About the Program

MuseumLab for Museum Professionals (MLMP) is an eight-month professional learning program designed to spark creative innovation that will make museums nimble in proactively adapting to the changing needs of today’s diverse audiences. Hosted through a collaborative partnership of the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh (CMP) and Association of Children’s Museums (ACM) and guided by a steering committee of established leaders in the museum field, the program will meld synchronous in-person and online learning with peer coaching and mentorship.

Participants will address deep questions and practical realities—about how to conceptualize and create exhibits and programs that emphasize creativity, authenticity, and originality; invite visitors into the process; integrate new technologies; think entrepreneurially; deepen accessibility; and engage emotions—all through the playful, engaging learning experiences that make children’s museums what they are. The program will guide participants as they turn those deep questions into actionable implementation plans and receive customized support in prototyping and scaling those plans within their organizations and beyond.

Impactful Learning

The program model for MuseumLab for Museum Professionals champions innovation by convening a diverse cohort of thought leaders and museum professionals for an intensive period of hands-on engagement, collaborative learning, idea generation, experimentation, and reflection. This model is designed to support museum innovators engaging with their community; define and prototype an idea; and build support for their vision at their home institution. MuseumLab for Museum Professionals will develop creative museum professionals who are excited and equipped to take well-informed risks so that they may seed high-quality exhibits, programs and experiences in interactive, participatory museums across the country. Program phases include:

•     Virtual Week: The Spark, October 28–November 1, 2024.

This week will lay the foundation for the program by exploring its core principles as we build community among participants and inspire their creativity and curiosity. The Cohort will meet synchronously for one hour each day during this week to cover key MLMP topics.

•     Dream Big Onsite, November 6–14 2024

The Cohort will meet in Pittsburgh for eight (8) day-long intensive to put their ideas and insights from the virtual week into action. Away from their day-to-day responsibilities and distractions, participants will be free to focus on collaborating, playing, taking risks, and dreaming big. With support from the CMP Exhibits team, they will fabricate prototypes to be tested by visitors and then follow an interactive process of revising their designs and testing again. Field trips to local destinations, guest speakers, peer reviews, and a celebration showcase will round out this onsite experience.

•     Making It Matter: Skill Development and Practice, November 2024–May 2025

During this phase participants will apply their newly learned skills to their own professional environment. Following the November intensive, the Cohort will meet monthly to share their learning experiences and growing pains as they apply their new skills to their organization. In addition to peer support, participants will be matched with a mentor to provide guidance during this phase. Participants will be charged with advancing a singular project during this time.

•     Culmination: InterActivity, Albuquerque NM, May 14–16, 2025

The program will conclude with a final showcase at InterActivity, the ACM annual conference, where Cohort members will share documentation of their project that represents the MLMP practices and what they learned.

 

Eligibility

•     Employees of museums, science centers, zoos, aquariums, gardens, and other cultural institutions are eligible to apply for this opportunity, including those from outside the U.S. 

•     Preference will be given to individuals who work in hands-on experiences or programs for children and youth.

•     Minimum 3 years of museum experience.

 

If Selected Participants Are Required To:

•     Attend virtual one-hour synchronous meetings each day, October 28–November 1, 2024.

•     Attend the in-person intensive in Pittsburgh, PA, November 6–14, 2024.

•     Pay one’s own travel to and from the onsite week in Pittsburgh, PA.

•     Attend monthly virtual meetings.

•     Commit approximately ten hours of work a month between virtual meeting and independent project work.

•     Pay one’s own travel, lodging and meals to and from InterActivity 2025 in Albuquerque, NM (usually funded by individual’s institution).

As a Benefit MLMP Will Provide:

•     Approximately 50 hours of professional learning from creative subject matter experts and industry leaders (value of comparable programs of similar duration is approximately $10,000–$15,000).

•     Complimentary conference registration for InterActivity 2025, ACM annual conference (estimated at ~$600).

•     Coverage for lodging and meals while in Pittsburgh (estimated at ~$1,600).

 

This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (21MP-256380-OMS-24)