visit museum benefit

The Benefits of Visiting a Museum

Nina Relf 21 May 2021 min Read

François Biard, Four Hours At The Salon, 1847, Louvre, Paris, France.

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During the protracted coronavirus lockdown, when all the art we see is digital , we can reflect on that which we took for granted before. There are so many benefits to visiting a museum. But what is it that makes us visit museums over and over again?

It is hard to imagine the corridors of some of the most popular museums around the world as completely empty. Free of the crowds that would normally surround The Mona Lisa , it becomes eerie to picture the Louvre Museum with nobody in sight. The world’s most famous portrait with no one looking back at her. The time of visiting museums seems so long ago. Yet back then, we probably took for granted just how easy it was to go and see artworks. Since digital access is the only way to access them currently, we can reflect on the benefits of visiting a museum and seeing artworks in person. Whilst we wait until we are able to visit museums again, you can access a list of the best museums to visit virtually .

1. Getting up close and personal with the artworks

In this time of self-isolation, it is easy to feel distanced from all things art-related. We begin to miss the brightness of colors and seeing the painted brushstrokes in front of our eyes. You get a special feeling inside when you see the real artwork for the first time. The anticipation of what it will look like in real life is met with sheer excitement. In the case of some installation works, we are even allowed to touch and interact with the artworks. In the recent exhibition Anthony Gormley at the Royal Academy in London, the visitors were allowed to step over, under and through huge circles of metal wire.

As a whole experience, it feels exclusive and new. The opportunity to see the real thing often defies all our expectations from the static, two-dimensional images that we have seen online. But now, these online images are all we have.

2. Mindfulness from visiting a museum

If you have ever experienced being alone in a gallery room with a work of art, you will know that it is a feeling that is hard to replicate. You feel like you have been taken to a different world, that you have travelled back in time. You are standing before the artist’s masterpiece as if it has just been created. When you start looking at every tiny detail, there is so much to see, almost too much. You could spend hours in front of just a single artwork.

3. Visiting a museum for that perfect Instagram shot

We have all been guilty of this at least once. We live in an era where it has become the norm to constantly post images of where we are and what we are doing. If you did not put that picture of Van Gogh’s Sunflowers on Instagram, did you even go the National Gallery?

Of course, this has a huge benefit. The ability to scroll through Instagram and see artworks from all over the world, in high definition and all in one place, is incredible. It is a huge advantage to all of us who love art, who are currently unable to visit museums. It is difficult to imagine a time when this was not available. Social media allows us to access so much art at just the touch of our fingertips. But all of our Instagram feeds are missing those aesthetically pleasing gallery shots at the moment. Maybe the time has come to scroll back to a few months ago on our camera roll. Dig out an old photo and do a throwback post to something that we never uploaded before. We have got to perfect our Instagram profiles and update our followers, after all!

To view some perfect shots of artworks from museums across the world, you can access a list of the best museum accounts to follow on Pinterest .

4. A once-in-a-lifetime exhibition is worth visiting a museum for

Exhibitions are what draw a huge number of people to galleries every year. Unfortunately, some incredible exhibitions have been disrupted by the closure of museums due to the coronavirus outbreak. Titian: Love, Art and Desire at the National Gallery in London opened for just three days before it had to be closed due to the lockdown. For the first time in four centuries, the six paintings created as a series for Prince Phillip of Spain had been displayed together from galleries across the world.

Also at The National Gallery, Artemisia was planned to open this month – an exhibition dedicated to the female artist Artemisia Gentileschi. The exhibition was postponed because a lot of the artworks had to be sent from Italy and America to England, something that became impossible in light of the global situation. The chance to see an exhibition that is normally only open for a short period of time is what inspires so many people to visit museums. It is something that you would not want to miss, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

5. Visiting the gift shop of dreams

Art history books galore, postcards, magnets, prints, posters, even Picasso earrings: they have it all. It becomes part of the experience, the opportunity to take a tiny bit of the gallery home with you. A chance to recreate the gallery in your own home, in the form of a poster or a small postcard for your pin-board. Perhaps one of the best gift shops is in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. It is filled with the most beautiful textile patterns, scarves, tote bags, notebooks, and more. Another amazing example is the huge gift shop under the pyramid at the Louvre Museum in Paris. Many museums have their own online shops which you can still visit if you do not want to miss out on this shopping experience whilst in lockdown.

These are just some of the benefits of visiting a museum. Whether you want to explore a new city or see a particular artwork that never gets boring regardless of how many times you have seen it, museums have so much to offer. The chance to be in the presence of some of the most renowned artworks is something we take for granted. The lockdown has made us miss this physical contact with works of art and the contemplative experience that comes with it. But perhaps, when museums do reopen, we will enjoy the experience even more than we did before. The next time we are at a museum, maybe we will just stop for a moment and appreciate how much our minds can be transformed by looking at art.

• Royal Academy of Arts
• Villa Farnesina

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I am 22 years old, living near London and an aspiring Curator. I have just graduated from The Courtauld Institute of Art with a Masters degree in the History of Art, and I am a lover of painting, feminist art criticism and reading!    

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Why Are Museums Important? (25 Reasons)

Have you ever stood in front of a mysterious ancient artifact, stunned by the stories it might hold, or wandered through the halls of a grand museum, captivated by the countless tales of human history and creativity? 

A visit to a museum can inspire a child, ignite a passion in a teenager, or offer fresh perspectives to an adult. The dusty fossils, the ancient pottery, the exquisite paintings, the space capsules—each piece tells a story, sparks a curiosity and prompts questions about who we are and where we come from.

In every corner and each display, there’s a tale to be told, a wonder to behold, and a mystery to unravel. Step into a museum, and step into a world of discovery!

Table of Contents

Different Types of Museums

Famous museums in the world, cultural significance of museums, museums as centers for research, museums as social spaces, museums’ role in tourism, the role of museums in conservation, museums as memory institutions, digital and interactive museums: the future, museums and well-being, museums and their role in national identity, frequently asked questions, art museums.

Art museums, often called art galleries, are the vibrant repositories of human creativity. They house and exhibit works of art from various periods, cultures, and genres, providing a visual narrative of human history and emotions.

You’ll find collections of paintings, sculptures, and other forms of visual art in these museums. As a visitor, you can appreciate the artists’ techniques and understand their work’s social and historical context.

History Museums

History museums are time capsules, preserving the relics of the past and presenting them in a way that educates, entertains, and evokes reflection. These museums cover a broad spectrum, from ancient civilizations to recent history.

These museums play a vital role in preserving our heritage, fostering a sense of identity, and offering lessons from the past to guide our future. The British Museum, for instance, houses a vast collection of world art and artifacts, providing a comprehensive look at human history.

Science Museums

Science museums engage you in hands-on learning experiences about the world around you. They often focus on scientific principles and discoveries, such as the laws of physics or advancements in robotics. 

Science museums promote scientific literacy and nurture curiosity, critical thinking, and a passion for discovery. 

Natural History Museums

Natural history museums are gateways to the natural world, featuring collections related to botany, zoology, geology, paleontology, and more. They offer a fascinating glimpse into the biodiversity of our planet and the intricate web of life.

These museums are dedicated to exploring the natural world, including plant and animal species, fossils, rocks, and minerals. You’ll often find displays of dinosaur skeletons, meteorites, and taxidermy specimens. 

Visiting a natural history museum, you can appreciate the diversity and evolution of life on Earth.

Children’s Museums

Children’s museums provide interactive and engaging educational experiences for young visitors. These museums nurture curiosity and creativity while teaching children about various subjects, from art to science to history. Many local museums have special areas or programs for children to explore.

Virtual Museums

Virtual museums take the museum experience online, offering digital exhibits and interactive experiences that can be accessed anywhere in the world. They cover a wide range of subjects, offering immersive 3D tours, high-resolution images of artifacts, and online educational resources.

Virtual museums have gained prominence in recent years, democratizing access to culture and knowledge. They are particularly beneficial for those who may not have the opportunity to visit physical museums due to geographical or physical limitations.

1. Louvre Museum, France

Nestled in the heart of Paris, the Louvre Museum is a testament to over 800 years of art and history. The iconic Louvre is home to 35,000 works of art, including the enigmatic Mona Lisa and the timeless Venus de Milo . 

The Louvre is more than just a museum; it’s a cultural phenomenon that represents the European tradition of fine art and attracts millions of art enthusiasts every year.

2. Metropolitan Museum of Art, United States

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, fondly known as the Met , is a beacon of art and culture in New York City. Housing over two million works, it offers a comprehensive insight into global art history. 

The Met’s vast collections traverse time and geography, spanning 5,000 years of art from every corner of the world, making it a veritable melting pot of creativity.

3. Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), United States

The Museum of Modern Art, or MoMA , is a powerhouse of contemporary and modern art. Located in the bustling heart of New York City, MoMA is famed for its exceptional collections of modernist art, photography, design, and film. 

It is at MoMA that you can marvel at Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” or Dali’s “Persistence of Memory” and witness the creative visions that have shaped our modern world.

If you’re planning a visit, remember that Friday evenings offer free entry, making it the perfect time to immerse yourself in modern and contemporary art.

4. Prado Museum, Spain

Madrid’s Prado Museum is one of the greatest repositories of European art. Housing an impressive collection of Spanish masterpieces by artists like Velázquez and Goya , the Prado offers an unparalleled journey into the heart of Spanish art and culture.

It is a must-visit for anyone seeking to understand the rich tapestry of Spain’s artistic heritage.

5. State Hermitage Museum, Russia

The State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg is a colossal display of art and culture, boasting over three million items. The Hermitage offers a panoramic view of human creativity, from prehistoric art pieces to post-impressionist masterpieces. 

1. Acropolis Museum, Greece

The Acropolis Museum in Athens, Greece, is dedicated to preserving the artifacts found on the Acropolis, a sacred hill that is home to numerous historical remains. As you visit, you will marvel at the impressive collection of sculptures, inscriptions, and artifacts that date back to the Greek Bronze Age. 

A prime example includes the Parthenon sculptures that are essential to ancient Greek art. While exploring the exhibits, you can uncover the fascinating history of the Acropolis and its significance to ancient Greek culture.

2. Egyptian Museum, Egypt

The Egyptian Museum, located in Cairo, Egypt, houses an extraordinary collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts, making it one of the most important museums of its kind. As you explore, you will come across an abundance of relics, such as the treasures of Tutankhamun , mummies , and hieroglyphic relics . 

3. National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico

When you visit the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City, you will be captivated by the diverse and vast collection of artifacts from various pre-Columbian Mesoamerican civilizations . 

The museum showcases the history and culture of Mexico’s indigenous peoples through its displays of pottery , sculptures , and intricate jewelry. Highlights include the iconic Stone of the Sun and the reconstruction of the Aztec temple, Templo Mayor .

4. National Museum of China, China

The National Museum of China in Beijing preserves some of the most important artifacts from China’s vast history. As you walk through the spaces, you will find exhibits dedicated to Chinese art, such as porcelain , jade , and bronze items . 

Additionally, there are sections dedicated to the significant events and historical figures in China’s history. This museum offers an immersive experience to gain a deeper understanding of China’s rich cultural heritage.

5. Museum of the History of the Polish Jews, Poland

At the Museum of the History of the Polish Jews in Warsaw, you will encounter an inspiring journey through the history of Jewish life in Poland . The museum utilizes multimedia exhibits, informative displays, and immersive experiences to convey this essential aspect of Polish history. 

As you walk through the exhibits, you will learn about the vibrant Jewish communities that existed in Poland for over a thousand years and how they contributed to the nation’s culture and history.

1. Deutsches Museum, Germany

In the heart of Munich, the Deutsches Museum is the world’s largest science and technology museum. This mammoth institution houses an extensive collection, including everything from the earliest computers to the mysteries of quantum physics . 

Deutsches Museum is a place where visitors can trace the path of human innovation, marveling at the genius and inventiveness that have propelled us into the modern era.

2. Science Museum, United Kingdom

Located in London, the Science Museum offers you a chance to immerse yourself in the history of scientific, technological, and medical advancements. The museum houses various exciting exhibits, such as the Apollo 10 command module and Stephenson’s Rocket , the world’s first steam-powered passenger train.

You might find the “Who Am I?” exhibit particularly engaging, as it delves into genetics and human identity. Remember to check their website for updates on special exhibitions when planning your trip.

3. Shanghai Science and Technology Museum, Shanghai, China

Stepping into the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum is like stepping into the future. It’s a mesmerizing blend of cutting-edge technology and scientific discovery. 

The museum’s exhibits are dedicated to themes like “World of Robots,” “Spectrum of Life,” and “Earth Exploration,” among others. This museum takes you on an exhilarating journey through the frontiers of science, making it a must-visit for science enthusiasts of all ages.

1. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, United States

The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, located in Washington D.C., is a world leader in its field. From colossal dinosaur skeletons to glittering gemstones, it houses an astonishing array of natural wonders. 

Its exhibits, spanning millions of years, ignite curiosity about the natural world and our place within it, demonstrating the importance of biodiversity and conservation.

2. American Museum of Natural History, United States

Situated in New York City, the American Museum of Natural History is another titan among science museums. Famous for its dioramas of animal life , a vast collection of fossils , and the Hayden Planetarium , it offers a journey through space and time.

With an enormous collection of over 33 million specimens, you’ll be able to learn about dinosaurs, marine life, minerals, and more. One of the most iconic displays in the museum is the Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton .

1. Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, United States

Touted as the world’s largest children’s museum , the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is a must-visit destination for kids and adults alike. 

With five floors of interactive exhibits, the museum is a treasure trove of knowledge, promoting hands-on learning across diverse fields like science, history, and culture. From a life-size dinosaur exhibit to an immersive space mission experience, this museum truly offers a world of wonder for children.

2. Boston Children’s Museum, United States

The Boston Children’s Museum is one of the world’s most influential children’s museums . With its focus on early childhood development, the museum offers a rich array of exhibits and programs that stimulate creativity, curiosity, and learning. 

Whether it’s climbing the three-story New Balance Climb or exploring the Japanese House , a 100-year-old silk merchant’s home, children are encouraged to learn by doing.

3. Eureka! The National Children’s Museum, United Kingdom

Situated in Halifax, Eureka! The National Children’s Museum offers an interactive educational experience unlike any other. Featuring over 400 exhibits, children can explore everything from the human body to the mysteries of sound and light. The museum’s unique approach to learning encourages children to understand the world around them through play, exploration, and discovery.

4. Museo Pambata, Philippines

Museo Pambata, or the Children’s Museum in Manila, Philippines, is a dream come true for kids who love to learn. The museum’s interactive exhibits are designed to stimulate children’s curiosity and creativity while teaching them about Filipino culture, history, and the environment. 

With its philosophy of “learning through playing,” Museo Pambata delivers an experience that both educates and entertains.

5. NEMO Science Museum, Netherlands

Perched like a ship in the heart of Amsterdam, the NEMO Science Museum is a beacon of knowledge. This museum brings science and technology to life through fun, interactive exhibits that cover everything from DNA and the human brain to the principles of physics and engineering. 

At NEMO, children are not just visitors—they become scientists, engineers, and inventors, discovering the wonders of the world one experiment at a time.

Preserving Heritage and Traditions

Museums are the guardians of our past. They preserve priceless artifacts, documents, and stories that provide us with a tangible connection to the generations before us. They are responsible for conserving, studying, and sharing valuable artifacts and artworks that give a complete picture of human history.

 Imagine experiencing the majestic aura of a dinosaur fossil, the evocative poise of an ancient Greek statue, or the intricate designs of a centuries-old manuscript. Without museums, these irreplaceable pieces of our history could easily be lost to time.

Museums preserve not just objects but the very essence of our heritage and traditions. They provide a safe haven for cultural assets, ensuring that the legacy of our ancestors endures. This crucial role in safeguarding our past helps us remember where we come from and grounds our understanding of our present and future.

The iconic Rosetta Stone , now housed in the British Museum , unlocked the secrets of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics, revealing a wealth of knowledge about this ancient civilization.

Exhibiting Cultural Diversity

Museums showcase the incredible diversity of human cultures. In the vast halls of these institutions, we encounter societies far removed from our own, both geographically and temporally. From the vibrant masks of African tribes to the delicate porcelain of ancient China, museums put the world’s cultural panorama on display.

Moreover, museums often collaborate with the communities they represent, ensuring that their collections accurately and ethically depict diverse cultural experiences. This inclusive approach promotes mutual learning and a deeper appreciation for the rich tapestry of humanity.

By exhibiting cultural diversity, museums promote a deeper understanding of our global community. They offer a unique platform to appreciate and learn about different cultures, reminding us of our shared humanity amidst our diverse ways of life. 

Fostering Cultural Appreciation and Understanding

Museums are also potent catalysts for cultural appreciation and understanding. 

As per the words of historian David McCullough ,  

“History is who we are and why we are the way we are.” 

This quote perfectly encapsulates the role of museums. By presenting history in an engaging and accessible manner, museums help us understand our origins, how our societies have evolved, and why we have the cultural practices we do.

Through interactive exhibits, educational programs, and community events, museums actively engage visitors, fostering empathy and promoting cultural exchange. 

Canadian Museum for Human Rights , which uses immersive exhibits to promote understanding and dialogue about human rights issues, showcasing how cultural understanding can drive positive change.

Facilitating Academic Research

Museums provide a wealth of resources for academic researchers. Their collections, often comprising millions of objects, span vast periods of history and diverse cultures.

These institutions serve as invaluable resources for students, researchers, and academics alike. By visiting museums, you can gain a deeper understanding of various cultures, historical events, and artistic movements.

In many cases, museums partner with universities and other research institutions to carry out research projects. As a scholar, you can leverage their extensive resources, benefiting from their expertise and guidance.

Beyond simply housing artifacts, museums also offer:

• Internships and fellowships: Many museums offer opportunities for students and researchers to work closely with their collections, providing hands-on experience and training.
• Publications and databases: Museums regularly publish scholarly articles and books, and maintain online databases, making their collections accessible to researchers worldwide.

Contributing to Scientific Studies

Museums aren’t just for history buffs but for scientific research as well. Natural history museums, for instance, house collections of biological specimens, geological samples, and anthropological artifacts that are integral to the scientific process. 

The American Museum of Natural History’s Department of Ornithology maintains comprehensive collections of birds from around the world, contributing to understanding of their evolution, ecology, and conservation.

Additionally, museums contribute to scientific studies by:

• Conducting their own research: Many museums have dedicated research departments that conduct original scientific research.
• Collaborating with universities: Museums often partner with universities and research institutions, providing resources and expertise to aid in scientific discoveries.

Holding Unique and Rare Artifacts for Study

Museums safeguard unique and rare artifacts, preserving them for future generations. These artifacts aren’t just visually stunning and provide invaluable insights into past civilizations, ecosystems, and artistic traditions.

• The Dead Sea Scrolls , housed in the Israel Museum , offer a unique glimpse into the religious, cultural, and social life of ancient Jewish communities.
• The Rosetta Stone , residing in the British Museum , unlocked our understanding of Egyptian hieroglyphs. It’s not just an artifact—it’s the key to deciphering a once-lost language and culture.

Encouraging Community Engagement

Museums today are vibrant, interactive hubs that actively encourage community engagement. They host a variety of programs and events, including art workshops, lectures, educational courses, and even musical performances.

Promoting your involvement in your local museums can foster connections among people and encourage a sense of belonging to a larger cultural narrative.

Museums also offer unique experiences that create lasting memories, such as:

• Special exhibitions that showcase local art and talent.
• Interactive displays that engage audiences of all ages.
• Community outreach programs that extend the museum experience beyond its walls.

Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C., which regularly hosts “Smithsonian Sleepovers.” These events not only allow children to explore exhibitions after hours but also engage in various hands-on educational activities, nurturing their curiosity and sparking a lifelong love for learning

Acting as Platforms for Discourse and Debate

Museums also serve as platforms for discourse and debate. They’re places where people can freely express their ideas, confront different perspectives, and engage in meaningful conversations about various topics.

In some museums, you can join guided tours or attend public lectures that aim to broaden your understanding of diverse viewpoints.

Take, for instance, how museums often stage exhibitions that tackle contemporary issues or contentious historical events. They present diverse perspectives through curated displays and informative panels and prompt visitors to confront and discuss these topics. In this way, museums actively participate in societal dialogues, helping promote critical thinking and informed citizenship.

Facilitating Social Inclusion and Diversity

Perhaps one of the most significant roles of museums in the 21st century is their commitment to promoting social inclusion and diversity. As societal microcosms, museums have the power to tell stories that might otherwise be overlooked, giving voice to underrepresented groups and promoting understanding and empathy among diverse audiences.

Many museums today consciously include narratives and artifacts from underrepresented groups, reflecting a commitment to telling a more complete, nuanced story of our shared history. They also strive to be accessible to all visitors, offering facilities and programs for those with disabilities and reaching out to marginalized communities who may not typically engage with museums.

To support social inclusion, many museums have:

• Multilingual materials and signs, making their content accessible to various language speakers.
• Adaptive programs are specially tailored for visitors with disabilities or special needs.
• Exhibits that showcase underrepresented stories, cultures, or artists, highlight the value of diversity.

Driving Local and International Tourism

Museums are a primary attraction for both local and international tourists. Whether you’re a local exploring your own city or an international traveler diving into a new culture, museums offer a wealth of knowledge, history, and beauty. 

You can immerse yourself in interactive displays, admire cultural artifacts, and walk through time with guided tours that bring history to life.

According to the American Alliance of Museums, approximately 850 million visits are made to American museums each year, more than the attendance for all major league sporting events and theme parks combined. These statistics clearly illustrate the magnetic draw of museums.

The Louvre drew an estimated 9.6 million visitors in 2019, making it the one most visited museum in the world.

Boosting Local Economies

Museums can be powerful economic drivers for both small towns and large cities. As you visit a museum, not only do you contribute to its income through admission fees, but also indirectly support local businesses. 

Visitors who come for the museums are likely to spend money on accommodations, dining, shopping, and other local attractions, thereby injecting money into the local economy and creating job opportunities.

Moreover, museums often partner with local businesses, artisans, and suppliers, fostering a sense of community and collaboration. This symbiotic relationship benefits both the museum and the local economy, as it encourages the growth of a thriving tourism ecosystem.

Promoting Cultural Exchange

Museums are more than just repositories of art and culture. They’re places where you enter as one person and leave as another. This interaction helps build bridges of understanding, promotes empathy, and fosters continued growth in knowledge and appreciation of human history.

The Smithsonian Institution with its 19 museums and galleries, offers a wealth of knowledge and experiences from various cultures and disciplines, promoting understanding and respect for cultural diversity4.

Museums provide the opportunity to leave with a richer and more nuanced understanding of the world, making them indispensable destinations for anyone traveling near or far.

Preserving Artifacts and Specimens

The preservation of artifacts and specimens is a cornerstone of museum conservation. These objects — everything from ancient pottery to dinosaur bones, from Renaissance paintings to modern digital files — tell the story of human history and the natural world.

Museums ensure that these items are preserved for future generations to study and appreciate. 

• Using climate-controlled environments to prevent damage from humidity or temperature fluctuations. 
• High-quality storage methods such as acid-free boxes and archival materials are employed to protect delicate items.

This dedication to preservation allows future researchers to gain valuable insights and knowledge about the artifacts and their historical context.

Promoting Conservation Awareness

Museums are also powerhouses of education, sparking curiosity and fostering knowledge among their visitors. Through interactive exhibits and educational programs, they promote awareness about conservation and its importance in preserving our natural and cultural heritage.

When visitors wander through a natural history museum and marvel at the massive skeleton of a dinosaur or look in awe at the stunningly vivid colors of a butterfly collection, they are not just learning about these creatures. They are also being introduced to the concept of biodiversity, the threats it faces, and the crucial role conservation plays in its survival.

Moreover, museums often tackle issues like climate change, deforestation, and pollution, challenging visitors to consider their individual roles in these global crises. In this way, museums function as bridges, connecting public understanding with the complex world of conservation science.

Contributing to Global Conservation Efforts

Museums not only preserve their collections, but they also contribute to global conservation efforts. They often collaborate with research organizations, governments, and NGOs to address the challenges facing our environment today.

Natural history museums are often involved in biodiversity research, their scientists venturing into unexplored territories to document and collect new species. These discoveries not only enhance our understanding of the natural world but also inform conservation strategies.

Similarly, many art museums have programs dedicated to conserving art pieces threatened by time, human conflict, or natural disasters. They work tirelessly to restore these pieces, ensuring that the beauty and insights they offer are not lost to future generations.

Encouraging Reflection on Societal Changes

Museums encourage reflection on societal changes, inviting visitors to ponder over the progression and regression in our society. Through the lens of a museum, we can see how far we’ve come and consider the path we’re paving for the future.

A museum is a mirror that reflects societal transformations—from the Industrial Revolution’s impact on the environment to the Civil Rights Movement’s shift in social justice. It’s a place where we can critically examine the past, ponder over the present, and imagine a better future.

The Science Museum in London exhibits technological advancements from the Industrial Revolution to the Digital Age. 

Commemorating Significant Events and Individuals

Museums also honor significant events and individuals who have shaped our collective history. They can provide a space to celebrate and reflect upon the contributions of notable figures and tragic events that have profoundly impacted society. 

Through the commemoration of these events and people, museums serve as a reminder of our shared past and help us appreciate the extraordinary events and contributions that have made our world what it is today.

Some well-known examples include:

• The Anne Frank House in Amsterdam immortalizes the story of a young girl in the face of Holocaust atrocities.
• The years-long history of Nikola Tesla is presented through various museums.
• The Smithsonian’s traveling exhibit on the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

These museums and exhibits offer you the chance to reflect on monumental moments in human history and appreciate the resilience and creativity of humanity.

Enhancing Accessibility through Virtual Museums

Virtual museums are a game-changer in democratizing access to culture and heritage. These digital platforms allow anyone with an internet connection to explore collections from the comfort of their homes. 

This means that a student in Tokyo can take a virtual tour of the Louvre in Paris, or an art enthusiast in New York can marvel at the ancient sculptures in the National Archaeological Museum of Athens.

It’s no trivia that Google Arts & Culture , an online platform for museum exploration, partners with over 2000 museums across 80 countries, making art and culture universally accessible. This digital transformation also supports those with mobility issues, offering virtual access to exhibits that might be physically challenging to reach.

Providing Interactive and Immersive Experiences

The next level of digital evolution in museums is the creation of interactive and immersive experiences. Traditional museums encourage passive observation. In contrast, digital museums invite visitors to engage, interact, and even influence the museum experience.

By leveraging technologies like Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) , museums are creating immersive digital experiences that transport visitors to different eras, locations, and perspectives. 

Imagine witnessing the construction of the pyramids, standing amidst a battle from World War II, or diving deep into the human body’s cellular structure – all of this is possible with digital and interactive museums.

The British Museum’s virtual reality tour of the Bronze Age recreates life during that period. Users can explore a typical house from the era, handle virtual objects, and even ‘meet’ the locals. This level of interactivity provides a dynamic, engaging way to learn about history that’s more memorable than reading from a textbook.

Bridging the Digital Divide in Cultural Access

The integration of digital media in museums not only enhances your experience but also bridges the digital divide in cultural access. In the past, cultural experiences were often limited to those who could afford to travel or live in cities with museums. But digital museums bring culture to everyone, regardless of socioeconomic status, making cultural education more equitable.

Moreover, they also offer educational institutions worldwide the opportunity to integrate world-class museum resources into their curricula. This interconnectivity fosters a global cultural exchange that enriches everyone’s understanding and appreciation of diverse cultures and histories.

Providing Spaces for Relaxation and Contemplation

Museums, with their serene and intellectually stimulating environment, can be an oasis of calm in the midst of bustling city life. Their wide-open spaces, lofty ceilings, and the soft murmur of hushed conversations create an ambiance perfect for relaxation and contemplation.

Visiting a museum is like stepping into a different world—a world brimming with history, culture, and creativity. In the middle of the busy streets of New York City, for instance, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) stands as a sanctuary where people can escape from the fast-paced city life, engross themselves in remarkable art pieces, and find their own quiet corner for contemplation.

Promoting Mental Health Awareness

Museums often create exhibitions and events that address mental health topics, helping to break down stigma and raise awareness about these important issues. By showcasing stories of both historical figures and everyday people who have faced mental health challenges, these institutions can help you better understand and empathize with the experiences of others.

“The Heart of the Matter” exhibition at the Wellcome Collection in London used art and science to explore the connection between the heart, emotions, and mental health. These exhibitions stimulate conversations on mental health, encouraging you to engage with these issues in a supportive and educational environment.

Showcasing National Achievements

Museums are spectacular stages where national achievements are showcased. They highlight accomplishments across various fields—from science and technology to arts and sports. For instance, consider the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C., which proudly displays the iconic Apollo 11 Command Module, a testament to America’s pioneering role in space exploration.

Such exhibitions do more than just pique our curiosity; they:

• Inspire individuals to strive for greatness
• Encourage innovation and creativity
• Promote a shared sense of accomplishment

Just imagine standing before the original Wright Brothers’ Flyer or the Bell X-1 that first broke the sound barrier. These aren’t merely objects but tangible proof of human triumph over limitations, sparking a sense of pride and admiration.

Illustrating Historical Narratives

History comes alive within the walls of museums. They weave together the threads of time, translating historical narratives into visual stories. A stroll through a museum is akin to a time travel expedition—it offers unique insights into the events that shaped a nation’s destiny.

The poignant exhibits at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum in Japan. They paint a vivid picture of the devastation caused by the atomic bomb in 1945. These powerful displays serve as a stark reminder of the horrors of war, informing present and future generations and reinforcing a commitment to peace.

As Maya Angelou once said, 

“History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.” 

Museums play a crucial role in illustrating these narratives, ensuring we remember and learn from our past.

Strengthening National Pride and Unity

Museums are a testament to a nation’s shared values, experiences, and aspirations, fostering a sense of belonging and unity among its citizens. They are places where people can learn about their shared heritage, connect with their roots, and develop a deeper appreciation for their nation’s culture and history.

The British Museum houses some 8 million works, many among the world’s most significant. Walking through its halls, you’re treated to a chronological and geographical tour of human civilization, with a particular focus on Britain’s rich history and influence. This can instill a sense of pride and unity among visitors, strengthening their connection to the nation.

Do museums work together and collaborate?

Yes, museums often collaborate with each other on various levels to create a richer cultural experience. They work together through partnerships, sharing resources, co-organizing exhibitions, and exchanging knowledge. 

These collaborations can be local, regional, or international, fostering a sense of community and helping to expand cultural understanding. By collaborating, museums can achieve broader goals and create more impactful experiences for their visitors.

How can I support my local museum?

Supporting your local museum is a great way to give back to your community and ensure the preservation of art, history, and culture. There are several ways you can support your local museum:

• Visit regularly: One of the most straightforward ways to support a museum is to visit it and encourage friends and family to do the same.

• Become a member: Museums often offer membership programs that provide exclusive benefits such as free entry, discounts, and invitations to special events. Your membership fees directly contribute to the museum’s operations and programming.

• Donate: Financial contributions are always appreciated, whether it’s a one-time donation or a recurring contribution. You can also consider sponsoring a specific project or program that resonates with you.

• Attend events: Museums often host events such as lectures, workshops, and fundraising galas. By attending these events, you not only support the museum financially but also engage with the museum’s community.

• Spread the word: Share your experiences on social media and leave positive reviews to help increase awareness and attract more visitors.

Are there different roles and career paths in a museum?

Yes, there are a variety of roles and career paths within a museum, each offering unique opportunities to contribute to the institution’s mission. Some key positions include:

• Curator: Curators are responsible for acquiring, managing, and interpreting a museum’s collection. They also plan exhibitions and conduct research in their areas of expertise.

• Conservator: Conservators work to preserve and maintain the museum’s collection, ensuring that the artifacts remain in optimal condition for future generations.

• Educator: Museum educators develop and implement educational programs, engaging with visitors and facilitating learning experiences.

• Administrator: Administrators are involved in various aspects of museum operations, including finance, marketing, human resources, and strategic planning.

• Visitor Services: This team creates a welcoming and informative environment, assists visitors with questions, and manages ticketing and membership programs.

Can I volunteer at a museum?

Yes, volunteering at a museum is a fantastic way to support the institution, connect with your community, and gain valuable experience. Museums often rely on volunteers to help with various tasks, such as leading tours, assisting with events, or working behind the scenes on projects related to collections and research. 

To get started, reach out to your local museum and inquire about their volunteer opportunities. They may have an application process or specific requirements, but many museums are eager to welcome passionate individuals who want to make a difference.

Museums are key to preserving and understanding various cultures and histories. They have significant impacts on education, tourism, and the economy. Here are some of the main points:

• Museums enhance your knowledge about the world and its complexities.
• They act as platforms for community dialogue, learning, and debate, thereby helping address societal issues.
• Museums present innovative ideas and solutions through their exhibits, contributing to future growth and resilience.
• They need to adapt with time, like embracing new technologies for improved visitor experiences and collaborating with diverse institutions for creative enrichment.

Cultural expert Maria Balshaw highlights that museums offer a peek into different cultures, times, and places. They inspire visitors to think differently and explore new perspectives. Visitors can actively participate in preserving museums by becoming members or volunteering.

Local museums are important, too, as they tell unique stories about your community. Visiting them can enhance your understanding of the world, help you appreciate its intricacies, and equip you with a better understanding of human experiences to face future challenges.

So, the next time you find yourself at the doorstep of a museum, remember: you’re not just entering a building but a gateway to infinite worlds. Let the spirit of discovery guide you, and who knows what incredible journeys you might embark on.

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Clariza Carizal

Clariza is a passionate writer and editor who firmly believes that words have great power. She has a degree in BS Psychology, which gives her an in-depth understanding of the complexities of human behavior. As a woman of science and art, she fused her love for both fields in crafting insightful articles on lifestyle, mental health, and social justice to inspire others and advocate for change.

In her leisure time, you can find her sitting in the corner of her favorite coffee shop downtown, deeply immersed in her bubble of thoughts. Being an art enthusiast that she is, she finds bliss in exploring the rich world of fiction writing and diverse art forms.

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3 scientific reasons why visiting an art museum can boost your happiness.

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New research suggests that consuming art can lead to a happier and healthier life.

A new study published in the Journal of Positive Psychology explains how consuming art in a museum can help you reduce stress, combat loneliness, and make life feel more meaningful.

“I’ve always found art museums to be calming and engaging environments, so as I began conducting research in psychology I wanted to better understand people’s experiences with the arts and visiting art museums,” explains psychologist Katherine Cotter from the University of Pennsylvania and co-author of the new research. “I personally have always been restored after visiting an art museum, and as I saw programs offered by museums popping up geared toward flourishing, it seemed natural to dig in deeper and explore the connections between art museums and flourishing.”

Cotter’s study defines flourishing as an umbrella term that comprises two components:

• Well-being refers to the inculcation of strengths, meaning, and positive states. This includes cultivating positive relationships with others in your life, experiencing positive emotions, or feeling engaged in your life and experiences.
• Ill-being refers to the presence of diseases, disorders, and negative states.

According to Cotter, to examine one’s quality of life in a holistic manner, we need to consider both components of flourishing.

After an extensive literature review and thorough evaluation of art museum-based programs, Cotter and her team identified three major benefits that we can gain from frequent visits to an art museum:

• It is a rewarding experience. Visiting art museums stimulates positive emotions, promotes feelings of engagement resulting in an improved quality of life.
• It reduces cortisol levels. Visiting an art museum can help us reduce stress as it immediately reduces the production of cortisol (a hormone related to stress) in our body.
• It combats isolation. Both the artworks as well as the visitors at museums can make us feel connected and less isolated. It can even lead to the building of a like-minded community.

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While researchers are still seeking concrete explanations for why art has this effect on our mental health, Cotter expands on a couple of hypotheses, listed here:

#1. Art museums help us in feeling immersed

Since an art museum is a space that one does not visit frequently, it is natural for us to feel transported into another world when we actually do visit one.

“We might lose track of time or find ourselves absorbed in a particular work during our visit. In our everyday lives, we probably aren’t having these sorts of experiences too often, so in this sense it makes the museum a unique space. Through these forms of immersion, we may boost our positive emotions or feel a bit more alive,” explains Cotter.

#2. Art museums help us engage in reflective thought

Visiting a museum can also induce reflection and contemplative states which enable us to think about ourselves and our lives differently, form new connections, and expose ourselves to newer perspectives.

“Because we’re able to disengage from the outside world a bit, our minds can travel new paths and help us to gain new perspectives,” clarifies Cotter.

How to experience an art museum

If you are someone who feels intimidated visiting an art museum, Cotter has the following advice:

• Participate in a guided tour. Guided tours can help provide information about a range of artworks but also provide some tips or ideas for how to look at art.
• Don’t overthink it. Cotter reminds us that there is no right or wrong way to look at art. Just observe an artwork and ask yourself the following questions: Do you like the artwork? Why? Does it remind you of anything or make you feel certain emotions?

“A big part of enjoying art is being open to the experience and realizing that it’s okay if you don’t ‘get’ an artwork or find it confusing,” shares Cotter. “I go to the museum and that happens to me all the time. Going to the art museum does not require any knowledge about art or art history to have an enjoyable and meaningful visit.”

A full interview with Katherine Cotter discussing her new research on art museums and mental health can be found here: Is art the answer to our mental health problems?

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3 Reasons Why Visiting an Art Museum Can Boost Your Mood

New research suggests that consuming art can help us feel happy..

Posted April 19, 2022 | Reviewed by Abigail Fagan

• Recent research found three benefits of frequent visits to art museums: Visits can reduce stress, combat isolation, and be rewarding.
• Hypotheses for those benefits include that art museums may help people feel immersed and engaged in reflective thought.
• People don’t need to have knowledge about art or art history to have an enjoyable and meaningful visit to an art museum.

A new study published in the Journal of Positive Psychology explains how consuming art in a museum can help you reduce stress , combat loneliness , and make life feel more meaningful.

“I’ve always found art museums to be calming and engaging environments, so as I began conducting research in psychology I wanted to better understand people’s experiences with the arts and visiting art museums,” explains psychologist Katherine Cotter from the University of Pennsylvania and co-author of the new research. “I personally have always been restored after visiting an art museum, and as I saw programs offered by museums popping up geared toward flourishing, it seemed natural to dig in deeper and explore the connections between art museums and flourishing.”

Cotter’s study defines flourishing as an umbrella term that comprises two components:

• Well-being refers to the inculcation of strengths, meaning, and positive states. This includes cultivating positive relationships with others in your life, experiencing positive emotions, or feeling engaged in your life and experiences.
• Ill-being refers to the presence of diseases, disorders, and negative states.

According to Cotter, to examine one’s quality of life in a holistic manner, we need to consider both components of flourishing.

After an extensive literature review and thorough evaluation of art museum-based programs, Cotter and her team identified three major benefits that we can gain from frequent visits to an art museum:

• It is a rewarding experience . Visiting art museums stimulates positive emotions, promotes feelings of engagement resulting in an improved quality of life.
• It reduces cortisol levels . Visiting an art museum can help us reduce stress as it immediately reduces the production of cortisol (a hormone related to stress) in our body.
• It combats isolation . Both the artworks as well as the visitors at museums can make us feel connected and less isolated. It can even lead to the building of a like-minded community.

While researchers are still seeking concrete explanations for why art has this effect on our mental health, Cotter expands on a couple of hypotheses, listed here:

#1. Art museums help us in feeling immersed

Since an art museum is a space that one does not visit frequently, it is natural for us to feel transported into another world when we actually do visit one.

“We might lose track of time or find ourselves absorbed in a particular work during our visit. In our everyday lives, we probably aren’t having these sorts of experiences too often, so in this sense it makes the museum a unique space. Through these forms of immersion, we may boost our positive emotions or feel a bit more alive,” explains Cotter.

#2. Art museums help us engage in reflective thought

Visiting a museum can also induce reflection and contemplative states which enable us to think about ourselves and our lives differently, form new connections, and expose ourselves to newer perspectives.

“Because we’re able to disengage from the outside world a bit, our minds can travel new paths and help us to gain new perspectives,” clarifies Cotter.

How to experience an art museum

If you are someone who feels intimidated visiting an art museum, Cotter has the following advice:

• Participate in a guided tour . Guided tours can help provide information about a range of artworks but also provide some tips or ideas for how to look at art.
• Don’t overthink it . Cotter reminds us that there is no right or wrong way to look at art. Just observe an artwork and ask yourself the following questions: Do you like the artwork? Why? Does it remind you of anything or make you feel certain emotions?

“A big part of enjoying art is being open to the experience and realizing that it’s okay if you don’t ‘get’ an artwork or find it confusing,” shares Cotter. “I go to the museum and that happens to me all the time. Going to the art museum does not require any knowledge about art or art history to have an enjoyable and meaningful visit.”

Cotter, Katherine (Interview). Is art the answer to our mental health problems? Therapytips.org , April 9, 2022.

Mark Travers, Ph.D., is an American psychologist with degrees from Cornell University and the University of Colorado Boulder.

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Why We Need Museums Now More Than Ever — The Importance of Museums

In today’s uncertain times, museums can act as an anchor in the storm.

To those who aren’t as passionate about the power of museums as readers of this blog, it can often seem that such institutions are merely places where forgotten objects go to enjoy their final years.

But despite this, there’s a solid case to be made that the museum is more relevant today than ever. From addressing critical social issues to transforming how we see the future, the humble museum has the power to reflect and shape our society. Here are five reasons why we need museums now more than ever.

Museums Help Us to Learn From the Past

First and foremost, museums and galleries provide an insight into humankind’s history. While no museum can claim to provide a complete picture, the lessons we can learn from past events, wonders, and tragedies are priceless.

This is especially true in times of turmoil. Today, it’s impossible to ignore the escalating tensions between nations, political parties, and different cultural groups. Instead of finding common ground, it seems that issues of class, race, gender, and environmentalism are becoming ever more polarised.

To help the public re-establish this common ground and learn to build bridges rather than breed division, many believe that museums have a role to play in giving us perspective – be it through intellectual exercises or merely holding up mistakes of the past as evidence of where such behaviour will lead us once more.

Last year, the  Museum of Oxford  launched its Queering Spires exhibition to celebrate the ‘hidden history’ of Oxford’s LGBTQIA+ community. Speaking at the time, co-founder of the project Richard Howlett said that Oxford has a “queer history to be proud of.”

But, Howlett went on, it’s a “history hidden in people’s attics, filing cabinets and memories. We look forward to helping bring it to life through this exhibition.”

This exhibition came at a time when it was reported that hate crimes in England and Wales doubled in just five years, with four out of five anti-LGBT+ hate crimes going unreported.

Through exhibitions like Queering Spires, museums can help individuals and groups celebrate what makes them unique, spreading the word that it’s okay to fall outside the box despite the continued intolerance of some.

Knowledge and understanding are often the best weapons in the face of hatred and ignorance. The museum has the power to showcase this.

Museums Bring Communities Together

Museums have the power to create unity on both a social and political level and a local one. Local museums can provide a sense of community and place by celebrating a collective heritage, offering a great way to learn about the history of a particular area.

There are endless examples of local museums in the UK. One such institution is the  Hove Museum and Art Gallery , located in Hove near Brighton. Housed in an Italianate Victorian villa near the seafront, this local abode was once home to a wealthy widow before housing German prisoners of war during World War II.

The home has various local historical treasures, including dolls, rocking horses, prints, paintings and sculptures. From prehistoric times to the pioneering 20th-century filmmaking in the area, this museum offers a comprehensive history of Hove.

Similarly, the  Discovery Museum  in Newcastle Upon Tyne celebrates the Northern Powerhouse – long before this phrase was coined in recent years. In centuries past, the region led the way in engineering, and entire communities flourished on the back of innovation. The eclectic mix of exhibits at the Discovery Museum is tactile and hands-on, encouraging visitor interaction, while the lightbulb exhibition details how Joseph Swan unveiled his invention for the first time in Newcastle.

As technology and digitalisation see us becoming increasingly globalised, institutions such as these offer a welcome reminder of the achievements and discoveries located closer to home, bringing communities together.

Museums can also bring people together in a more literal way through public events, workshops, and lectures. The  British Museum , for example, works with community organisations and charities to explore, research, and respond to projects. Past projects have included working with schools, young people, creative arts partnerships, and the local LGBTQIA+ community.

Meanwhile, museums like the  Museum of Street Culture  in Dallas, Texas, create exhibitions to support vulnerable local people. The Museum of Street Culture recently launched a project designed to engage the public in dialogue with people experiencing homelessness, challenging stigma and increasing awareness.

Exhibits like this couldn’t come at a better time, with recent reports confirming that the levels of homelessness are actually five times higher than previously thought.

Museums Stand Firm in the Face of Adversity

Of course, taking a stand often means that a museum exposes itself to criticism from those who disagree with its exhibits. And in some cases, criticism can boil over into something much worse. For a stark example, we need only look back to 2017 and the  Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC)  in Washington, D.C.

Here, tourists found a noose purposefully left at the museum – one of several hate incidents that followed the 2016 election result. In fact, the Southern Poverty Law Centre reported more than 1,300 hate incidents between November 2016 and early February 2017.

Former Director Lonnie G. Bunch III described the leaving of the noose as a sickening “symbol of extreme violence for African Americans,” one which immediately evokes Jim Crow-era lynching and white-on-black violence.

But indeed, the incident only highlights the importance of institutions like the NMAAHC. While such emotional hatred exists, it makes the need for African American stories to be told even clearer.

Museums as Hubs for Digitalisation, Innovation and Interaction

Thanks to the rise in technology over the last two decades, what it means to be a museum is being questioned and challenged.  Modern tech  is transforming museums from spaces of looking and learning to spaces of interaction, participation and engagement.

This is evident in major institutions worldwide, including the  Detroit Institute of Arts . The museum’s Lumin AR Tour uses augmented reality to improve the educational and practical aspects of the museum experience. The tour, introduced in 2017, can be implemented on a handheld device inside the building.

When the device is pointed at certain sculptures, artefacts, or paintings, more information about them is available. Pop-up snippets, detailed descriptions, and additional photography are just a few examples of what the devices offer, increasing the average time visitors spend engaging with items inside the collection.

One of the most exciting and popular options is the ability to ‘x-ray’ an ancient mummy, allowing visitors to experience the interior and exterior of this fascinating find.

Similarly, the ArtLens Interactive Studio at the  Cleveland Museum of Art  contains a variety of screen-based activities that require physical movement and interaction from the viewer to operate.

Visitors can expect to enjoy virtual painting and collaging (using items found throughout the gallery’s collection), researching and learning about various featured artists and mediums using portable devices, front-camera self-portraiture, virtual pottery, and matching shapes to items in the gallery.

Examples such as these show museums’ changing faces as curators begin to think outside the box and develop more immersive, social, and collaborative ways of learning for visitors.

Advances in technology have also made museums more accessible than ever. For those who might struggle to attend an institution in person, museums and galleries increasingly share their collections online. Virtual reality, digital guides, downloads, apps and digital trails are all becoming increasingly available to anyone and everyone.

We need museums because their future is full of possibilities and opportunities, and more people than ever can access them.

Museums Educate Future Generations

Speaking of the future, museums and other cultural institutions will always have a role to play in the education of future generations. From creating exhibitions targeted towards children to teaching children in a quasi-classroom environment, institutions worldwide are doing their bit to pass down knowledge.

Back in 1990, Semper described a museum as “an educational country fair,” and this is more true today than ever. According to the American Alliance of Museums, around 80% of museums in the United States alone provide educational programmes for children and spend more than $2 billion per year on educational activities.

Museums for children have been a staple part of museum culture for decades. From  Eureka  in Halifax, West Yorkshire, to the  Natural History Museum  and the  Science Museum  (located in London), endless institutions are designed to help children engage with and enjoy learning.

Moreover, traditional museum spaces also offer interactive exhibitions and opportunities for children. The  Tate  in London offers a dedicated website for children about art—Tate Kids—which allows children to play games and quizzes, watch videos about art, and be inspired to make their own creations at home. They can also share their creations with other children around the world via the site’s online gallery.

Museums are just as crucial to the future as the future is to museums. Not only can our museums bring history to life, but they can also shine a light on our present and future – a light which can be hard to find elsewhere.

MuseumNext offer online learning for museum professionals striving for engaging, relevant and flexible professional growth content. Find out about our upcoming events here.

About the author – Rebecca Carlsson

Rebecca Carlsson is a journalist writing extensively about the arts. She has a passion for modern art and when she’s not writing about museums, she can be found spending her weekends in them.

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10 Reasons to Visit a Museum

Want to do something good for yourself and the people you love? Go to a museum.

Museums, in this article, include art, history, and specialty museums, science centers, zoos, aquariums, botanic gardens, arboretums, nature centers, historic sites and similar institutions.

1.  Museums make you feel good

. Times are tight in this economic climate, and it’s often easy to use a museum admission price as an excuse to stay at home. However, a recent study conducted by Harris Interactive finds that people are happier when they spend money on experiences rather than material purchases.  According to Leaf Van Boven, an Assistant Professor of Psychology at CU-Boulder,  experiences are shown to create more happiness than material goods because they provide positive personal reinterpretations over time. That is, as we revisit the memory of our trip to the museum, we have a tendency to psychologically weed out any negative memories (should there be any). Experiences, such as visiting a museum, can also become a meaningful part of one’s identity and contribute to successful social relationships in a manner that material items cannot. So consider foregoing an outing for items that you may not need; going to the museum will make you happier in the long run.

2.  Museums make you smarter

. There is no doubt that a primary role of museums is to engage and educate the community.  Museum exhibits inspire interest in an area of study, item, time period, or an idea – but there’s more going on in museums in regard to education than one might think. Schools rely heavily on museums to enhance the their curriculum. The New York Museum Education Act , for example, aims to create a partnership between schools and cultural institutions to prepare students for the 21st century.  Galleries are becoming classrooms , and not just for kids. Even the museums themselves have interesting histories to inspire and educate visitors. It becomes nearly impossible to exit a museum without having gained any information or insight during your visit.

3.  Museums provide an effective way of learning

. Museums are examples of informal learning environments, which means they are devoted primarily to informal education — a lifelong process whereby individuals acquire attitudes, values, skills, and knowledge from daily experience and the educative influences and resources in his or her environment. Even outside of museums, informal learning plays a pivotal role in how we take in the world around us. In fact, The U.S. Department of Labor estimates 70% or more of work-related learning occurs outside formal training.  A single visit to a museum can expose visitors to in-depth information on a subject, and the nature of the museum environment is one in which you can spend as much or as little time as you like exploring exhibits. The environment allows you to form your own unique experiences and take away information that interests you. Despite the success that museums have already had in educating visitors, there continue to be ongoing discussions among institutions in regard to increasing museums’ ability to connect through informal learning.

4.  Museums are community centers

. Museums are a lot more than collections of artifacts; they allow you to meet with neighbors, discuss thoughts and opinions, and become an active part of the community .  There have been yoga classes at MoMA and Rock Band Summer Camps at the Experience Music Project.  Museums are increasingly holding art chats, book signings, professional development classes, and even wine festivals and farmer’s markets. Something is going on everywhere — just pull up the web page of a local museum (or hop on their Facebook page) and see what they have to offer!

5.  Museums inspire

6.  Museums help bring change and development to communities

. Research has uncovered that creating community involvement is more about location than the activity at hand, and this kind of location-based learning (like the kind utilized in museums) is a trigger for change and development within the community. As museums are functioning more and more like community centers in providing access to current research and new ideas, they’ve become hot-spots for civic engagement . In museums, even (in some cases, especially) children are actively asked to take part in their communities . The promotion of education and the cultivation of conversation that is taking place in museums across the nation shapes and strengthens our neighborhoods.

7.  Museums are a great way to spend time with friends and family

. Museums provide a great excuse to spend time with friends and family in a positive way. Personal connections can be made with museums and also with family members during visits. A day at the museum often translates to a day spent with loved ones as fathers and mothers transform into tour guides , and the environment provides a shared learning experience. Want to take a date to a museum? Here’s how to do it

8.  A museum may be your next community partner or business endeavor

. It takes a lot of employees to help run America’s approximately 17,500 museums and it takes countless businesses and community partners to keep them functioning. Museums need everything from printing services, to video surveillance, to dino-glue– and they are inextricably woven into the web of American government and businesses. If you are not a direct business provider for a museum, you can get some great PR and possibly borrow an artifact or two for a big meeting if you are willing to contribute a monetary gift to a museum. Alternatively, you can follow the lead of these entrepreneurs who are creating their own museums. Or, at the very least, businessmen and entrepreneurs can trace the development of the National Museum of Entrepreneurship in Denver, and perhaps pay them a visit within the next few years.

9.  Museums need your support in order to keep educating and inspiring people

Many museums are nonprofit entities with missions to educate and inspire audiences – and that means that they need the support of visitors, members, and donors in order to keep on fulfilling those missions. Sadly, many people don’t even know that museums are nonprofit organizations ! Often, a membership pays itself off in as few as three annual visits to a museum, and you can come back and visit the museum again and again all year round.  If you like a cultural organization and you want to keep it around for decades to come (so that you may bring your great-grandchildren), make a donation or fill out that membership card with pride! In many ways, supporting a museum through visitation or – even better – through membership or philanthropic support is a way of strengthening communities and giving back so that the museum can create impactful programs that fulfill its mission.

10.  There is a museum close to you

According to the American Association of Museums (now the American Alliance of Museums since the original publication of this post)  museums average approximately 865 million visits per year or 2.3 million visits per day. That’s a lot of museum visits! It doesn’t hurt that there are museums in every state. To find one near you, try the Official Museum Directory . By conducting a search on the Internet, you may find some rather unusual and interesting museums worth checking out. From the Museum of Wooden Nickles in San Antonio to the Asphalt Museum in Rohnert Park, California, there is certainly something for everyone.

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Over 60% Of Recent Visitors Attended Cultural Organizations As Children (DATA)

People Trust Museums More Than Newspapers. Here Is Why That Matters Right Now (DATA)

US art museums generate $52bn in well-being benefits annually, study finds

Every museum visit produces $905 in social benefits per visitor, according to a study conducted at 11 art institutions.

Visitors to the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia Barnes Foundation

Admission to an art museum in the US might set you back $15 or $25 or nothing at all, depending on where and who you are. But a new study that sets out to measure the societal value of museums in monetary terms estimates that a single visit will pay dividends many times over in benefits to your well-being, equivalent to more than $900 per adult visitor.

Eleven medium to large US art museums participated in the study , conducted by the Oregon-based Institute for Learning Innovation, including the Barnes Foundation; Cleveland Museum of Art; Denver Art Museum; Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens; Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Milwaukee Art Museum; Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art; New Orleans Museum of Art; Oakland Museum of California; Saint Louis Art Museum and Walters Art Museum. The findings were presented at the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) annual conference in Denver last month.

Researchers collected the data from a randomised sample of 1,942 adults who visited the participating museums between May and September 2022. One group was asked to assess whether their experience of visiting an art museum improved their well-being across four different dimensions—personal, intellectual, social and physical—and to estimate how long they felt each of those positive effects lasted afterwards. The survey focused, for instance, on variables such as whether visitors felt relaxed and refreshed, whether the museum experience gave them a sense of awe and whether it had opened up new perspectives in their thinking.

A second group of participants was asked to state how much money they thought each well-being benefit was worth on a sliding scale from zero to $1,000, depending on how long it might last—with durations ranging from an hour or two up to a month or more.

According to the final technical report , more than 95% of participants reported some benefits to their well-being after visiting a museum and 85% indicated positive effects in all four areas. Most respondents estimated that their museum visit had an impact well beyond the couple of hours they had spent on site. On average, the social and physical well-being benefits were perceived to last for a full day afterwards, compared to three days for the intellectual benefits and nearly a week in enhanced personal well-being.

The researchers determined the overall “public value” of art museum visits based on “the sum of the four well-being-related benefits”. The average dollar figures assigned by the second group of visitors to each category were then added together to reach a total economic value of $905 in “multi-day benefits” per individual adult visit.

Multiplying that figure by the mean number of annual museum visitors across the 11 institutions led the researchers to calculate that: “On average, each of these museums annually delivered in excess of $325m in well-being-related economic value to their users.” A cost-benefit analysis that factored in the museums’ mean annual operating costs estimated that every $1 spent generated well-being benefits to visitors worth $12.

The report notes that around 57.5m US adults—24% of the population—visited an art museum or gallery in 2017, according to data collected by the National Endowment for the Arts. Projecting the well-being data on a national scale, then, the authors estimate that “art museums annually generate on the order of $52bn in public, well-being-related, economic value”.

The value of culture has long been notoriously difficult to measure. For the study’s lead author John Falk, the founder of the Institute for Learning Innovation, such research is all the more timely in the current post-pandemic climate. Decades of “increasing scrutiny” on museums and “the public value they create” came to a head during the Covid-19 pandemic, he says, when cultural institutions around the world remained closed for months as they were “deemed ‘unessential’” to society. That in turn placed many museums under financial pressure: the AAM warned in June 2021 that the pandemic had caused “dire economic harm” to US museums and predicted that “the field faces a long road to recovery”.

“Museums find themselves constantly asked by policy makers to justify their budgets,” Falk says. He views the new research as a potential “breakthrough” in understanding the benefits of museum visitor experiences “through the lens of human well-being”. It is, he says, “an important first step in allowing art museum leaders to begin to quantitatively address questions about their public value”.

“For funders and policy makers, this research provides a compelling, quantitative argument that thriving, well-supported cultural institutions are not ‘nice-to-haves’, they are ‘need-to-haves’ and that the return on their investment is significant and multi-faceted,” says Will Cary, the chief operating officer of the Barnes Foundation.

The 11 participating museums welcomed the study in a joint statement as “a promising new model for institutional collaboration” that “will help guide our work to continuously enhance the value of the museum experience”. At the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, for example, the findings will inform future strategies to improve well-being through programming, gallery interpretation and visitor amenities, says its director and chief executive, Julián Zugazagoitia.

A number of museum representatives are now working on a follow-up report with recommendations for how the wider sector can implement the well-being research in practice. And since the AAM conference, Falk adds, more than a dozen museum leaders have volunteered their organisations for further study.

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The Importance of Taking Children to Museums

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Could visiting a museum be the secret to a healthy life?

Postdoctoral researcher, cognitive neuroscience, Université de Montréal

Disclosure statement

Emma Dupuy works in partnership with the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and has received funding from MITACS, the Université de Montréal and the Fonds de Recherche du Québec.

Université de Montréal provides funding as a founding partner of The Conversation CA-FR.

Université de Montréal provides funding as a member of The Conversation CA.

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It’s Saturday morning. You are barely awake, with a cup of coffee in your hand, and your gaze wanders to the window. It’s raining. So you make up your mind. This afternoon, you will go to a museum.

But what if, without realizing it, you just made a good decision for your health?

That’s the hypothesis put forward by the Association des Médecins francophones du Canada in 2018, when it launched the museum prescriptions program in partnership with the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. The project, now completed, has enabled thousands of patients to get a doctor’s prescription to visit a museum, either on their own or accompanied. The aim of the prescription was to promote the recovery and well-being of patients with chronic illnesses (hypertension, diabetes), neurological conditions, cognitive disorders or mental health problems. The decision to write the prescription was left to the discretion of the doctor.

Five years in, this pioneering initiative has inspired other innovative projects. So we are now seeing an increasing number of museum-based wellness activities ranging from museum yoga to guided meditations with works of art, as well as the practice of slow contemplation or “slow looking.”

There’s no shortage of possibilities, and they all help to reinforce the same idea, that art is good for us.

Beyond first impressions

These initiatives have recently made headlines in national media on both sides of the Atlantic, in France and Canada , and are gaining in visibility in the general public. Because of the popularity of these activities, more and more claims are being made that a visit to the museum can have “powerful anti-stress properties,” be a “miracle cure for stress,” or have other “incredible benefits.”

Talk about enthusiasm!

Yet, as a certified neuroscientist, I can’t help but wonder why, given the extraordinarily relaxing effects that are being claimed, crowds aren’t flocking to our museums every day.

And that gives us all the more reason to look at the scientific reports and studies that have recently been published on the subject.

Is art good for you? From intuition to observation

In 2019, the World Health Organization published an extensive report compiling evidence on the role of arts and cultural activities in promoting health and well-being . The authors of this report attempted to move away from the sweeping claim that the benefits of art could constitute a universal solution to health problems, like a type of home remedy.

Instead, they encourage new, more precise and rigorous approaches to looking at the question, based on observation of the psychological, physiological and behavioural responses induced by certain specific components of artistic activity (aesthetic engagement, sensory stimulation, physical activity, etc.).

Actor or spectator?

What’s specific about a museum visit is that it is a so-called receptive artistic activity – in other words, it is not about producing art (painting, drawing, composing). It does, however, have the advantage of being accessible and already well established in our collective habits, making it a good candidate for health prevention.

The question is whether art exposure, alone, is enough to reap its benefits. In other words, does the simple fact of being in contact with art have specific effects?

Healthier consumers of culture

Research has been carried out in England on samples of several thousand individuals whose long-term health indicators were monitored, and who were asked for 10 years to report on their habits in terms of cultural and artistic activities .

This research shows that individuals who regularly (every two or three months, or more) visit cultural venues (theatres, opera houses, museums, galleries) have a 50 per cent lower risk of dementia and depression , and a 40 per cent lower risk of developing a geriatric frailty syndrome (age-related decline in health and loss of functional independence).

Does that mean that exposure to art could lead to healthier aging?

Perhaps, but whether cultural involvement is the cause of the improvement in health markers observed in these studies, has yet to be confirmed. To do this, cohort studies and randomized controlled trials are required. However, this type of study has yet to be done.

In search of the active ingredients

There is one other question, and it’s a big one! It’s the question of why .

Why would art, and visual art in particular, do me good? What happens in my body when I encounter a work of art, and how does this contact transform me and help to keep me healthier – if this is the case?

This was the question Mikaela Law, a psychology researcher at the University of Auckland in New Zealand, and her colleagues asked in 2021. They reviewed the scientific literature for studies on the physiological response to the visual arts and its effect on self-reported stress.

Some of the studies listed in her work show that contact with artwork can lower blood pressure, heart rate and the cortisol secreted in saliva. Such changes reflect a reduction in the body’s state of guardedness, also called stress. This change appears to be perceived by the individual, reflected by the reduction in the stress he or she feels after exposure.

Other studies, on the other hand, have observed no effects.

So, if contact with visual art is likely to bring about physical and psychological relaxation for the viewer, it may not be a sufficient condition for improved health.

This conclusion invites us to qualify our conclusions and reflect more deeply on what happens at the moment of an encounter with a work that might condition its effects on an individual’s psyche.

Today is Saturday…

You’ve decided you’re going to the museum.

This decision will likely be good for your health.

It’s also likely to depend on the museum you choose, and how you visit it.

However one thing’s certain: going to a museum means you will greatly increase your chances of having a pleasant day!

This article was originally published in French

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10 Educational Benefits of Bringing Children to the Museum

Museums are community centers designed to inform and teach the public. When we ask what is the educational benefit of a museum, the immediate response is academic learning.  Absorbing academic information, however, is scratching the surface of what museums offer families and specifically children.

It can be challenging to bring young children to a museum when they can have short attention spans, inability to read, and no prior knowledge of the subject.  By introducing bite size trips to your children, it is actually doing more than just teaching them information on a subject.

10 Educational Benefits for Bringing Children

To a museum, encourages a love of history.

Museums are the caretakers of history as much as they offer connections to history that can easily be overlooked in traditional classrooms.  Whether you bring your child to a children’s museum, art gallery, or science museum, history has made a huge impact on the innovation they are witnessing.  As parents we don’t have to be experts on subject matters, however reading out the plaques in the exhibit and motivating your child to ask questions will encourage a love of history.

Listening to Stories

While interning at the National Museum of the American Indian (NAMI), I had the opportunity to visit dozens of museums the summer I graduated from college.  From the Museum of Modern Art to the Whitney to the Air and Space Museum to Holocaust Memorial Museum, I was able to walk through hundreds of exhibits and learn the importance of storytelling.  Museums are full of stories, and it is critical for our children to hear those stories. Stories told at the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C. not only teach our children history but also encourage empathy.

Compare and Contrast

Museums offer opportunities for children to compare and contrast what is important for them which leads to higher critical thinking skills. An art museum will contain various types of artwork and as they stroll through an exhibit there will be differences in the style, subject matter, and techniques demonstrated in the artwork which can foster interesting conversations.

As the kids looked at this piece we asked them to identify different objects and colors.

Encourages Questions

Visiting a museum opens the door for your child’s curiosity in the form of questions.  Some of these will be questions that have answers, questions that should be encouraged, questions that make you think, and questions that may not have answers.  All of these questions should be encouraged, and don’t worry if you don’t know the answers. Ask your child what they believe the answer is and listen to their reasoning.

The eye sculptures on the front lawn of the Williams College Museum of Art sparked many questions and discussions.

Boosts Language Development

At Mommy University, we always look for opportunities to boost language development and it is no surprise that visiting a museum will assist in this process for not only your child but you as well.  Visiting the Rubik’s Cube exhibit at Liberty Science Center last year, I was exposed to videos about non-linear problem solving which has now weaved itself into my vocabulary. For young children, boosting language development revolves around identifying words while for older children the exposure to new concepts and ideas will carry higher level vocabulary.

Encourages New Ideas

An interesting challenge we attempt each year is to visit a museum or exhibit that doesn’t immediately captivate our interest.  We actually will walk through an exhibit that we lack prior knowledge.  The purpose behind this is to expose ourselves as well as our children to new ideas and concepts.  My husband and I will make a point to discuss what we see, how we interpret it, and ask our children questions.  We are modeling for them how we interact with the exhibit and information but more importantly that we are open to new things whether we are familiar with it or not.

Museums Inspire

When you walk into a museum that contains the skeleton of an animal that is taller than your house and has not walked this planet in millions of years, your mind begins to wonder. When you walk into a museum that has a planetarium that provides light shows about the solar system, your mind begins to dream of the night sky. Museums inspire us to wonder, imagine and dream of possibilities that are beyond what we know.

The dinosaurs at the American Museum of Natural History will awe many young minds.

Sparks Creativity

When visiting museums, we always stop off at the information desk for a list of activities that are taking place that day and attempt to structure our visit to include some of the scheduled programs.  At Liberty Science Center, we have been lucky to see animals up close and interacted in programs on math in football. The Morris Museum incorporates stations at some of their special day events, such as Dino Day, where children can make their own fossils.  The Philadelphia Museum of Art hosts Art Splash in the summer where children can learn about what has inspired artists and through activities can have a deeper appreciation of art.  Through museum programs and activities, children are exposed to opportunities that spark creative moments.

Fosters Family Bonding

In addition to exhibits that might appeal to your family, some museums like Montclair Art Museum have specific activities and days dedicated to families. Museums don’t just want to appeal to the more mature visitor because they know that children who enjoy museums will become adults who will want to return. Visiting a museum as a family also gives everyone on opportunity to get to know each other better and engage in meaningful conversations.

When the Morris Museum had an exhibit on Lego sculptures, they had one room with an interactive play experience.

Creates Lifelong Learners

By encouraging your children to play and visit museums, it is creating lifelong learners. While most careers require a specific type of education, the reality in our changing world is that we need to be lifelong learners to continue to grow as the demands change.  Museums encourage curiosity which is necessary for children to become lifelong learners. Museums seek out unique links and relationships that are not always readily present which offers us, the viewer, something new each time we visit.  There is always the possibility for an “ah ha” moment to occur.

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April 16, 2016 at 1:10 pm

AWESOME- I totally love museums. Thanks

September 19, 2017 at 10:05 pm

Monica, I love how you said that bring kids to art museums can teach them about different styles of art. Thanks for mentioning that they can look different techniques too. My husband and I are looking into art galleries that will be interesting to take our kids too so that they will learn a little more.

January 23, 2019 at 9:37 pm

My staff is thinking of touring the children to an art exhibit since you said that it encourages a love of history which they will really appreciate. Since they can listen to stories from the speakers as you mentioned, they’ll learn to appreciate the art more. Encouraging questions, as you said, is always welcome to young minds which is why we want to book for next year’s first batch.

June 6, 2019 at 9:25 pm

Thank you so much for this wonderful article

June 21, 2020 at 10:00 pm

Enjoyed reading it. Apart from giving information and helping children to do better in their academic performance, museums help them to build certain skills like critical thinking, communication, research, creativity, and social skills. Looking at the exhibits and learning about our past, they learn to create a connection between our past, present, and future.

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Eight Reasons to Visit an Art Museum

• When you visit a museum, you're engaging in learning and education outside a classroom setting. This type of learning allows you to move at your own pace, gather and learn about ideas that are of specific interest to you
• Looking at and analyzing artwork releases dopamine in the brain - it's the falling in love hormone that makes you giddy and content!
• When you view art in a museum, studies have shown that it can lead to a decrease in cortisol, the stress hormone. Visiting a museum actually reduces stress!
• Looking at art gives us greater empathy as we strive to understand the context of the artwork and the events and emotions surrounding the piece.
• The chocolate at the gift store at the Museum is better quality than the corner drugstore or Walmart (at least in our museum).
• Having experiences makes us happier than having more possessions. Spend a few hours at a museum for an enriching and memorable experience, rather than spending money to buy something that you won't really get much happiness from in the long run. Plus, if you spend the time at the museums with a friend, you are forging happy memories with that person, which strengthens your relationship with them.
• Visiting a museum will make you more creative! Ever been working on a problem and had an idea suddenly come to you while you were driving or taking a shower or cooking? The same thing can happen when you're wandering through a museum! Due to the more leisurely pace inherent in most museums, the combination of being faced with creative minds' output + interpreting sometimes abstract ideas + slower pace = light bulb moments!
• Visiting museums makes you happier! According to a UK study in 2013 , 'Museums improve people's happiness and perception of good health, even after other factors that might be influencing them are accounted for.' Sounds good to us!

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Top tips for a rewarding museum visit with kids

How can you get the most out of a museum visit with your kids? Cynthia Raso of the Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center shares some tips that will ensure a rewarding family museum experience.

Museums can be big and overwhelming at times for adults, let alone for children. At the  Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center  (SEEC), we believe that  even infants  can benefit from museum visits. So, after 25 years in the business, we are ready to share some of our secrets with parents.

Logistics Pick an exhibition ahead of time and figure out how best to get there. Use the museum's website to help you plan and even help get your child excited for the visit.

Set realistic expectations for how long your visit will last. SEEC considers 10-15 minutes in a museum with infants or  toddlers  and 20-25 minutes with a preschooler successful. Older children, as well as adults, should not be expected to spend hours going from object to object. Plan a break, eat lunch, or romp out on the National Mall to break up the visit. As an added benefit, movement stimulates the brain!

Choose to visit during off hours, consider sitting on the floor (as long as you are not blocking foot traffic), store your coat, and relax!

What to visit? Choose an exhibition that either has some kid-friendly appeal, like the upcoming  Puppetry in America  display, or something in which your child is interested. Discuss your options and let your child choose, or simply take them to an exhibition that you know they are going to love.

Look and ask open-ended questions.

Whether it is artwork or an artifact, ask your child to describe what they see. Actually give them time to look. Pick them up, put them down, and move from side-to-side. They'll start to notice details.

As your child describes what they see, pay attention to what they are saying and ask more questions. For example, "Mommy, this is a train." In response you could say: "Have you ever been on a train before?" Engage their senses by asking, "What was it like?" Other questions to ask might include, "Why did we ride on the train? Do you see any other trains here? Can we use our imaginations and think what it would be like to ride on this train?"

Older children will make observations and ask questions that you might not be able to answer. Use the museum labels or plan to look it up together when you get home—it becomes a collaborative learning experience.

Bring things with you. Children learn in different ways, and young children in particular benefit from having something concrete to hold in their hands and touch. For example, if you’re visiting the Star-Spangled Banner, consider bringing an actual flag or cut-out star or stripe shapes. And start asking those open-ended questions.

You might also want to  consider bringing a book . From chapter books to board books, children benefit from making these connections.

Finally—and I never go to a museum without this—colored pencils (yes, you are permitted to have pencils in the museum), mini-clipboards, and paper. Drawing and writing are a great way to encourage careful looking and creativity.

Beyond the museum The world is out there for your child to explore! Let's say you and your toddler went to the  Within These Walls   exhibition and visited the washboard. You could build on that experience by having them share in doing laundry at home or giving them some props to reenact the washing. An older child will benefit from the play aspect too, and you can add a component, like writing a story that includes the artifact.

On Friday, December 13, a few families will join us for a visit to the  Puppetry in America  display at the National Museum of American History. They'll share their experience on social media—be sure to follow the #SIsocial hashtag and stay tuned for another post on successful family museum visits.

Cynthia Raso is Coordinator for Public Programs at the Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center. Follow SEEC on  Twitter  or  Facebook , and read their  blog . Check out their  upcoming family programs .

What’s the Value of a Museum Field Trip?

Critical thinking, connection to the past, and self-discovery are just three of the (proven) benefits of a class visit to the museum.

Erin Branham | July 16, 2015 | 3 min read

We all hear the news—the U.S. is behind in education. Our kids are having trouble mastering reading, math, and science. Schools lack teachers’ aides, computers, reliable internet, sometimes even basic classroom supplies. Can kids really afford to take a whole day, or even half a day, out of school to visit a museum? What’s the point?

Many people feel instinctively that there is value to a museum field trip, but struggle to articulate exactly what it is. It’s good for kids to get out of the classroom a couple of times a year. It’s good for them to see knowledge at work in the real world. It’s good for them to experience subjects like the arts that are frequently absent from the classroom.

As the school programs manager at the Getty Museum, I know museum field trips have value, and it’s more than any of these things. The mission of the Getty’s school programs is to ignite interest in and foster discoveries about works of art by K-12 students. We facilitate experiences in which students learn how to explore their own perceptions and the possible meanings of works of art. They learn to make connections to other artworks, but also to their own lives, knowledge, and feelings, and to society both past and present. These are all aspects of learning that students themselves have identified as important.

Evidence from a recent study shows that even a single field trip can increase students’ ability to think critically about art, as well as their ability to appreciate and understand what life was like for people from other time periods. Each work of art is a window onto new worlds for students. Those worlds offer students a broadening of their own worlds.

During the 2014–15 school year, we welcomed over 160,000 K–12 students to the Getty Center and the Getty Villa. Of those, 73% came from Title I schools , and over 80% of those came to the Museum on buses paid for by the Getty. When we surveyed teachers, we learned that the cost of transportation is the number-one barrier to taking field trips. So today, any Title I school that is within a 30-mile radius of the Museum and can fill a bus with 50 students can get a free bus for their field trip.

The Museum is also committed to providing as many students as possible with a guided lesson in the galleries. This school year, our amazing, dedicated corps of 150 school-group docents provided over 100,000 students with guided tours.

High school students in conversation with docent Barbara Atherton as they examine the Bust of Commodus.

A guided lesson lasts one hour and consists of stops in four galleries. From time to time we receive comments from teachers who urge us to make kids see as much of the Museum as possible, but we value time spent with single works of art–time that allows students to look, contemplate, and form opinions and perceptions about art.

About a third of the Getty’s school visitors come on self-guided visits, which means that their teachers (not Getty docents) guide their visit. While we offer teachers many ideas and activities to use in our galleries, just as often teachers apply their own talents and devise their own creative lessons.

When we survey students, they almost always ask for more time to explore on their own, so we encourage even teachers who have booked guided lessons to allow time for students to do some unstructured exploration of the galleries.

For yet another great benefit of a museum field trip is simply letting students discover that free-choice learning environments like museums exist in their communities – places they can use for the rest of their lives to learn, to play, and to reflect. Places they can make their own. Every student who visits the Getty receives a free parking pass so that they can return with their families in the next few months, and each year thousands of people take advantage of a return visit.

Field trips have enormous benefit to museums as well. Museums are nonprofit organizations, and their public value has been the subject of essays, blogs , conferences , and books . Providing students with experiences connecting them to their cultural heritage, to beauty, and to thought-provoking works of art is one clear way museums provide value to society. Not only will many of these kids become the visitors and patrons of the future, but among them are also the future curators, conservators, educators, and, of course, artists, who will fill and operate museums for the next generation.

And not least for those of us who work in museums, the chance to meet and interact with the thoughtful, curious students flooding our galleries is one of the most exciting and joyful parts of our work.

• arts education
• J. Paul Getty Museum
• K-12 programs

About The Author

Erin branham.

I'm the education specialist for family programs at the Getty Villa. In addition to the Villa Teen Apprentice program, I oversee tours, workshops, and drop-in programs designed for parents and children to enjoy together as they learn about art of the ancient world. I've been in museum education for over 20 years and hold a master's degree in art education from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Comments on this post are now closed.

I am happy for those kids who get to see the Getty – even if it is four items at a time. I was taken to museums as a child and for the most part hated it. As an adult I took my kids to museums and they loved it!!!! I was able to figure out as a child our visits were too long…. and my blood sugar plummeted and I would feel awful. Why did my kids love them….. they loved learning…. of all kinds and had each other to “discuss” what they were looking at. To master reading, math, and science there needs to be a love a learning… too bad we can’t pass a law and tax people for a love of learning. Keep up the work and if you can figure out a way to get more parents in your buildings – Go for It! The parking pass is a great start. I would love to see the Getty but am thousands of miles away. Will keep reading the blog!

I would like to bring a group of 70 students on a field trip to the museum. I would like to know the cost and is the date Tuesday May 30, 2017 a good day.

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Museum Facts & Data

Watch: the world is better because of museums, museums and the covid-19 pandemic.

The pandemic has inflicted profound damage on US museums, the vast majority of which are 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organizations. While the museum field is making strides in its recovery efforts, it will take years to fully rebound to pre-pandemic levels of staffing, revenue, and attendance. [1]

Survey data shows two-thirds of museums continue to experience reduced attendance; these institutions average 71% of their pre-pandemic attendance. [2]

Financial recovery from the damage of the pandemic has been inconsistent, with 30% of museums seeing decreases in net operating performance, 39% experiencing increases, and 31% seeing no change compared to 2019. [3]

26% of responding museums have not recovered to their pre-pandemic staffing levels. Of museums recruiting for job openings, 60% report trouble filling open positions, primarily among front-line roles. Many museums are changing staff compensation packages and working conditions, including half of respondents who have shrunk the gap between their institution’s highest and lowest salaries and 50% implementing new initiatives to enhance staff wellness. [4]

Museums Are Economic Engines (Pre-Pandemic data)

Museums support over 726,000 American jobs. [5]

Museums contribute $50 billion to the U.S. economy each year. [6]

Seventy-six percent of all U.S. leisure travelers participate in cultural or heritage activities such as visiting museums. These travelers spend 60 percent more money on average than other leisure travelers. [7]

The economic activity of museums generates over $12 billion in tax revenue, one-third of it going to state and local governments. Each job created by the museum sector results in $16,495 in additional tax revenue. [8]

Every direct job at a museum supports an additional job in the economy. This is a higher rate than many other industries. [9]

Museums and other nonprofit cultural organizations return more than $5 in tax revenue for every $1 they receive in funding from all levels of government. [10]

Museums Are Community Anchors

• In determining America’s Best Cities, Bloomberg placed the greatest weight on “leisure amenities [including density of museums], followed by educational metrics and economic metrics…then crime and air quality.” [11]

Money ’s annual ‘Best Places to Live’ survey incorporates the concentration of accredited museums. [12]

Museums Serve the Whole Public

More people visit art museums, science centers, historic houses or sites, zoos, or aquariums than attend professional sporting events. [13]

Museum websites serve a diverse online community, including millions of teachers, parents, and students (including those students who are home-schooled).

Museum volunteers contribute a million hours of service every week. [14]

Support for museums is robust regardless of political persuasion. 96% of Americans would approve of lawmakers who acted to support museums. The number is consistently high for respondents who consider themselves politically liberal (97%), moderate (95%), or conservative (93%). [15]

Many museums offer programs tailored to veterans and military families. In 2019 over 2,000 museums in all 50 states participated in the 10th year of the Blue Star Museums program, offering free summer admission to all active-duty and reserve personnel and their families. [16] In the past five years more than 4 million active duty members and their families have participated in the Blue Star Museums program, which is, on average, more than 800,000 visitors per year, and many other museums offer military discounts or free admission throughout the year. While impacted by the pandemic, the program returned for summer 2021.

Museums also provide many social services, including programs for children on the autism spectrum, English as a Second Language classes, and programs for adults with Alzheimer’s or other cognitive impairments. [17]

Museums are committed to ensuring that people of all backgrounds have access to high quality experiences in their institutions. In 2012, 37% of museums were free at all times or had suggested admission fees only; nearly all the rest offered discounts or free admission days. [18]

Since 2014, more than 1,200 museums located in all 50 US states, the District of Columbia, and the US Virgin Islands have facilitated more than 8 million museum visits for low-income Americans through the Museums for All program. [19]

About 26% of museums are located in rural areas [20] ; other museums reach these communities with traveling vans, portable exhibits, and robust online resources.

Museums Partner with Schools

Museums spend over $2 billion each year on education activities; the typical museum devotes three-quarters of its education budget to K-12 students. [21]

Museums receive approximately 55 million visits each year from students in school groups. [22]

Museums help teach the state and local curricula, tailoring their programs in math, science, art, literacy, language arts, history, civics and government, economics and financial literacy, geography, and social studies. [23]

Children who visited a museum during kindergarten had higher achievement scores in reading, mathematics, and science in third grade than children who did not. Children who are most at risk for deficits and delays in achievement also see this benefit. [24]

Museums Are Trusted

The American public regards museums as highly trustworthy—ranking second only to friends and family, and significantly more trustworthy than researchers and scientists, NGOs generally, various news organizations, the government, corporations and business, and social media. [25]

Museums preserve and protect more than a billion objects. [26]

The American public considers museums a more reliable source of historical information than books, teachers, or even personal accounts by relatives. [27]

Museums and Public Opinion

97% of Americans believe that museums are educational assets for their communities.

89% believe that museums contribute important economic benefits to their community.

96% would think positively of their elected officials for taking legislative action to support museums.

96% want to maintain or increase federal funding for museums. [28]

• Three-quarters of the public think museums are an important part of our civil society, and that museums have a role in supporting civic knowledge and participation. [29]
• 92% of US adults think museums are non-partisan providers of educational content.[ 30 ]

Museums Save Species

In 2022, accredited zoos and aquariums (museums with living collections) spent over $252 million on field conservation projects in 119 countries. [31]

Museums are involved with conservation breeding, habitat preservation, public education, field conservation, and supportive research to ensure survival for many of the planet’s threatened or endangered species. Museums also conduct or facilitate research to advance the scientific knowledge of the animals in human care and to enhance the conservation of wild populations.

Museums Improve Public Health

Living in a community with cultural resources confers a five year advantage in cognitive age: museums and similar cultural organizations provide the biggest boost to cognitive health. [32]

Museum Facts Printable PDF

[1] 2023 Annual National Snapshot of United States Museums , AAM and Wilkening Consulting

[5] Museums as Economic Engines , AAM and Oxford Economics, 2017

[7] The 2013 Cultural and Heritage Traveler Report , Mandala Research

[8] Museums as Economic Engines , AAM and Oxford Economics, 2017

[10] Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 , 2017, Americans for the Arts

[11] America’s 50 Best Cities , Bloomberg, 2012

[12] How Money Chose the Best Places to Live in 2021

[13] Broader population sampling conducted on behalf of AAM by Wilkening Consulting , 2018 and 2023

[14] Museum Financial Information 2009 , AAM

[15] Museums and Public Opinion , AAM and Wilkening Consulting, 2018

[16] National Endowment for the Arts, Initiatives, Blue Star Museums

[17] Museums on Call , AAM, 2013

[18] Annual Condition of Museums and the Economy, AAM, 2013

[19] Museums for All : An Initiative of the Institute of Museum and Library Services

[20]   Museum Data Files , IMLS, 2014

[21] Museum Financial Information 2009 , AAM

[23] Building the Future of Education: Museums and the Learning Ecosystem , AAM, 2013

[24] The Effect of Informal Learning Environments on Academic Achievement during Elementary School, presented to the American Educational Research Association , Swan, 2014

[25] Museums and Trust 2021 , AAM

[26] Heritage Health Index , Heritage Preservation and the Institute for Museum and Library Services, 2004

[27] The Presence of the Past: Popular Uses of History in American Life, Roy Rosenzweig and David Thelen, 2000

[28] Museums and Public Opinion , AAM and Wilkening Consulting, 2018

[29] Broader population sampling, 2023, conducted on behalf of AAM by Wilkening Consulting ; and 2017 – 2022 Annual Survey of Museum-Goers, conducted on behalf of AAM by Wilkening Consulting

[ 30 ] Broader population sampling, 2024, conducted on behalf of AAM by Wilkening Consulting ; and 2017 – 2023 Annual Survey of Museum-Goers, conducted on behalf of AAM by  Wilkening Consulting

[31] 2022 Annual Report on Conservation and Science , Association of Zoos and Aquariums

[32] Neighborhood cognitive amenities? A mixed-methods study of intellectually-stimulating places and cognitive function among older Americans, Finlay et al, Wellbeing, Space and Society, Volume 2, 2021

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Your financial support is critical to the future of the hill aerospace museum, what are the benefits of visiting a museum.

Museums preserve and exhibit important cultural, artistic, historical or scientific artifacts. While these exhibits provide informative and visual explorations, there are many benefits to visiting these institutions.

Simply put, museums help to teach , inspire and connect communities.

Museums teach through informal learning—an unstructured and spontaneous educational experience. This type of learning occurs naturally and every day. In fact, according to some reports, 90% of one’s education comes through informal learning.

Interacting with museum displays and information is a fun and engaging way for kids and adults alike to partake in an informal educational experience to learn more about a place’s culture, tradition or history. But many museums elevate their educational missions to include more formal learning experiences.

For example, the Hill Aerospace Museum offers a summer STEM program . Classes are held twice per day beginning at the start of the summer and are open to kids eight and older. Each class covers a specific topic, such as astronomy, electricity, chemistry, weather, simple machines and more. Plus, the STEM classes are completely free.

From the awe-inspiring to the surprising, museums create existential reactions only available through witnessing something remarkable. Visitors of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum can touch a Moon rock. Walking around Frank Lloyd Wright’s famous Guggenheim Museum elicits architectural wonder. And many museums have artistic and cultural exhibitions that evoke an unrivaled fascination.

Perhaps little in this world is more inspiring than manned flight. From its humble and unrestrained beginnings in 1909 with Wilbur and Orville Wright’s Model A to the earth-shaking power of modern aircraft, human flight has inspired imaginations for more than 100 years. And the Hill Aerospace Museum has an impressive collection of both modern and vintage aircraft that beg rumination.

Oftentimes, inspiring experiences motivate people to take action in their lives and do something creative or impactful. Reading books, watching movies and going to museums are all great ideas to get inspired. But none of these can also help communities connect quite like museums.

Many museum-goers report the top reason for visiting is to spend time with family or friends. However, museums bring together more than just relatives and close friends. Museums around the country are turning into venues that attract a wide range of community members through hosting concerts, conferences and more.

The Hill Aerospace Museum hosts events such as an Easter egg hunt and Santa Claus visit every year. We also host other community events, such as a celebration for Hill Air Force Base’s 80th birthday, and, of course, the aforementioned STEM summer program for kids.

With free admission to the Hill Aerospace Museum, it can be hard to find a reason to not visit. With more than 70 vintage and modern aircraft on display throughout two indoor galleries and an outdoor airpark, visitors can witness advances in aviation from the awe-inspiring Lockheed SR-71C Blackbird to the infamous B-17 Flying Fortress. Thousands of military artifacts on display introduce visitors to the history of aviation and the United States Air Force.

Visit the Hill Aerospace Museum in Roy, Utah, from 9 a.m. till 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. It’s easy to find—just take exit 338 off of I-15 and turn east. With a C-124C Globemaster II at the front of the building, you can’t miss us!

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Researching the Benefits of Art Museums—A Nationwide Study

Posted by emily holtrop, oct 11, 2017.

What are the benefits of art museums to people? A question with so many answers. If you were a public administrator or official, you may say art museums support revenue growth, encourage participation rates across communities, or that they support K-12 academic test scores. While important, none of these data points address the meaning of art museums to individuals and communities.

One of the most pressing needs in the cultural sector is to identify the difference that art museums make in people’s lives and to demonstrate this value with evidence that can withstand intense scrutiny. Without research-based data, art museums and art educators will not succeed in convincing policymakers and civic leaders that museums are vital to civic life, leading to the significant reduction or even absence of opportunities to engage with original works of art as an integral part of education and community experiences. That museums are more than nice—they are necessary.

To begin to answer the question—what are the benefits of art museums to people—The National Art Education Association (NAEA) Museum Education Division and the Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD) joined forces to conduct a nationwide, four-year intensive research study on the impact of single visit art museum school programs. Supported by the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the Samuel H. Kress Foundation, this research is being led by Randi Korn & Associates (RK&A).

The NAEA/AAMD research team identified school-age children (grades 4-6) as the initial audience of study because single visit school field trips are the most prevalent student experiences at museums. According to a national survey of U.S. art museums, which was carried out as part of the present NAEA/AAMD study, 96% of museum respondents offer these programs. Along with family programs, they often offer young people their first entry-points to these learning environments and the objects they hold. Through teacher feedback and the direct experiences of museum educators leading excited, engaged classes through conversations and explorations of artworks, it is clear that good and productive things happen for students during art museum field trips. Research related to constructivist and inquiry-based pedagogies, engagement with original works of art, and aspects of learning in museum environments further support that art museums can be places where rich learning and discovery happen. Yet substantive research on art museum field trip programs is currently limited. In an environment of ever-shrinking school budgets and high stakes testing, teachers wishing to take their students on art museum field trips are under increasing pressure to show the educational benefit of such experiences.

For the past four years the NAEA/AAMD Impact Research Initiative has explored the benefits of single visit art museum programs on student learning. To date the study has produced a national survey of field trip practices as well as a published literature review on the impact of museum programs on students. During the 2016-2017 school year the study team worked with six geographically-diverse museums [1] and seven school districts throughout the U.S. to assess student learning during facilitated, single visit museum programs in five capacities: critical thinking, creative thinking, sensorimotor and affective response, human connections and empathy, and academic connections. In addition to providing insight into the effects of single-visit art museum programs on students, our hope is that the study’s results advance scholarship in both museum and art education, and serve as a powerful leveraging tool to support student learning in art museums.

At the time of the writing of this article, data collection has been completed and the team at RK&A are busy at work analyzing and compiling that data. This work will continue into the spring of 2018. At that time a Core Team, representing leadership from NAEA and AAMD as well as leaders in the field of museum education, will work with RK&A to create the final report and a User’s Guide for dissemination next summer. In October of 2018 a symposium will be held at the Detroit Institute of Art to bring leaders in the field of museums, museum education, and the educational and research sectors together to discuss our findings and what they mean for the field as a whole.

For more information on the NAEA/AAMD Impact Research Initiative, please read our White Paper . If you are interested in staying informed on the progress of our study and to be invited to the symposium, please share your contact information here . If you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected] or [email protected] .

[1] The six museums that served as study sites:

• Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus, OH
• Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, CA
• Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, TX
• Orlando Museum of Art, Orlando, FL
• RISD Museum, Providence, RI
• Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, MD
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Expert Museums Tips: How To Have An Enjoyable Museum Visit

Wondering how to tackle a museum? Here are my must know tips for visiting a museum.

As a museum geek of the highest order, I have visited hundreds and hundreds of museum. Based on my experience, I think there are some benchmark rules for the organized museum goer who wants to have the best museum experience.

Museums are some of the most popular tourist attractions for travelers. However, museums can be large, crowded, and intimidating.

If not done right, the experience of visiting a museum can be disappointing or frustrating, even for the experienced museum addict.

To make sure you get a real experience, not a short touristy version, you need some preparation and a little know how. You need some museum tips.

Don’t just show up to a museum. You don’t want to just stumble around hoping to find what you want to see. Or wondering what is worth seeing. You could come out a bit huffy and frustrated.

Museums can be much more appealing, if you’ve done your background research and know what to expect and see. Then, armed with must know museum tips, you can take in the astonishing art without undue confusion, stress, or FOMO.

There are many ways to visit museums, of course. It depends entirely on your own personality and interests. But there are some basic procedures to follow.

How To Prepare For a Museum Visit, Pro Tips

Here are my tips to get the most out of your museum visit. These must know tips and tricks will make your museum visit more efficient, more enjoyable, and less overwhelming.

1. Decide Which Museum To Go To

First you have to decide which museum you want to visit.

If you’re visiting a small city, then it’s pretty simple. You choices will necessarily be limited.

If you’re going to a big city like London or Paris or Rome , then you’re confronted with an overwhelming number of choices. You could spend weeks and weeks visiting all the museums in these cities.

If that’s the case, do your research and pick a museum that matches your interest. You may prefer small less crowded museums to large museums.

You may love an authentic artist studio, historic home, or in situ museum like the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston . Or perhaps you want to see a bucket list masterpiece .

READ : Best Small Museums with Supersized Collections

For me, I love small museums and the periods from the Renaissance to the 20th century. I’m also a huge ruin luster. I’m not keen on sports memorabilia or conceptual art.

There are so many types of museums out there — prehistoric art, old masters, Impressionism, tapestries, photography, fashion, history, cutting edge contemporary, etc. Suit yourself.

Pick one that will excite you personally rather than just checking off what someone else says should be on your bucket list. Trust me, though it’s a beautiful portrait, seeing the Mona Lisa at the Louvre can be an incredibly underwhelming experience.

2. Identify the Museum’s Masterpieces

Once you’ve chosen a museum to visit, visit the museum’s website. Check out the hours and what day the museum is open.

Then, read up on its collection and highlights. This kind of pre-trip studying will make the art and artifacts more fun and accessible.

Figure out your priorities in advance. It’s not terribly enriching to just wander aimlessly through a museum with no clue what you’re looking at or for.

Does the museum have some famous masterpieces you want to see? What art style do you love? Do you like paintings, sculpture, or artifacts?

If the museum is massive with millions of artworks, you can’t see it all. Pick a collection that suits you. It’s a common misconception that a great museum only has great art. But that isn’t true.

The museum may have collections you love and ones you hate. Skip over the art works that don’t interest you to conserve time and energy.

If you don’t identify what you want to see in advance, you may get stuck seeing the works close to the entrance and miss the treasures that lie deeper in the museum.

3. How Long To Visit A Museum

Another good tip for visiting a museum is to decide in advance how long you want to stay. This may depend on the size of the museum.

Or, it may depend on how long you can stare at art without getting “museum fatigue” and starting to glaze over the artworks. Science has proven that as the length of a museum visit increases, your engagement and attention decrease.

For me, two hours is about right, though I can do longer with breaks. If you want to do two museums in one day, take a long lunch break in between.

If this is the only time in your life you may be at this museum, then stay longer and take a break at the museum itself. Most museums have cafes where you can get a snack, meal, or drink.

Or you can browse the museum bookstore or gift shop. If your ticket permits same day reentry, you can take a walk outside. You can recharge your batteries and then go back for more art.

If you’re at a massive museum like the Louvre, the Met, or the British Museum , you won’t see everything in one visit. These museums are best experienced by going back repeatedly. Other large museums are the same way.

READ : Tips For Visiting the Louvre

4. Learn the Museum Layout

If you’re visiting a big museum, you’ll want to be efficient with your time. In the case, the best museum tip is to look at the layout of the building in advance.

Some museums are shockingly disorganized, sometimes because they’re housed in an ancient or cavernous building. I find the Boston Museum of Fine Arts to be that way, for example.

Also, it’s a good idea to figure out your parking options in advance, if you’re driving to the museum. When you arrive at the museum, pick up a map at the front door, the information desk, or the ticket desk.

5. Take a Virtual Tour of the Museum

Once you’ve figured out what you want to see or to get further inspiration, take a virtual tour of the museum collection or masterpiece you want to see.

Most museums have virtual tours or online collections that you can explore. You can also explore on Google Arts & Culture.

READ : Virtual Tours of 50 Best Museums

6. Learn Out Loud: Listen to Free Podcasts or Films

If you’re not an art expert, museums can be hard to decipher. Podcasts or documentaries are an excellent way to bone up on masterpieces or a particular artist’s artworks you’re planning to see.

Here’s my guide to the best art-related podcasts and my guide to the best art films and documentaries .

Another fantastic source for a quick preview of an artwork is Smarthistory .

7. Get Tickets in Advance

There is a super important museum tip. There’s nothing worse than staring your museum visit by queuing for hours waiting to get in (and then go through another security check).

And that’s the grim reality when visiting many of world famous museums like the Louvre , the Uffizi Gallery , or the Vatican Museums .

I had to queue up one toasty summer for hours for the Vatican Museums. Never again! There are plenty of hidden gems you can visit in Rome that don’t require a taxing wait.

READ : Guide To the Sistine Chapel

To avoid this fate, be smart and purchase your museum ticket online in advance of your visit. You can often do that on the museum website or a service like Get Your Guide or Tiqets.

For some museums — like the Alhambra in Granada or the Borghese Gallery in Rome — you can get tickets months in advance. And they sell out quickly. So plan ahead and don’t arrive empty handed at the landmark museums or sites.

8. Let the Art Speak To You

If you are more type B, sometimes the best way to visit a museum is without any preconceptions. Just go look at the art with a short preview of what’s there beforehand.

Art is entirely subjective. The beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and people react differently to art. Be open minded and know you’ll see things you haven’t been exposed to before.

If you find an artwork in front of you compelling or interesting in any way, then read the little information “chat” plaque next to the work. If the work holds no interest, walk on by.

You’re not obligated to like any art. Look for another piece that captures your interest.

Sometimes the information provided on the chat label can be valuable. Other times it can be a tad pretentious.

It may even tell you how you’re supposed to feel about the artwork. I occasionally find these labels off-putting or their verbiage indecipherable.

Hold on to your own opinion of a piece or artist.

For example, I’ve read that the Pre-Raphaelites shouldn’t be admired because they were just a group of men paintings pretty pictures of porcelain skinned maidens. Yet, I love the hyper romantic group and Ophelia is one of my favorite paintings.

9. Get a Museum Or Audio Guide

Another way to have an enjoyable and relaxing museum visit is to book a private tour, especially for a very large museum or popular tourist attraction. The tour guides knows the museum very well. You’ll get an in depth look at the museum highlights.

Museums typically have either free or docent museum tours available as well. They are super informative and usually last roughly two hours. And you’ll also have a chance to ask any questions.

If you don’t want a formal guide, many museums have their own dedicated apps you can download to your phone. Use them to navigate the museum and look up individual items in the collection. For some, you punch in a number. Others have a scan function.

Or, you can use the more conventional audio guide.

10. You Don’t Need a Phone or Camera

I take pictures at museums because, as a culture and travel blogger, I have to. However, I think a museum experience is much better without stopping to take pictures. Or even worse, waiting in line to get a photo of a famous masterpiece like the Mona Lisa .

Museums should be a leisurely cell-phone-free experience. Art is meant to be enjoyed and evoke emotion.

It’s better just to admire the art, or soak in the details, without wasting time and energy with your phone or camera. You can always buy a book at the bookstore to revisit the works at home.

11. Museum Shops

I tend to love museum shops. I often pick up a book about the museum itself or about the special exhibition I’m attending.

There are usually a wide variety of souvenirs. And often there are local handicrafts at the shop, some of which are quite beautiful.

12. Dress Sensibly

You can do a lot of walking in museums. But it’s the standing that really gets me. Wear some comfy shoes for all the standing. In some museums, there’s not even a bench to give your feet a respite.

And don’t carry a lot with you. Some museums require you to check anything other than a small handbag. If you don’t check them, you may end up with shoulder fatigue.

Some museums like the Vatican Museums or churches with art collections have a dress code. You won’t be let in if your shoulders and knees aren’t covered.

By the way, in cities like Rome or Florence , the churches house much of the city’s must see art. And they may be free to visit.

READ : Guide To the Best Churches in Rome

13. When To Go To a Museum

Try to go off season. If you’re visiting a super popular museum (the Louvre in Paris, the British Museum in London , or the Uffizi Gallery in Florence), the crowds can be utterly overwhelming. Visiting in shoulder season is eminently preferable to the summer.

Try to avoid the weekends, if you can. Sunday afternoon is the most popular time for museum-going. I really like going when there’s a late night opening.

Most museums are open late once a week, some until 9:00 pm. The Louvre is open until 9:45 pm on Friday.

14. Consider Visiting A Single Artist Museum

Another good museum tip to try a single artist museum. I find single artists museums or artists studio-museums to be so revelatory. And they don’t have the oppressive crowds of the more famous museums.

If you’re in Paris, go to the Rodin Museum rather than the Louvre . If you’re in Barcelona , go to the Picasso Museum instead of Sagrada Familia .

If you’re in London, try the John Sloane Museum instead of the National Gallery. If you’re in Florence, visit Casa Buonarotti or the Bargello Museum instead of the Uffizi.

And nothing beats a trip to Monet’s House in Giverny France, if you’re road tripping in Normandy or taking a day trip from Paris .

I hope you’ve enjoyed my tips for having a fantastic museum visit. Need more museum destination inspiration? Here are some of my museum guides :

• 75 Art Masterpieces in Europe
• Best Museums in Paris
• Secret Paris Museums That Aren’t the Louvre
• Best Museums in Rome
• Guide To Rome’s Palace Museums
• Best Museums in Florence
• Free Museums in London
• Best Museums in Vienna
• Masterpieces at Paris’ Musee d’Orsay
• Guide To the Uffizi Gallery

If you need tips for visiting a museum, pin it for later.

3 thoughts on “Expert Museums Tips: How To Have An Enjoyable Museum Visit”

Within driving distance there is at least one museum near me that is worth visiting. I have even been there a few times in the past myself to visit. The museum in question has a nice kids club too. It even organises a lot of fun events and activities for school aged children as well.

I recommend making notes. Look at the supplied information on the website of the actual museum. You can always read articles in order to find out more details. Good luck to you. Ask your closest friends and family members to tell you more facts about the museums in their local area. Do your tailored research. Use your brief summary notes as a starting point to learn something more. Reflect on the museum when you happen to visit the place. Talk to the museum staff and speak to the museum visitors.

Thank you for this post, Leslie. It has so much great information that I will implement on future museum visits. I also love how you mention “museum fatigue.” I also get that and find I’ve reached my saturation point in about two hours.

Yes 2 hours is about it before I need a break to stay focused!

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Last Updated on July 9, 2023 by Leslie Livingston

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How to Enjoy Great Museums for Free

Admission charges to the best museums can add up quickly, but with a little planning and research, you may be able to enjoy them for free—or at a discount..

by NEA Member Benefits

A great museum can offer insight into life in the past, let you view famous works of art, or explain the inner workings of everything from a space shuttle to a dinosaur. Visiting a museum is part of the fun of traveling, whether it is a destination in itself (such as the Smithsonian Institution or the Metropolitan Museum of Art ) or a lesser-known find (such as the John Michael Kohler Arts Center in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, or the Mütter Museum of medical history in Philadelphia).

Some museums, such as The British Museum in London and the 19 that make up the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., are always free, while some others have a pay-what-you-wish policy that lets you set your budget.

But many museums do charge admission fees. Although the average U.S. museum admission fee is just $7, according to the U.S. Embassy , it’s not unusual for popular museums to charge $15 or $20 for adults. If you want to bring the whole family with you, that can really add up.

With a little advance planning and creativity, however, it’s possible to visit many museums—even those with hefty admission fees—for free, or almost free. Here’s how to do it:

Check for free days and times

If you live in or are traveling to some of the largest cities in the U.S., check to see which museums are always free or offer free admission on certain days of the week or month. You can do this by Googling “free museums” or “free museum admission days,” plus the city and state you want to visit. You can also check this list , which is not exhaustive, but includes one free museum per state. This list includes all the art museums in the U.S. by admission price and includes a free section at the bottom.

Some always-free museums include the  J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh, the Cincinnati Art Museum and the  Frye Art Museum in Seattle.

Many more offer free admission on a particular day of the week or month. Portland Museum of Art in Portland, Maine, is free on Fridays, for example. Admission is free every Sunday at the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum in Jackson, and the National History Museum in Los Angeles is free every first Tuesday.

For other cities, check tourism sites for your destination, or look up the location on  Tripsavvy . Information varies by city, but you’ll find articles on free museums and galleries in  Minneapolis  and Denver , for example.

Annual free museum days

There are several annual free museum days. Some are national or international, and some are local. While they may attract crowds, the savings are unbeatable.

Museum Day, brought to you by Smithsonian magazine, is a day of free admission to approximately 1,400 museums around the United States. The annual event occurs in September and allows free admission for two people with a Museum Day ticket downloaded from Smithsonian magazine’s  Museum Day  website.

International Museum Day is celebrated on May 18 every year. While it’s not a free museum day, many museums have special pricing or programming so it’s worth checking out museums you’re interested in visiting around that date to see if they might be planning any offers.

Finally, some cities plan their own museum days with free admission. For example, Austin, Texas, celebrates Austin Museum Day in September each year, where more than 20 museums in the city offer free admission plus special celebrations and events. Southern California has a Museum Free-for-All Day in January each year, with more than 40 participating museums.

Look for reciprocal admission programs

If you’re a member of a museum at home, that may qualify you for free admission to museums in many destinations you visit.

Through the Reciprocal Organization of Associated Museums , member organizations provide reciprocal admissions for members. It’s a bump up from the individual member rate for most museums, but it applies to the organization’s more than 200 member museums and arts organizations . If you travel a few times a year and visit museums, your investment could pay off quickly.

The rules are similar for the North American Reciprocal Museum Association , which includes more than 1,100 arts, cultural and historical institutions plus zoos and botanical gardens throughout the U.S. and Canada, as well as in Bermuda, Mexico and El Salvador.

Another organization that offers a reciprocal membership program is the Association of Science and Technology Centers . The ASTC Passport program includes more than 600 science centers around the world, including the Ontario Science Centre in Toronto and the California Science Center in Los Angeles. ASTC benefits are usually available to all members, regardless of level, but you’ll need to travel with your local membership card and photo ID, and note that the program does not include centers within 90 miles of your home.

Carry the right card

A happy side benefit of carrying a Bank of America ® or Merrill Lynch ® credit or debit card is that it qualifies you for free admission to about 225 museums through the Museums on Us ® program. This benefit applies during the first full weekend of every month to member museums such as the de Young Museum in San Francisco, the Phoenix Art Museum and Detroit’s Motown Museum .

Look for special circumstances

During the weekend of the Chicago Marathon last October, the Art Institute of Chicago offered discounted admission to every runner who showed their finisher’s medal or bib at the ticket desk. If you’re traveling as part of a group tour or for a special event, read the fine print in your information packet to see if you’re eligible for special deals or discounts.

Additionally, certain museums offer free days on a designated holiday. For instance, admission to the National Underground Freedom Center in Cincinnati is free on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Check to see if you fit into a certain group

Most museums offer free admission or special pricing for certain types of people. Discounted or free tickets for children, seniors, students, veterans and active military is common at many museums all year long, so be sure to ask and check websites (and bring the proper ID).

If you’re visiting museums in your hometown, check to see if they offer free or discounted admission to local residents. For instance, New York’s Met lets you decide what you’ll pay if you’re a resident of New York State or a student in New York, New Jersey or Connecticut. Detroit Institute of the Arts is always free for residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. Be sure to bring appropriate proof of residency.

A collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, the Department of Defense and Blue Star Families resulted in the Blue Star Museums program. Running for more than a decade, the program makes admission free for active-duty military personnel and their families to more than 2,000 museums between Armed Forces Day and Labor Day. Participating museums for 2022 will be announced on the website in May, but the 2021 list spanned all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Museums included the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City, and the Lancaster Science Factory in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Look for discounts

If you can’t schedule your visit—or don’t meet the requirements—for free admission to the museums you want to visit, look into discount programs and packages that can reduce your costs.

For example, the new NEA Discount Tickets Program offers savings on admission tickets. For example, NEA members receive 25% off admission prices for the 9/11 Memorial Museum in New York City or the USS Midway Museum in San Diego.

CityPASS  is available through the NEA Discount Ticket Program in 10 large cities in North America. Ticket books usually include five admissions to an area’s top attractions (including museums) and are good for nine consecutive days, giving you time to fit in other activities during your vacation.

Prices vary by city, but in Seattle , for example, your CityPASS purchased through the NEA Discount Ticket Program ($89.50 adults; $65.50 children) includes trips up the Space Needle and Seattle Aquarium, plus your choice of three more attractions, including the Woodland Park Zoo, the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) and the Chihuly Garden and Glass.

Research in advance to find museum discounts and freebies

The one common denominator in all of these deals is that it pays to do some planning before you travel. Before you book a trip, go online and look up the museums in or near your destination. If they offer free admissions on certain days or weekends, decide if you can time your trip to take advantage of those perks.

Call ahead to verify the offers are still good, be sure to pack any necessary cards and your identification, and you can explore worlds of art, history or science wherever you go.

Travel deals exclusively for NEA members

Nea discount tickets program.

Enjoy unique access and deep discounts to must-see places, events and shows. Get up to 40% off tickets to Disney World, Universal Studios, Cirque du Soleil, AMC Movies, Broadway shows, concerts, sporting events and much more!

NEA Travel: Car Rental

Save up to 25% when you rent a car through the NEA Travel Car Rental program. Compare rates at companies such as Avis, Budget, Enterprise and Hertz and pick the best deal for your budget.

NEA Travel: Hotels

Save up to 60% when you book through NEA Travel. And with guaranteed price matching you can rest assured that you’re getting the best hotel price.

NEA Travel: Flights

Find low fares and book a flight to your favorite locales or far-off destinations. Compare rates from multiple carriers to find the best trip for you.

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Out & about

Leonardo DiCaprio, Tracee Ellis Ross and Gayle King Hit New York Art Parties

This week, the New Museum gala drew a crowd to Lower Manhattan and the MoMA Black Arts Council mingled in Midtown, as the Spring benefit season kicked into gear.

Tracee Ellis Ross at the New Museum Spring Gala held at Cipriani South Street. Credit... Nina Westervelt for The New York Times

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By Sarah Bahr and Katie Van Syckle

Photographs by Nina Westervelt and Jutharat Pinyodoonyachet

The journalists reported from Lower and Midtown Manhattan for Out & About , a column that covers the events where notable, powerful and influential figures gather — and their outfits.

• April 6, 2024

Outside the Staten Island Ferry terminal in Lower Manhattan on Wednesday night, the wind was howling as broken umbrellas blew across South Street like urban tumbleweeds.

But, inside the former ferry building that houses Cipriani South Street, Tracee Ellis Ross looked right at home standing on a stage welcoming guests to the New Museum’s Spring Gala.

The “black-ish” actress twirled to reveal a sky-blue bodysuit — which looked a little like a swimsuit — under a black-and-blue sleeveless dress.

“I wanted to wear something worthy of the artistic celebration at hand,” she later explained of the outfit, a hand-painted creation by Francesco Risso for Marni.

As the annual spring ritual of courting New York’s patrons kicks into gear, Ms. Ross, the evening’s host, was one of more than 500 artists, philanthropists and other notables from the cultural world who stood and sipped at the event, which honored the artists Mickalene Thomas and George Condo . The night raised $2.1 million for the New Museum , which will be temporarily closed until 2025 for an expansion that will nearly double its exhibition space.

Guests included Leonardo DiCaprio , who slipped in quietly during cocktail hour with his art adviser, Ralph DeLuca, to congratulate Mr. Condo, a friend of his; the photographer Cindy Sherman ; and the artist Jeff Koons .

They mingled with museum leaders, among them Max Hollein , the director and chief executive of the Metropolitan Museum of Art; Anne Pasternak , the director of the Brooklyn Museum; and Thelma Golden , the director and chief curator of the Studio Museum in Harlem.

Ms. Thomas, who is known for her large-scale acrylic paintings of Black women in states of leisure, said she was recently inspired by her fellow artists, among them Derrick Adams , Mark Bradford , Lauren Halsey , Simone Leigh and Kehinde Wiley .

All of them are working to “create platforms and experiences that empower communities to make a positive impact on society,” she said.

After cocktails, attendees moved into the Great Hall for a live auction and dinner — burrata with grape tomatoes, and salmon with leek sauce — followed by a musical performance from the singer-songwriter Deon Jones.

After a couple of songs, some attendees began streaming for the exit, while others approached the purple-and-green stage and danced rather than face the rain.

• Tierra Whack Nina Westervelt for The New York Times
• Irina and Andres Serrano Nina Westervelt for The New York Times
• Tracee Ellis Ross Nina Westervelt for The New York Times
• Jeff Koons, left, and Dakis Joannou Nina Westervelt for The New York Times
• Marilyn Minter Nina Westervelt for The New York Times
• Derrick Adams Nina Westervelt for The New York Times
• Leo Villareal, left, and Yvonne Force Villareal Nina Westervelt for The New York Times
• Rujeko Hockley Nina Westervelt for The New York Times
• Anne Pasternak, left, and Thelma Golden Nina Westervelt for The New York Times
• Kennedy Yanko Nina Westervelt for The New York Times
• Jasmine Wahi, left, and JiaJia Fei Nina Westervelt for The New York Times
• Celeste O'Connor Nina Westervelt for The New York Times

MoMA Black Arts Council Benefit

On Thursday evening, as the rain passed and the sun emerged, art-world fixtures again gathered, this time at the Museum of Modern Art in Midtown for a Black Arts Council benefit.

The group, founded in 1993 by Agnes Gund , David Rockefeller Jr. and Akosua Barthwell Evans, helps to acquire pieces by Black artists for the museum. It also supports exhibitions of work by Black artists and facilitates opportunities for Black artists and professionals at MoMA.

“What’s impressed me about the group is the commitment to open up art so that everyone would feel comfortable coming to the museum,” said Dr. Barthwell Evans, adding, “the commitment to not having the museum be a barrier, but welcoming.”

This year’s benefit, which drew about 250 people and raised around $500,000, honored the artist Glenn Ligon and the scholar and lawyer Sherrilyn Ifill, who is currently a scholar in residence at MoMA.

In the lobby of the museum, attendees chatted over cocktails. Glenn Lowry , the director of MoMA, greeted the artist Linda Goode Bryant . Ms. Golden stood with Mr. Ligon, near Gayle King, the broadcast journalist, and Scott Rothkopf , the director of the Whitney Museum of American Art.

Around 8 p.m., the crowd moved upstairs for a dinner featuring burrata with fennel and halibut with spring vegetables.

“Evenings like this are about celebration, about recognizing how everyone in this room contributes to such an amazing cultural ecosystem here in New York,” Mr. Lowry said during a speech onstage. “Black Arts Council is, of course, integral to the work we do.”

Dinner was followed with a performance by Cautious Clay & the Community — known for dreamy R&B songs — and a dessert buffet with mini doughnuts, banana pudding and confetti cake.

• Thelma Golden Jutharat Pinyodoonyachet for The New York Times
• Gay McDougall, left, and Frances Savage Jutharat Pinyodoonyachet for The New York Times
• John Dowell Jutharat Pinyodoonyachet for The New York Times
• Mickalene Thomas Jutharat Pinyodoonyachet for The New York Times
• Glenn D. Lowry Jutharat Pinyodoonyachet for The New York Times
• Angela Goding Jutharat Pinyodoonyachet for The New York Times
• Scott Rothkopf Jutharat Pinyodoonyachet for The New York Times
• Aku Oracca-Tetteh Jutharat Pinyodoonyachet for The New York Times

Sarah Bahr writes about culture and style for The Times. More about Sarah Bahr

Katie Van Syckle is a Times editor focusing on cultural events and nightlife in New York City. More about Katie Van Syckle

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What Happened to the Wrap Dress?:  A pandemic, the demise of “girlboss” culture and new values around what’s “flattering” have made the classic design seem outdated to some .

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Celebrate Black History Month 2024

African American artists — poets, writers, visual artists, and dancers — have historically served as change agents through their crafts.

Drawn from their ancestors' ancient rites of passage and the shared hopes of liberty, Black artists continue to fuse the rhythmic cadence of creative expressions with the pulsating beats of progress. Our museum celebrates Black History Month 2024 by highlighting the "art of resistance" and the artists who used their crafts to uplift the race, speak truth to power and inspire a nation.

View Our Digital Toolkit

Artists are the gatekeepers of truth. We are civilization’s radical voice. Paul Robeson (1898-1976) Concert artist, actor, athlete and activist

Whether digital, literary, visual or performing arts, Black trailblazers and innovators revolutionized their fields, often transforming them by pioneering new techniques and styles. Through art, important issues and figures in African American history are exalted, and underrepresented stories are preserved. For the entire month of February, we invite everyone to join us in celebrating art and its relationship with justice. Art plays a role in communicating emotions, building community and inspiring action.

Cultural Expressions (Literature and Poetry)

Culture shapes lives. It’s in the food people eat, the languages they speak, the art they create, and many other ways they express themselves.

I recognize that my power as well as my primary oppressions come as a result of my blackness as well as my womanness, and therefore my struggles on both of these fronts are inseparable. Audre Lorde (1934-1992) in 1980 Writer, professor, philosopher, poet and civil rights activist

Cultural Expressions Exhibition

Cultural Expressions  is a circular, experiential, introductory space to African American and African diaspora culture.

(Re)Creating the Narrative: The Black Women’s Literary Renaissance of the 1970s

Black women writers have consistently been a part of the cultural renaissances that have reshaped Black culture, nationally and globally. 

Icons and Luminaries

Phillis Wheatley

Booklet containing a biography of Phillis Wheatley and reprinted correspondence between her and George Washington, including a poem she sent him, "His Excellency General Washington."

In 2023, the museum acquired the largest private collection of items to bring new context and perspective to the life and literary impact of poet Phillis Wheatley Peters (c.1753–1784).

Gwendolyn Brooks

In 1946, Gwendolyn Brooks (1917-2000) became a Guggenheim Fellow in poetry, and in 1950, she was the first African American to win a Pulitzer Prize, for her collection of poetry Annie Allen. The volume chronicled the life of a young Black girl growing up in the Bronzeville neighborhood of Chicago. Brooks was appointed the Illinois Poet Laureate in 1968, inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1976, and by 1985, she had become Poet Laureate of the United States. In this photograph from 1963, the poet holds a copy of Maud Martha, the only book of adult fiction she authored.

Amanda Gorman

Amanda Gorman was named the first Youth Poet Laureate of the United States in 2017. Gorman has served as the Youth Poet Laureate of Los Angeles. She has performed at the Library of Congress and spoken at the United Nations. She is the founder and executive director of One Pen One Page, an organization providing free creative writing programs for underserved youth. 

Before Amanda Gorman made history as the youngest poet to speak at a presidential inauguration, the National Museum of African American History and Culture featured her in our third annual Women’s E3 Summit in September 2020.

Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes (1901-1967) was a poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, columnist, and a significant figure of the Harlem Renaissance. He was a graduate of Lincoln University, a historically black college in Pennsylvania.

Born in Joplin, Missouri, in 1902, it was the writer's many years in Harlem that would come to characterize his work. There he focused squarely on the lives of working-class black Americans, delicately dismantling clichés and, in doing so, arriving at a genuine portrayal of the people he knew best.

Ta-Nehisi Coates

Author, journalist and activist Ta-Nehisi Coates attends a panel at The Apollo Theater on February 27, 2018 in New York City. His writings include Between the World and Me, winner of the 2015 National Book Award for Nonfiction, and We Were Eight Years In Power: An American Tragedy, a n annotated collection of new and previously published essays on the Obama era.

Benjamin Banneker

Mathematician, astronomer and almanac author Benjamin Banneker (1731-1806) as portrayed on a stamp released in 1980 as part of a Black Heritage series. Collection of National Postal Museum.

Gallery Modal

Lorraine hansberry: playwright, writer, and activist, the power of poetry: pre-civil war to reconstruction, the new negro renaissance to the black arts movement, “a writer is by definition a disturber of the peace”, 75 years of ebony magazine, boots on the ground.

We wish to plead our own cause. Too long have others spoken for us. Too long has the publick been deceived by misrepresentations, in things which concern us dearly. Samuel Cornish and John Russwurm Editors in the first edition of Freedom’s Journal founded in 1827

Searchable Museum

The Power of The Press

Black newspapers served local as well as regional and national audiences, helping to foster a sense of community and shared interests among African Americans living in different areas of the country.

Historic Members of the Harlem Writers Guild

Immersed in progressive politics, they were all bound by a revolutionary spirit and a strong sense of compassion for the individual struggles of one another.

Educational Resources

Learning Journeys for the Classroom, Home and Museum Visits

Join us in exploring stories of African Americans in the Arts throughout February with a special focus on art as a platform for social justice.

Taking the Stage (Performing Arts)

Through their achievements on the stage and screen, African Americans have used the power of performance to fuel social change.

The cultural heritage of the American Negro is one of America’s richest treasures. Alvin Ailey (1931-1989) Dancer, director, choreographer and activist who founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

Taking the Stage Exhibition

Throughout Taking the Stage, visitors can contemplate how the roles black artists played on the stage and screen reflected changing aspirations, struggles, and realities for black people in American society. 

You Should Know: Harry Belafonte, Actor and Activist

From being the first Black American to win an Emmy to using his voice and his wallet to finance social justice, Harry Belafonte was dedicated himself to the improvement of his people and humanity across the globe. 

Transforming Dance around the World

Actresses who refused typecasting, making african america: the arts, a new african american identity: the harlem renaissance.

A black and white promotional photograph for The Emperor Jones starring Paul Robeson (1898-1976), a concert artist, actor, athlete and activist.

Promotional poster for the Italian release of "Lilies of the Field" starring Sidney Poitier (1927-2022), acclaimed actor, activist, director and ambassador. Poitier earned an Oscar for his performance in the film, becoming the first Black actor to win an Academy Award.

An autographed "Marshall" movie poster featuring actor Chadwick Boseman (1976-2020) that was being auctioned off during CinemaCon in 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Boseman was an actor, director, writer and producer who portrayed groundbreaking figures such as James Brown, Thurgood Marshall and Jackie Robinson.

Katherine Dunham (1909-2006) and her dance company work out of New York, and issued this cover for a 1950 program. Dunham was a dancer and choreographer known as a pioneer in dance anthropology, or the study of dance in a social and cultural context. 

Dancer Judith Jamison, born in 1943, photographed as she appeared in 'Prodigal Prince' in 1967. Jamison is artistic director emerita of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and an esteemed choreographer whose awards and honors include an Emmy Award, the Kennedy Center Honor, and induction into the Hall of Fame at the National Museum of Dance.

Choreographer Fatima Robinson, born in 1971, poses at the premiere of "The Color Purple" held at The Academy Museum on December 6, 2023, in Los Angeles, California. Robinson is a dancer, choreographer, and music video director whose credits include choreographing the Academy Awards and musical numbers in the 2023 “The Color Purple” movie.

Gil Scott-Heron (1949-2011) performs on the main stage on day one of Bestival on September 10, 2010 on the Isle of Wight, United Kingdom.  Scott-Heron was an author, poet, author, composer and recording artist whose songs included "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised."

Saul Williams performs on stage during day 4 of BAM Festival at Antiga fabrica Damm on September 25, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain. Williams is a poet, rapper, singer and actor known for blending poetry and hip hop. He co-wrote and starred in the 1998 independent film Slam. He also starred in Holler If Ya Hear Me, a musical inspired by late rapper Tupac Shakur.

Pioneering comedian, writer, and activist Dick Gregory (1932-2017) performs at the 2008 Bermuda Music Festival at Bermuda National Stadium on October 4, 2008 in Hamilton, Bermuda. On stage, in comedy clubs, and on college campuses, on radio, television, and recordings, Gregory struck a blow to the heart of racism with messages full of wit and wisdom. He was active in the civil rights movement. He was a presidential hopeful as well as a prolific author who published several books and appeared in many films and television shows.

The Daily Show Correspondent Roy Wood, Jr. attends Comedy Central's The Daily Show With Trevor Noah Premiere Party Event on October 22, 2015 in New York City. Wood is a comedian and actor best know for his appearances on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah where he's shed light on issues. He's also starred in Netflix’s comedy series Space Force , AMC’s Better Call Saul , and The Last O.G. on TBS.

North Star: A Digital Journey of African American History

Explore African American history through digital activities on the Smithsonian Learning Lab platform. The activities, or collections, have gathered objects, stories, videos and thinking questions all in one place.

Reckoning (Visual Art)

Visual art has long provided its own protest, commentary, escape and perspective for African Americans.

The power to inspire, the power to incite, the power to challenge... Tommy Oliver Photographer, producer and cinematographer in television and film

Reckoning Exhibition

Reckoning: Protest. Defiance. Resilience. looks at the ways in which visual art has long provided its own protest, commentary, escape and perspective for African Americans. 

Take a Gallery Tour

Represent: Hip-Hop Photography

Represent paired images from the museum’s Eyejammie Hip-Hop Photography Collection with historical photographs to highlight connections between hip-hop culture and its relationship to other important historical figures, social movements, and creative moments.

Everyday Beauty: Images and Films in NMAAHC's Collection

Gail anderson: a leader in black graphic design, an artist forged in a steel mill town.

Jamel Shabazz

Photographer Jamel Shabazz poses for a photo at Rockefeller Center’s public art initiative celebrating photography with a lightbox exhibition featuring works by NYC street and subway photographer Jamel Shabazz at Rockefeller Plaza on March 27, 2021 in New York City.  Shabazz is known for his photographs of New York City during the 1980s. He has authored monographs, and contributed to many photography-related books. His photographs have been exhibited around the world. Selections are housed within permanent collections at museums including the Smithsonian's National Museum of History and Culture, the Studio Museum in Harkem and the Whitney Museum.

Chester Higgins Jr.

Chester Higgins, Jr. during the Clodagh Design Hosts The Thorn Tree Project's Evening of Art on November 2, 2017 in New York City. Higgins is photojournalist whose career has spanned five decades. He was a staff photographer at The New York Times for more than 40 years until 2014. His work has been featured in exhibitions worldwide and in books, including Feeling the Spirit: Searching the World for the People of Africa and Echo of the Spirit, his biography. He's written several books including Black Woman, Ancient Nubia: African Kingdoms on the Nile, and It’s Been Beautiful: Soul! And Black Power Television. Some of his photography is part of permanent collections of New York's Museum of Modern Art. 

Gordon Parks

Gordon Parks (1912-2006) smokes a pipe at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Boston. Parks was a celebrated photographer whose career spanned six decades. He used his camera to chronicle culture and life in America as well as to shine a light on inequalities he witnessed. He was the first African American staff photographer for Life magazine. His work is in the permanent collections of major museums including the Baltimore Museum of Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Museum of Modern Art in New York, and Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Parks was also an activist, author, composer, poet, and a filmmaker. He was the first African American to write and direct a major Hollywood studio feature film,  The Learning Tree. He directed Shaft starring Richard Roundtree (1942-2023), whose portrayal as private detective John  Shaft helped redefine and reshape the roles of Black men in film and television.

Amy Sherald

Amy Sherald attends New York Academy of Art Tribeca Ball Honors Amy Sherald at New York Academy of Art on April 4, 2023 in New York City. Sherald is a painter who documents the contemporary African American experience through portraits. She is best known for her portrait of former First Lady Michelle Obama featured in the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery. Another portrait by Sherald, Grand Dame Queenie, is on display in the museum’s art gallery. Her painting of Breonna Taylor was also on display in the museum.

Betye Saar attends the 10th Annual LACMA ART+FILM GALA honoring Amy Sherald, Kehinde Wiley, and Steven Spielberg presented by Gucci at Los Angeles County Museum of Art on November 6, 2021 in Los Angeles. The visuak storyteller is known for creating assemblage art. Saar was a part of the Black Arts Movement, which began in 1965 and ended in 1975. The movement featured politically motivated artists, poets, playwrights, musicians, and writers. Saar's work confronts racist stereotypes and explores Black identity. Her works include Black Girl's Window (1969), Mojotech (1987), and We Was Mostly 'Bout Survival (2017)

Elizabeth Catlett

Portrait of sculptor Elizabeth Catlett (1915 - 2012) attending a gallery opening for an exhibition of her work in New York in 2009. Catlett's legacy is one of cultural belonging and activism that provokes conversations about the role of art among continental American neighbors: the U.S. and Mexico. Several of her works iconize well-known African American heroines including Harriet Tubman, Phillis Wheatley, and Sojourner Truth to memorialize their activist legacies. Honors she's received include a Lifetime Achievement Award in contemporary sculpture from the International Sculpture Center, the Art Institute of Chicago Legends and Legacy Award, and honorary doctorates from Carnegie Mellon (the same school that denied her undergraduate admittance) and Pace University.

Art as Platform for Social Justice

Designed for grades three and up, this guide focuses on three not-to-miss objects and stories throughout the museum that highlight the connection between art and social justice.

Musical Crossroads (Music)

From the arrival of the first Africans to the present day, African American music has provided a voice for liberty, justice and social change. 

Music is our witness and our ally. The beat is the confession which recognizes, changes, and conquers time. James Baldwin, author “Of the Sorrow Songs: The Cross of Redemption" in 1979

Musical Crossroads exhibition

Musical Crossroads expands the definition of African American music to include African American music-makers in all genres and styles.

Religion in Black Music, Activism and Popular Culture

Spirit in the Dark examines Black religious life through a selection of photographs from the Johnson Publishing Company, publisher of Ebony, Jet and Negro Digest. 

Comrades in the Struggle

A look at the music of the poor people’s campaign, billie holiday: an icon in american culture, the stage belonged to her, mahalia jackson: gospel takes flight, sweet honey in the rock's carol maillard on being an 'artivist'.

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Stories Behind the Objects

Black voices in the arts lunch series   .

During Black History Month, we celebrated the contributions of Black artists who have used their platforms for social change. For three weeks, we featured performances of local artists including poets and spoken word artists, dancers, musicians, and a live painter inside Heritage Hall.

Pre-teen rapper Fly (“First Love Yourself") Zyah began her musical journey at age two and released her debut "Ride My Bike" at age six. She covers a range of topics including social justice.

The award-winning kt eXtreme dance project, established in 1988 by Kevin T. Malone, embraces diverse artistic disciplines.

February 16

The Bowie State University Concert Choir, under the direction of Professor Brandon J. Felder, serves as the resident choir of Maryland’s oldest historically black college and university (HBCU). The choir serves as cultural ambassadors for Bowie State University, the City of Bowie, and the State of Maryland.

Bowie State University theatre students recited monologues and sang along with the Bowie State University Choir.

kt eXtreme dance project focuses on bridging African American dance traditions with modern times. At the museum, the dancers performed parts of The North Star Project , a multi-generational and multi-disciplinary choreographic work that celebrates the pursuit of freedom and resilience.

Artist Summer Clinkscale says her interactions with others serve as her greatest inspiration and she brings those feelings to light through her work. The artist brought her passion of art to life during live painting activations in the museum.

Young dancers from Dynasty Elite Dance Company, a pre-professional competing and performance company, perform in Heritage Hall. The dance company is based out of Neema Dance Collective in District Heights, Maryland.

Dynasty Elite takes pride in building a community of highly skilled dancers ages 5-18 within the walls of Neema Dance Collective, led by CEO and Artistic Director Grace Johnson-Wright.

Dynasty Elite takes pride in building a community of highly skilled dancers ages 5-18 within the walls of Neema Dance Collective, led by CEO and Artistic Director Grace Johnson-Wright, an accomplished dancer, studio owner, published choreographer, and dance educator.

Poets and spoken word artists Miko Reed, Miss Kiane and Simply Sherri stand in Heritage Hall after their performances during Black History Month.

Miko Reed is a native Washingtonian, retired Army Master Sergeant, and has been writing poetry for over 20 years. She is an author, poet, public speaker, curator and host. Her first book, “Eggshells In Soft Black Hands,” came out in August 2021, and her latest book, "100 Poems and Possibilities for Healing," in January 2024.

California born and Maryland raised, Simply Sherri has been writing since 2001 and performing since 2008. Knowing how important it is to connect and share with young people, she has conducted workshops for DC Scores.  She has also volunteered with DewMore Baltimore, becoming a “poetry auntie” to many. 

A native of Queens, New York, Miss Kiane is an author, performer, and entrepreneur. Her work has appeared in a plethora of anthologies including "100 Poems and Possibilities for Healing." She operates nonprofit InkWELL and owns Kiane Ink Healing in the Pen, LLC, a creative arts company. She has appeared on a host of podcasts and television shows.

Artist Summer Clinkscale says her interactions with others serve as her greatest inspiration and she brings those feelings to light through her work. Clinkscale is a Visitor Services Lead at the museum. During Black History Month, the artist brought her passion of art to life during live painting activations in the museum

Artist Summer Clinkscale, who serves as a Visitor Services Lead at the museum, works on a painting in Heritage Hall for Black History Month.

Afrofuturism (Digital Arts)

Afrofuturism expresses notions of Black identity, agency and freedom through art, creative works and activism that envision liberated futures for Black life. 

You got to make your own worlds. You got to write yourself in. Octavia Butler (1947–2006) Writer, Afrofuturist

Afrofuturism: A History of Black Futures

The exhibition immerses visitors in a conversation that reimagines, reinterprets and reclaims the past and present for a more empowering future for African Americans. 

Go behind the scenes of NMAAHC's newest exhibition

Multimedia Afrofuturism

Afrofuturism has influenced how Black people are depicted in film, television, art, and architecture. Explore the artists reimagining Black possibilities.

Black Women Icons of Afrofuturism

Ease on down the road: a 'super soul musical', african american achievement at nasa, harriet tubman: life, liberty and legacy, remembering afrofuturist octavia butler.

Narratives of African American STEM professionals

Through the Window and into the Mirror is a video conversation series about the experiences of African American STEM professionals today.  Interviews with Ron Gamble, Chanda Prescod-Weinstein, Sharon Caples McDougle, K. Renee Horton, and Jessica Watkins are among the ones focused on space, space travel, and physics.

A Celebration of African Americans at NASA

This Learning Lab celebrates Black pioneers at NASA, their bravery, their exploratory spirit, and their desires to express themselves fully through their commitment to space exploration.

The Science of Sound: Activities Inspired by Dr. James West

Using hands-on activities and easy to find materials, students will use the story of Dr. James West to discover how an object produces sound and how sound waves travel. 

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Staying another day in Bloomington? These are some of our favorite places to visit

For those who decided to stay another day after Monday's solar eclipse, there are plenty of options if you're looking for something to do.

Here's a list of some of our favorite places to visit:

Learn about solar eclipses over Bloomington

Want to learn more about solar eclipses? The Monroe County History Center , at 202 E. Sixth St., has an exhibit "Bloomington Total Solar Eclipses — 1869 & 2024." The center is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission is $2 for adults, $1 for kids. The exhibit compares the scientific, social and pop cultural responses to eclipses that happened 115 years apart.

Get you fill of IU athletics history

You don't have to be a Hoosiers fan to enjoy a visit to Cook Hall in the lobby entryway of the practice building next to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall , 1051 E. 17th St. The facility is home to the Pfau Shine Legacy Court, a museum and exhibit space that has photographs, trophies and other items celebrating IU teams, especially basketball. If the doors are open, check it out. Usually only the lobby area is open to the public.

Visit one of the largest student unions in the world

Another amazing IU building to check out is the Indiana Memorial Union at 900 E. Seventh St. The limestone building faces Campus River and Dunn Meadow and has restaurants (The Vault Pub, Tudor Room, The Globe, Lantern, The Mix, Starbucks, Quarry Pie Co., Whitfield Grill and Sugar and Spice Bakery), a bowling alley, billiards, bookstore and lots of rooms — including one with a fireplace and several with statues. Amazing artwork is displayed throughout.

Take the kids on a science-based field trip

Didn't take your kids to WonderLab Museum of Science, Health and Technology for the eclipse? It's worth a visit. From a special toddler and preschool area to hands-on exhibits and up-close chances to learn about snakes and fish, it's a great place to learn and play. Tickets are $14.50 per person for non-members. Hours are 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday. It's at 308 W. Fourth St.

Catch a Hoosiers baseball game

Watch Bloomington High School North's Sam Klein, now with Ball State, take on Indiana University's baseball team at 6 p.m. April 9 at Bart Kaufman Stadium. The Hoosier team is 16-14 overall right now and 1-2 in the Big Ten conference.

Walk or bike through a park and downtown Bloomington

If outdoors is where you want to be, you can walk or bike along the B-Line Trail through Bloomington. You'll walk or bike past houses, businesses, restaurants and can travel through Switchyard Park . The trail connects with several others, including Bloomington Rail Trail to the south at Country Club Drive (with parking at West Church Lane and West Country Club Road). If you walk the Rail Trail south, you'll connect with the Clear Creek Trail , which can be accessed on the north side along West Tapp Road and also at West That Road.

Spend the day playing disc golf and more at local parks

Bloomington and Monroe County have great parks, from Karst Farm Park, 2450 S. Endwright Road, on Bloomington's west side to Switchyard Park and Bryan Park in the city limits. Karst Farm has a disc golf course, trails and picnic shelters. Switchyard Park, 1601 S. Rogers St., has basketball courts, a skate park, picnic areas, dog parks and a kids' playground. Bryan Park, 1020 S. Woodlawn Ave., has a kids' playground, trails, picnic shelters, basketball courts and tennis courts. There are other city parks worth checking out, too: bloomington.in.gov/parks/parks .

Get in touch with nature at Griffy Lake or Lake Monroe

Like to hike, boat or fish? Head to either Griffy Lake Nature Preserve on Bloomington's north side (3595 N. Headley Road) or to Lake Monroe , which offers several recreation areas where you can do everything from rent a kayak or pontoon boat to hiking trails that give views all around the lake. Griffy Lake's boathouse opens for the season on April 6. Griffy Lake also has a loop trail around the lake and fishing piers. Lake Monroe is Indiana's largest man-made lake and has Paynetown, Fairfax, Allen's Creek, Cutright, Moore's Creek, Salt Creek, Pine Grove and Crooked Creek state recreation areas. You can have a picnic, take a walk, rent a kayak or pontoon boat or fish from the bank or a pier. (Make sure you have an Indiana fishing license , please.)

Contact Carol Kugler at [email protected]

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Visit Museum of the History of Stavropol

When you've spent a bit of time at this collection of historical artifacts in Stavropol , why not make your way to Dinamo Stadium, Lenin Square and Stavropol State Regional Museum? They're close to Museum of the History of Stavropol and also popular with many tourists.

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Museum of city history.

You can enjoy some culture when you stop by Museum of City History in Stavropol. Amble around the area's parks or experience its museums.

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You can spend an afternoon exploring the galleries in Stavropol Regional Museum of Fine Arts during your trip to Stavropol. Experience the area's museums and theater scene.

Krai Museum of Fine Art

You can spend time exploring the galleries in Krai Museum of Fine Art during your trip to Stavropol. Amble around the area's parks or visit its monuments.

Stavrpol Zooekzotarium

See the exotic and native animals who call Stavrpol Zooekzotarium home during your trip to Stavropol. Amble around the area's parks or visit its monuments.

Dinamo Stadium

Catch an event at Dinamo Stadium during your trip to Stavropol. Amble around the area's parks or visit its monuments.

Stavropol Puppet Theater

You can make plans for a show at Stavropol Puppet Theater during your trip to Stavropol. Discover the area's museums and monuments.

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Museum the World of Caskets

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British Museum investigated over Ethiopian artefacts hidden from view for 150 years

Watchdog examining claims key details have not been disclosed about altar tablets that museum is facing calls to return

The information watchdog is investigating the British Museum over claims it has been overly secretive about some of the most sensitive items in its collection – a group of sacred Ethiopian altar tablets that have been hidden from view at the museum for more than 150 years.

The 11 wood and stone tabots, which the museum acknowledges were looted by British soldiers after the Battle of Maqdala in 1868, have never been on public display and are considered to be so sacred that even the institution’s own curators and trustees are forbidden from examining them.

There have long been calls for them to be returned to Ethiopia. In 2019 the country’s culture minister, on a visit to the museum, requested their return .

Campaigners have now submitted a complaint to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) arguing that the museum has failed to disclose key details of internal discussions about the tabots in response to a freedom of information request.

Returning Heritage , a not-for-profit organisation that collates information on cultural restitution, submitted the FoI request in August 2023 and says the museum’s reply omitted relevant material, while other information was overly redacted. An internal museum review carried out at Returning Heritage’s request upheld its initial response.

The organisation argues that while the British Museum Act 1963 , which bars the disposal of objects except in very limited circumstances, means the status of other disputed artefacts is ambiguous, the tabots could lawfully be returned now.

“The act is very explicit that the museum [can’t] return objects,” said Lewis McNaught, Returning Heritage’s managing editor. “But there are some legal exemptions within the act. And one of those exemptions allows the trustees to return certain items if they consider them ‘unfit to be retained’.”

Because the tabots will never be exhibited or studied – they are thought to be held in a sealed room that can only be entered by Ethiopian clergy – they fit this category, the organisation believes.

Returning Heritage requested information from meetings where trustees discussed the tabots, which it believes could provide insights into why they believe they cannot lawfully be returned. “It seems very strange that the museum would not wish to explain why they’re holding on to objects that they can return,” said McNaught, arguing there was “a genuine public interest – with this unique group of objects that can be returned – [in understanding] why the museum will not explain why they’re not returning them”.

Westminster Abbey said last month it had agreed “in principle” that a single tabot that has been sealed inside a cathedral altar should be returned to Ethiopia. Another was returned soon after it was discovered in a church cupboard in Edinburgh 23 years ago, leading to ecstatic celebrations in its home country.

Tom Short, of the law firm Leigh Day, who submitted the ICO complaint on Returning Heritage’s behalf, said it believed the museum wrongly relied on certain permitted exemptions to FoI as justification for withholding material. Leigh Day has previously drawn up a legal opinion that it says shows the items can be legally returned.

“Our client seeks information from the museum that many would argue should be in the public domain by default,” Short said. “[It] concerns decision-making by a major public institution on a matter of very significant public interest.”

The British Museum declined to comment. It has previously said its long-term ambition is to lend the tabots to an Ethiopian Orthodox church in the UK, though clerics have questioned the feasibility of this due to the insurance costs.

The ICO confirmed it had received the complaint.

• British Museum
• Freedom of information

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Trump and GOP leaders push to change Nebraska electoral votes to winner-take-all

Former President Donald Trump and Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen are calling on the state’s Legislature to change the way Nebraska doles out its Electoral College votes, a move that would almost certainly benefit Trump in his 2024 presidential bid.

While most states dole out all their Electoral College votes to the statewide winner of the presidential vote, Nebraska and Maine give out one electoral vote to the candidate who wins each congressional district. 

Republicans have long sought to change the law, which has given Democratic presidential candidates a shot at winning one Electoral College vote — from the Omaha-based congressional district — in the otherwise red state. That’s happened twice, including in 2020, when Joe Biden won the district’s electoral vote over Trump , meaning Trump’s 58% support statewide got him four of the five Nebraska electoral votes.

Republicans are upping the pressure on the state’s nonpartisan, unicameral Legislature to make the change before this fall’s presidential election.

But despite the pressure from Republican heavy hitters, the push could fall short as the legislative session draws to a close, after the previously introduced bill languished unnoticed before the sudden rush of attention.

"We have a process" in the Nebraska legislature, Speaker John Arch said in a statement. "It includes bill introduction, a committee hearing on every bill and the prioritization of the session’s agenda by the committees and individual members of the Legislature. LB 764 was not prioritized and remains in committee. I’m not able to schedule a bill that is still in committee.”

Republican state Sen. Julie Slama filed the legislation as an amendment to an existing bill further along in the legislative process, in the hopes of forcing a faster vote on it . But even so, the path forward still remains murky, as it's unclear whether the bill in its new form can overcome a potential filibuster.

Hours after Republican activist Charlie Kirk put out a call for his supporters to contact Pillen, a Republican, to support the change, the governor responded with a statement of his own reiterating support for the bill and calling on lawmakers to pass it. Shortly after, Trump lent his backing to the efforts on social media. 

“Governor Jim Pillen of Nebraska, a very smart and popular Governor, who has done some really great things, came out today with a very strong letter in support of returning Nebraska’s Electoral Votes to a Winner-Take-All System,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform . 

“Most Nebraskans have wanted to go back to this system for a very long time, because it’s what 48 other States do — It’s what the Founders intended, and it’s right for Nebraska. Thank you Governor for your bold leadership. Let’s hope the Senate does the right thing.”

Kirk said in a statement to NBC News that he has been focused on the issue “for some time.” 

“I realized two things researching for my show: There was already a bill drafted, and the legislature was still in session,” Kirk said. “So I decided to do something about it. Credit to Governor Pillen and President Trump for acting quickly.” 

The electoral math 

The debate is functionally over just one of the 538 Electoral College votes that decide the presidency. But the change could have far greater repercussions than it may initially seem.

Biden won 306 Electoral College votes in 2020 to Trump’s 232, but the electoral landscape has shifted significantly since then. Battleground state polling shows states like Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Nevada and Wisconsin — states Trump lost in 2020 — are well within the Republican’s reach this fall. 

And if Trump is able to win back the key Sun Belt states he lost in 2020 — Arizona, Georgia and Nevada — then Nebraska’s split electoral vote becomes of paramount importance. 

In that scenario and with the current rules in Nebraska, Biden would win the presidency with 270 Electoral College votes to Trump’s 268. But if Nebraska awarded all its votes to the statewide winner, that would leave both candidates with 269 votes, an outcome that would send the presidential election to the House of Representatives. 

That’s one reason why Democrats are blasting the potential change, as they also argue the current system keeps Nebraska relevant in the presidential race, which they believe is good for the state. 

“The [Nebraska Republican Party] are eyeing #NE02 in this latest attempt to dilute our state’s influence nationwide. #NE02 has gone to Obama in 2008 and Biden in 2020. They know [Biden] can win in 2024. They can’t stand that a Blue Dot exists in the state. We will continue to protect it,” the state Democratic Party wrote Tuesday night on X , the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. The party also launched a petition drive opposing the bill. 

Jim Messina, who served as then-President Barack Obama’s 2012 campaign manager,  criticized the move by Nebraska Republicans in an appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” and said that “changing the rules 200 days before the election is ridiculous.”

“This is what the modern Republican Party has become, they’re now changing the rules in the middle trying to benefit themselves,” Messina said. 

“There are real simulation problems when you look at the map, that one electoral vote really matters in the combination of other things. Then you need another state. The easiest pathway to victory has always been the Midwestern three states combined with Nebraska,” Messina continued. 

Procedural hurdles

But despite the pressure campaign from Republicans, it’s unclear whether the bill can actually become law, thanks to a combination of questions about its support, the procedure needed to take the bill from committee to the floor, and the fact the legislative session ends in just two weeks. 

“It’s just all about timing and management when it comes to getting bills successfully through the unicameral,” state Sen. Tom Brewer, a Republican who helms the legislative committee that’s considering the bill, told the Lincoln Journal-Star . “And it’s past the 11th hour with this. We just don’t have a way of making it fit.”

While the bill was introduced in January of last year, there had been no substantive movement on it since a committee hearing two months later, in March 2023. A legislative staffer who requested anonymity to speak candidly told NBC News that the bill did not receive any attention after last year’s hearing until Tuesday following Kirk’s program. 

The staffer noted that there is “no time” for the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee to act on the legislation.

The decision to try to add the legislation to a bill that's already moving on the floor could help circumvent that issue, but supporters still need to overcome opposition from Democrats and independents in the chamber.  

State Sen. Loren Lippincott, the Republican who wrote the bill, told the Journal-Star there currently isn’t enough support for the bill in the Legislature to overcome a filibuster regardless.

In a statement Wednesday, Lippincott added, "My staff and I are doing everything we can to seek options for getting this to the finish line. However, the harsh reality of a two-day timeframe is limiting."

Nebraska lawmakers have repeatedly tried to return the state to granting all its Electoral College votes to the statewide winner ever since the change was made in 1991 . While the Legislature successfully passed legislation to do just that in 1995 , Democratic Gov. Ben Nelson vetoed it. 

Efforts to pass the legislation again fell just one vote short in 2016.

Ben Kamisar is a deputy political editor in NBC's Political Unit. 

Bridget Bowman is a deputy editor for NBC's Political Unit.

Allan Smith is a political reporter for NBC News.