Change Below the Surface
Not all transformation and change is loud and obvious. Sometimes change is so inconspicuous that we can’t see it at all.
These three resources explore hidden forces and systems, whether in museum strategy, technological infrastructure, or political art, urging us to look beyond the surface and consider the hidden forces shaping our world.
June Coffee Break Picks
STEPHANIE’S PICK
Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is
“We spend most of our time at Kera Collective helping museums put audiences and impact at the center of their work. We frequently partner with education or exhibition departments, since those divisions have the most obvious influence on audiences’ experiences. But really, a museum’s ability to make its desired impact on its audiences begins at a less obvious level—financial decision-making. This article describes the Oakland Museum of California’s 5-year evolution from an organization that prioritized financial sustainability to an organization that intentionally allocates its resources and dollars toward achieving social impact."
CATHY’S PICK
Invisibly Networked
"I love a deep dive, and this longform article about the workers who travel the world repairing broken subsea internet cables is no exception. In our globalized society, everyone expects the internet to ‘just work,’ yet no one thinks about what (or who) makes that possible. Reading these stories, I found myself contemplating the pros and cons of invisible design, our tendency to ignore the true heroes behind the scenes, and just how fragile our interconnectedness really is. On a more uplifting note—the data visualizations and photography are excellent!"
LINA’S PICK
Resistance, Art, and The Power to Change
"I’m always struck by art as resistance, as symbols that transcend beyond material and time. One such symbol is Handala, a drawing by Palestinian political cartoonist Naji al-Ali. The drawing features a young child facing away from its viewer, in a sketch-like format. Handala has spikes for hair and is posed with clasped hands. Al-Ali created the drawing to embody Palestinian identity and resilience. This Hyperallergic article contextualizes Handala with recent events taking place in campuses across the country. Handala has always haunted me. Art has the power to force us to look deeply inwards, to question our material conditions, and to be a symbol of hope."
New on the Learning Hub
What’s New At Kera?
Another start to a busy conference summer, this time in Washington, DC! Cathy will be attending the Transformational Impact of Exhibition and Experience Design event with The Society for Experiential Graphic Design (SEGD) from June 20-21. Lina will be checking out the American Evaluation Association’s Summer Evaluation Institute from June 26-28. Say hi to them if you’re attending!
Check out the results of some of our completed evaluation projects over on our website, including a summative evaluation and an evaluation of community partner experiences with the Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum, as well as a formative evaluation of the flagship exhibition at George Washington’s Mount Vernon.
Moment of Wonder
"Right now, I’m thinking about all the graduations happening, especially those graduating college. It’s hard to escape the thinkpieces discussing all the ways this particular class has been truly screwed by the adults who are supposed to protect them. I was struck by this tweet quoted by Anne Helen Petersen in her recent article on this topic. Regardless of your politics, I think we have a lot to learn from student protesters right now, who not only impress me by standing up for what they believe in (often at great risk), but also do what they can to protect each other."
— Hannah
