Carnegie Library at Mt. Vernon Squareis one of three new exhibits in the DC History Center. This small exhibit is about the history of the iconic landmark 1903 Carnegie Library in Washington, D.C. Produced in partnership with Apple, the exhibit is located in the Carnegie Gallery on the lower level. History tells us that when it opened in 1903, this room originally served as the “bicycle room”.
With its dramatic Rafael Guastavino ceramic ceilings, the exhibit hall includes sixteen images. Each one benchmarks a moment in the building’s 115-year history, including conceptual designs and blueprints. The exhibit documents seventy years of use as the public library, and it ends with the renovations by Apple.
Museum-goer scans to learn more.
To complement the two exhibits, the Historical Society partnered with Smartify to deploy content via mobile devices. Visitors can scan any one of the 16 images in the exhibit to learn the story behind each image.
The partnership with Smartify has resulted in increased visibility of the DC History Center. Similarly, the app allows users to support the organization via a link to donate or join as a member.
In 2013, the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum launched new branding and implemented new digital solutions for membership, marketing, and visitor engagement. The museum implemented the use of new technologies, including social media and group marketing strategies to successfully exceed attendance goals. The results of these new initiatives resulted in increased community participation and better engagement from visitors during their visit to the museum.
The museum became a partner in the Southeastern Reciprocal Museums (SERM) and the North American Reciprocal Museums (NARM). These two programs enhanced marketing and visibility while adding great value to Museum membership.
The Raymond Burr Memorial Exhibit and Henry Domke both enhance the historical and artistic aspects of the museum. John managed and led staff and the board of trustees during several special events. He promoted interest in the museum within its local, national, and international communities.
Mr. Suau implemented mobile museum technology to help sustain visitor engagement using QR codes, audio tours, and mobile web-based games.
Amanda Stirn
As the Senior Assistant Director of the Shell Museum, I was so excited to have John join our team. John was the key person for all the marketing, advertising and public relations for the Bailey Matthews Shell Museum…His experience in Museum art and impact on the observer is amazing. I would recommend him highly to any museum in the process of a realignment with their strategic goals or looking to expand beyond the norm. You will appreciate John’s attention to detail and his wonderful work in bringing together vision and reality. John is a true asset to any team: personable, upbeat, and very artist with a keen eye for all the details.
Amanda Stirn, Business Consultant at Florida SBDC at Florida Gulf Coast University
I served as the first diversity officer for the AAM. I was charged with advancing diversity and equity in museum practice at the American Alliance of Museums. I initiated the first Diversity Committee in this role by bringing their voices together.
I began my work with the AAM Accreditation and the Museum Assessment Program (MAP) programs. I was later contracted to coordinate the first hemispheric conference of the Americas. This was in partnership with the International Conference of Museums (ICOM).
The five-day conference, “Museums and Sustainable Communities,” included delegates from Canada, the USA, Mexico, and Central and South America. The meeting was hosted in San José, Costa Rica, on April 15-18, 1998. This hemispheric conference was the first of its kind. It laid the groundwork for what is now a biannual conference of ICOM.
After this successful conference, I continued my work at AAM as the manager for professional education and diversity. In this role, I created the first national coalition of diverse museum professionals. This coalition served as the foundation for the AAM Diversity Committee today.
I began this important work with the help of many museum leaders. I brought together leaders from eight professional associations. These include the African American Association of Museums. They also include the AAM Asian Pacific American Professional Interest Committee. The other committees are the AAM Latino American Professional Interest Committee and the AAM Native American Professional Interest Committee. Additionally, the AAM Gay and Lesbian Professional Interest Committee participated. The AAM AIDS Network, the AAM Committee for ADA Concerns, and the Council of American Jewish Museums were also involved.
These groups joined together to form what is now known as the AAM Diversity Committee. Together they worked to create programming and cross-cultural events. They also developed funding initiatives and a strategic agenda. The AAM Board of Directors participated in these efforts.
Significant accomplishments from that work include:
The 2000-2001 annual meetings presented over sixty-five sessions focusing on multicultural issues in museums. Coalition members developed most of these professional education panels.
The coalition also raised more than $10,000 for scholarships. This funding facilitates the participation of ethnic minorities and other under-represented groups in annual meetings. It also supports their involvement in professional education programs of AAM.
As a result, the association awarded 35 scholarships to museum professionals. These professionals came from diverse backgrounds and interests. They attended the annual meetings and professional education seminars from 2000-2001.
At the November 2000 AAM board meeting in Washington, D.C., participants from the AAM Board of Directors met with representatives from the AAM Diversity Coalition. They engaged in a two-day strategic planning meeting.
A copy of the report is available. The final AAM Strategic Agenda for Action provides a benchmark. This illustrates what the leaders in the museum field proposed in March of 2001.
“Museums exist to celebrate the richness of the diverse communities that we serve…”
Donald Duckworth, Director, The Bishop Museum, Hawai’i
Odette Diaz Schuler
John and I have had the opportunity to work together on various projects through the American Alliance of Museums (AAM). Chiefly, the first-ever Summit of Museums of the Americas and the formation of the AAM’s Diversity Coalition…I can recommend him without reservation for any project having to do with cultural properties, as he is such a well-rounded and skilled individual.
During my tenure, I collaborated on creating “Leadership through Diversity.” It is a national program developed by the AAM. The program was developed in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution Center for Education and Museum Studies. The workshop was presented at six regional museum association conferences and reached over 250 diverse museum professionals.
Tania Said
John and I worked together developing and presenting diversity training workshops for museums professionals around the country. He helped make the workshops fun, engaging, informative, and practical. Feedback from participants was excellent…John’s energy and thinking were invaluable.
Tania Said, Visitor Advocate / Director of Education, David Owsley Museum of Art, Ball State University
