Melissa, Natalie, and I had a chance to visit Kalamazoo earlier this month to do some final site visits to get ready for the conference. As I was driving into town, I suddenly remembered the origin story for this year's theme—road construction!
Our first visit to Kalamazoo was last year, when we were selecting the location for the 2024 conference. When we were there, it seemed like everyone was talking about the streets of downtown and the project to redirect traffic through the commercial district. The project is taking several one-way thoroughfares and turning them back into two-way streets. The goal is to slow down traffic and allow for more space for bicycles and pedestrians. It is very exciting, but the result is a literal changing landscape that our colleagues in Kalamazoo were having to adjust to and navigate on a regular basis.
As the topic came up again and again, it reminded me of how I was feeling at the time—that so many things were changing. We were still readjusting after pandemic disruptions, and it seems like so many shifts have happened in the past several years—generational leadership, technology development, public expectations, supply chains... Within the museum community, there has been massive turnover and changing investment. Just like the Kalamazoo folks, we have been adjusting and navigating all of our own changing landscapes. It seemed destined to be our theme.
Since then, we have selected keynote speakers, concurrent sessions, museum cafe topics, and Pecha Kucha presenters—all of which are tied in some way to how we are getting around in this transitioning world. I am looking forward to learning about many strategies and experiences related to work, and hearing different perspective on how people are approaching it. It's going to be a great conference.
Those of you coming to the conference will encounter our theme inspiration yourselves, because that downtown landscape is still under construction. But you'll make your way through the detours and roadblocks, just as we have been in our museum work.
Lisa Craig Brisson
Executive Director
.png){kind=logo}
