According the Center for the Future of Museums, many non-profit museums in this country are struggling from a broken economic model. Attendance and memberships are declining as consumers are given more choices of how to spend their time. To attract more, museums need to have good storytelling, stagecraft, showmanship, great imagery, and great sound. They need to tap deep passions and emotions to create “product” that is meaningful to audiences. Otherwise, many museums will shut down.
For this month’s LAB, let’s apply the innovation method, S.I.T, to a museum. Students from my Innovation Tools course at the University of Cincinnati created new concepts for a local museum, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. The students portrayed the concepts in a Dream Catalog as a way to visually tell the story. You can download the entire catalog here.
1. LIGHTS OUT: Quick! Hide! The Lights Out experience leads kids through an Underground Railroad “safe house” exhibit which truly places kids in the 19th century. This interactive exhibition makes them empathize what it would be like to escape to freedom. This is a two part exhibit which begins in the movie theatre and moves to a model Underground Railroad “safe house”. Did you hear those knocks at the door? Where will you hide?
3. EVERYDAY HEROES WALL: Each of us plays a role in preserving freedom in our own lives and the lives of those around us. It is the everyday heroes that make the biggest impact on the world. How will you make an impact? The Everyday Heroes Wall will feature photos of freedom fighters from near and far and their inspirational biographies. Guests will be able to video themselves and tell stories of times when they have stood up for freedom. The videos will play throughout the Freedom Center; a call to action for all Freedom Center guests to become heroes.
4. REFLECTION POINTS: Take some time to reflect on your experience at the Freedom Center. This multisensory experience will allow you to reflect through an outlet that personally suits you. After entering the dimly lit, serene room; try mediating while standing on words of freedom or sitting on boxes used as sleeping quarters for restavecs in Haiti. After your reflection, write what holds you back from full freedom and drop it in the water to see the words melt away.
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