Presentation at AAM conference, May 2015

1. #EmpatheticMuseum
American Alliance of Museums Conference
Atlanta, GA
May, 2015

2. Discussants
 Gretchen Jennings @gretchjenn
 Janeen Bryant @TeamJaneen
 Stacey Mann @smanny
 Rainey Tisdale @raineytisdale
 Elissa Frankle @museums365
 Matt Kirchman @objectIDEA
Facilitators
#EmpatheticMuseum

3. We and They
Father and Mother and Me,
Sister and Auntie say
All the people like Us are We
And everyone else is They
And They live over the sea,
While we live over the way,
But-would you believe it? -They look upon Us
As only a sort of They.
Rudyard Kipling, 1926
#EmpatheticMuseum

4. In-group/out-group relationship:
 Highly dependent on context
 Flexible and porous
#EmpatheticMuseum

5. Family membership
Jennings family is We.
All non-Jennings are
They.
Team membership
My team/fans are We.
My brother’s team/fans
are They.
Jennings
family
My
team/fans
#EmpatheticMuseum

6. Media coverage as a gauge of
empathy:
 reflects perception of who is “like us” and
“not like us.”
#EmpatheticMuseum

7. Ebola Outbreak Terrorist Attacks
 Charlie Hebdo attacks
in Paris.
12 killed
January 7, 2015
 Boko Haram attacks
Nigerian village.
2000 killed
January 9, 2015
 Disproportionate
concern when
Americans are
infected
#EmpatheticMuseum

8. How does WE & THEY impact
museum practice?
 In-groups vs. Out-groups
 Lack of empathy makes true inclusiveness
impossible
#EmpatheticMuseum

9. Most museums have a We/They
relationship with “diverse
audiences”
 People of color
 LGBT community
 People with
disabilities
 Low SES
#EmpatheticMuseum

10. Example:
Responses to Ferguson
 Missed Opportunities for Intentional
Empathy
o Initially, no other mainstream museum association made
any statement in the wake of Ferguson.
o Eventually, AASLH and NEMA published statements
encouraging their members to respond.in meaningful
ways.
 GOAL: Spontaneous Empathy
o Demonstrates meaningful connection to community
o Denotes sense of ownership, shared responsibility, or
authentic caring for the issue or problem
#EmpatheticMuseum

11. Many “inclusive” efforts betray a
“We/They” mindset.
 Hiring a “community coordinator” to bring in
“new audiences” when the museum has not
diversified its staff, volunteers, board.
 Mounting the occasional exhibition to attract a
“diverse audience.”
 Outreach TO new audiences rather than asking
communities how the museum might work WITH
them.
#EmpatheticMuseum

12. You can’t be
a little bit empathetic.
#EmpatheticMuseum

13. Characteristics of an
Empathetic Museum
1. Civic Vision
2. A habit of mind, a persistent
orientation to its community
3. Timeliness
4. Resonance & Responsiveness
5. Institutional Self-Awareness
http://tinyurl.com/empathyAAM2015
#EmpatheticMuseum

14. Characteristics of an
Empathetic Museum
1. Civic Vision
2. A habit of mind, a persistent
orientation to its community
3. Timeliness
4. Resonance & Responsiveness
5. Institutional Self-Awareness
http://tinyurl.com/empathyAAM2015
#EmpatheticMuseum

15. Thank you!
 Follow-us on Tumblr:
The Empathetic Museum
http://empatheticmuseum.tumblr.com/
 Join us on Twitter:
#EmpatheticMuseum
#EmpatheticMuseum