The impacts of COVID 19 has wreaked sobering havoc onto the global museum sector. American Alliance of Museums (AAM) has predicted as many as 30 per cent of US museums may have to permanently close their doors, and in the UK the sector is saturated with the heart-breaking news of extreme financial losses and redundancies as a result.
While we live through turbulence its more important than ever for the visitor experience sector to network for support – with the launch of a new museum platform helping museums to connect with the most talented, passionate and knowledgeable experience specialists from around the world.
MuseumExpert.org is a free service which has recently been made live and with easy-to-navigate tools. Users can connect with thousands of museum industry specialists and experts at the click of one button.
Not only will it act as a job search database for the thousands of talented museum professionals currently out of work, but also partners museum curators with leading manufacturers to adjust their usual operations to become COVID safe and look at new offerings which adhere to the ‘new normal’.
A statement from the website reads: “COVID-19 has changed the landscape of our industry. Thousands of highly experienced, passionate museum professionals with tremendous expertise are currently unemployed or underemployed.
“Although separated from their institutions, these professionals believe museums still have the ability to positively contribute to their communities—and many have a desire and a drive to continue to contribute to the field.
“Many museums and like-minded institutions are reopening with limited resources and severely reduced staff. To meet the demands of our current world, as well as the imperative for transformation and innovation brought to the forefront by this crisis, cultural institutions will need access to the best and the brightest minds—many of whom are currently available for work”.
The global innovative platform is the brainchild of Walter Staveloz, who boasts more than 30 years in the science museum field. Along with an expert advisory board comprising of acclaimed museum professionals, museumexport.org is also supported by Imagine Exhibitions and partnered with AAM.
Whether you are an expert or employer in the field, click here to check out the services.
Video shows Connecting Culture webinar with AAM President Laura Lott, as she addresses the state of US museums through the pandemic
