Nov 2, 2020Red Doors: Museums as Sanctuaries During Civil UnrestRed Doors: Museums as Sanctuaries During Civil Unrest Over the past year, protests have erupted in cities across the nation. Demands have ranged from calls for greater social justice to the lifting of pandemic restrictions. In several instances, protests have led to property damage and/or the intimidation of people with…Museums3 min read
Oct 28, 2020Museums Serving Communities: Pandemic EditionThe global pandemic has not been kind to museums. By now you’ve probably heard of the mass layoffs of museum professionals and the possibility of approximately 1/3 of museums closing due to the financial crisis brought on by the pandemic. For some, a combination of emergency grants and the Paycheck…Museums5 min read
Oct 21, 2020Innovative Cultural Programming During a PandemicIt’s been over seven months since the global coronavirus pandemic took root here in the United States. Arts and cultural organizations, similar to other types of businesses, are struggling to navigate the myriad challenges brought on by the pandemic. Theatres, concert halls, and other performing arts venues remain closed in…Culture7 min read
Oct 1, 2018A Decade of ArtPrizeThis past Saturday, Dharma and I travelled to Grand Rapids for the opening weekend of ArtPrize10. It’s remarkable to think this experimental, citywide art competition has been in existence for a decade. For those unfamiliar with ArtPrize, it is a three-week art competition that takes place throughout the city of…Art4 min read
Jul 4, 2018Our Democracy’s Other Pillars: Cultural InstitutionsIndependence Day #242. On this day, our nation celebrates the founding of our democratic experiment — the United States of America — with fireworks, parades, and barbecues. It’s meant to be a festive occasion, yet I can’t help but feel a sense of deep concern. As imperfect as our nation…Museums5 min read
Dec 18, 2017Reflections on LeadershipAs part of our capstone for the 2016–17 American Express NGen Fellows program with Independent Sector, our crew created a series of podcasts and blogs on emerging issues in the nonprofit sector. The first blog post, which I had the privilege to write, and the corresponding podcast by three of…Nonprofit3 min read
Mar 16, 2017What the Elimination of the NEA and NEH Means to UsOn March 16, President Donald J. Trump put forth his budget proposal and it calls for the elimination of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), among other governmental agencies. These vital government programs have been pillars of cultural and intellectual production…Art3 min read
Oct 23, 2016Sharing Our Innovative Work at CityLab 2016I’m immensely excited to be in Miami for CityLab 2016. Over the next few days, attendees will explore both challenges and innovative approaches to creating more sustainable and vibrant cities. I have the honor of serving on a breakout session on Monday, October 24 called Community Building with Arts and…Art2 min read
Oct 20, 2016Little Syria, NY at the Ellis Island Museum of ImmigrationOn October 1, 2016, the Arab American National Museum proudly opened the exhibition Little Syria, NY: An Immigrant Community’s Life & Legacy at our nation’s most storied institution on immigration, the Ellis Island Museum of Immigration. This exhibition presents the rich history of the earliest concentrated Arab immigrant community in…Immigration2 min read
Oct 9, 2016Museums and Libraries As Community CatalystsHow do museums and libraries catalyze communities? More specifically, how do they serve as “enablers of community vitality and co-creators of positive community change?” These are fundamental questions the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is asking as part of the Community Catalyst Initiative. IMLS launched the initiative, in…Museums3 min read
