Discussion Papers
TrendsWatch 2012: Museums and the Pulse of the Future is the first edition of CFM's new annual report, exploring seven emerging trends of great significance to museums.
Museums and the future of education
The U.S. educational system is on the cusp of transformational change. What role can museums play in the next era of learning? CFM's Elizabeth Merritt and Scott Kratz of the National Building Museum explore this question through a survey of the impressive scope of innovative educational experiences museums already contribute to the educational landscape.
Tomorrow in the Golden State: Museums and the Future of California, a museum forecasting resource guide arising from the working session, "Forecasting the Future of California Museums," held between the California Association of Museums and the CFM during the 2010 AAM annual meeting.
Demographic Transformation and the Future of Museums, commissioned from the Cultural Policy Center at the University of Chicago. This paper explores the majority-minority future of America and issues a call to action for museums to better serve their rapidly diversifying communities.
In 2008, CFM commissioned its first discussion paper, Museums & Society 2034: Trends and Potential Futures. This paper explores the challenges that society and museums will face in the next quarter-century, especially in the areas of demographic change, globalization, new forms of telecommunication, and new expectations about narrative and the consumption of culture. The report was prepared by Reach Advisors—a marketing strategy and research firm with extensive experience in the museum field—in consultation with CFM staff and outside experts.
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