we identified six primary areas of concern. In the Spring of 2021, graduate students developed resources to try to help museums addressing those six areas, and those resources are compiled in the six pages on this website.
We hope these resources are just the beginning. What have you found helpful? What has your museum developed that you would be willing to share? What other needs or concerns is your museum facing, and what ideas do you have for Indy Museum Exchange? Please join and post on the Indy Museum Exchange Facebook group, comment on this page, and email us at museum@iu.edu. We want to hear from you!
