Why I’m Focusing on Small Museums

There’s so much in the world right now that’s beyond my control. I’ve added my voice and actions to oppose decisions that actively harm communities and cultures, but the scale of loss—canceled grants, disappearing research, rising unemployment—has left me feeling helpless. The urgency of it all is overwhelming.

But I’ve come to realize that in the face of the vast, sweeping challenges we can’t always change immediately, there’s still value in narrowing our lens to what we can do now.

For me, that means turning toward my own professional corner of the world: small museums. These institutions, often undervalued and underfunded, are not immune to the broader crises—but they are also places where practical, meaningful solutions are still possible. I can’t reverse national policy decisions or restore lost funding streams, but I can help museums tackle everyday problems. And that’s something.

So while the pendulum of history continues to swing—without any clear sign of how far or how long—I’m choosing to stay grounded here. In this space. Offering clarity, guidance, and care for the solvable issues that shape daily life for small museums and cultural spaces.

That’s why I’m starting a series of short blog articles: focused, actionable reads that dive into common museum challenges and offer mini-toolkits for navigating them.. Whether it’s improving visitor engagement, creating accessible collections policies, or responding to crisis with clarity, I want these posts to be useful. Tangible. Hopeful, even.

These resources are free to access, and the blog articles always will be. I’ve linked a Buy Me a Coffee account for anyone who feels these mini-toolkits have value and wants to support the work. Even more than monetary support, I welcome conversation—interactions, topic suggestions, and ideas for improvement. Your feedback helps shape the next post, the next toolkit, and hopefully, better solutions for more people.

The work of cultural preservation doesn’t pause just because the rest of the world is on fire. So I’ll keep lending my voice where it’s needed—and I’ll also keep building this small corner, where problem-solving is still possible, and where a little help might go a long way.

For you. For me. For the stories that still matter.

Alt Text: Whimsical watercolor illustration of a red schoolhouse with a bell tower, flanked by colorful swirling designs in shades of blue, teal, yellow, orange, and red, symbolizing creativity and learning.

Sunday’s, July 6, 2025, feature is, Beyond the Exhibit: Redefining Scholarly Work, and the Exhibit to Essay Mini-Toolkit.