Museums In The 21st Century
Assembling Artifacts Of African-American History()
January 14, 2009 In a vast warehouse off an undistinguished highway in Maryland, storage cartons and suitcases hold the treasures of the as-yet-unbuilt National Museum of African-American History and Culture.
Interactive Games Make Museums A Place To Play()
January 12, 2009 On a recent evening, 100 museum professionals gathered in Washington, D.C., to hear a lecture — not about funding, or curatorial responsibility — but about games. Museum directors are hoping alternate reality games will get visitors of all ages engaged with their collections.
Museums Exhibit Signs Of Economic Distress()
January 5, 2009 It's hard to talk about museums these days without discussing the effect the recession is having on them. Funding of all kinds is being cut, and many museums are laying off staff, postponing exhibitions and looking for new ways to raise money.
Hands-On Kids' Museums Make Learning Fun()
December 29, 2008 Immersion and interaction are the name of the game at children's museums around the country. NPR's Neda Ulaby visited WaterWays in San Jose and the Dinosphere in Indianapolis to see the next generation of kids' museums firsthand.
Museum Field Trips Tailored To Teach To The Test()
December 22, 2008 School field trips are falling off the curriculum as teachers feel pressure to fill class time with basic skills. Museum directors are working to make their exhibits more field-trip friendly to lure teachers and students back from the classrooms.
Missing A Masterpiece? Call FBI's Art Crime Team()
December 15, 2008 The FBI used to treat cases of art theft just like any other case involving stolen property. But today, a team of special agents at the FBI is devoted to tracking down priceless cultural artifacts. Dina Temple-Raston explores the world of real-life art heists.
Balancing Form, Function In Museum Architecture()
December 8, 2008 Two American museums designed by one world-famous architect have evoked two very different reactions from visitors and critics alike. Laura Sydell investigates the tensions between form and function in the latest installment of NPR's series on 21st-century museums.
For Virginia Museum Director, Life Is Rarely Still()
December 1, 2008 Alex Nyerges is no stranger to working 16-hour days and wearing multiple hats. As director of the VMFA, his domain ranges from the art blogosphere to the museum's $130 million construction site — with countless travel obligations, fundraising opportunities and donor visits thrown in for good measure.
A History Of Museums, 'The Memory Of Mankind'()
November 24, 2008 Each year, 850 million people visit America's museums. That's more than six times the annual attendance of all major-league sporting events combined. Bob Mondello kicks off an NPR series about museums in the 21st century.
