APA Staff Attends the AAM Annual Meeting in Los Angeles
For a museum staff, the American Association of Museums (AAM) Annual Meeting and Museum Expo is the ultimate destination for learning the latest techniques and best practices in all things museum-related. This year’s conference, Museums Without Borders, was appropriately held in one of the most diverse cities in the U.S., Los Angeles. More than 5,000 museum professionals attended, with a large number coming from outside the United States, reflecting the goal of AAM to better serve a more globalized world.
The APA Program staff presented a session entitled Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program: A Multidimensional Pursuit of Inclusion. Krista Aniel, management support assistant, provided an overview of the Program and how it fits into the larger museum complex of the Smithsonian. Ricky Leung, multimedia specialist, explored the many ways that new technologies and social media is revolutionizing the way we reach audiences and expand the scope of museum programs. Gina Inocencio, program specialist, discussed the different projects and strategies that the Program implemented to cultivate interest and bring new audiences to the museum. Sumer Seiki, former academic researcher at the APA Program, chaired and moderated the session.
The annual meeting also featured as keynote speakers literary writers and storytellers who weave tales about connection, community, cultural identity, and the power of the imagination. Julia Alvarez (How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accent, Saving the World) mesmerized the crowd with her powerful storytelling, and Amy Tan’s (The Joy Luck Club, Saving Fish from Drowning) presentation was followed by a long line of people who wanted her to sign their copies of her books. The AAM Annual meeting offers something to everyone — from audience research to collections stewardship, exhibit design to financial management, and the latest technological innovations. It also offered the opportunity to meet other museum professionals and kindred spirits — all in an atmosphere of camaraderie and learning. All the participants had a wonderful time, and many are looking forward to the next meeting in Houston, Texas, in 2011.
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