The FHM Travels To Washington D.C. To Attend #AAM2016!

  Kristen Wright, The Florida Holocaust Museum’s Writer and Digital Content Manager

The Florida Holocaust Museum’s Executive Director (Elizabeth Gelman), Curator of Exhibitions and Collections (Erin Blankenship), and Assistant to the Executive Director (Korri Krajicek) traveled to Washington D.C. this past weekend to attend the American Alliance of Museums Annual Meeting!

The American Alliance of Museums Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo is the largest gathering of museum professionals in the world. “Going to AAM”–as attending the conference has come to be known–is considered the quintessential experience for museum professionals. The program is jam-packed with opportunities to hear diverse perspectives on a wide range of topics; to connect with your colleagues from across the country and around the world; and to engage in meaningful dialogue with peers from diverse backgrounds and from museums of all types.

The American Alliance of Museums‬ (AAM) believes strongly in the value of fostering global dialogue, embracing cultural differences and welcoming diverse perspectives and strives to create a “safe space” for annual meeting attendees to engage in both substantive conversations and vigorous debate. AAM encourages presenters to think creatively about how content is delivered, and has developed interactive session formats – including storytelling, talk show and case study – that result in a dynamic and engaging program that inspires discussion, collaboration and active learning.

The #AAM2016 theme this year was “Power, Influence and Responsibility” and explored how the themes of power, influence and responsibility shape the work on museums in the U.S. and around the world. Museums are powerful community assets economically, culturally, educationally, and as places to convene and discuss issues of the day. They memorialize historic events and bear witness to political and social change. They strive to foster healthy dialogue and provide a venue for healing and renewal. Museums use their power to teach respect for cultural differences and foster community cohesion and sustainability.