The Experience Alchemists

After Declining to Give Trump a Sword for King Charles, a Museum Leader Is Out

Museum & library folks, hire Todd Arrington! He refused to give Trump an Eisenhower Collection, as a gift for King Charles (ironically, as the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence approaches). We all need to stand up in our own way, where ever we can. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/a...

A World Reshaped by A.I. Needs Museums More Than Ever

We are proud to have worked on two of these exciting new museum spaces at Princeton University Art Museum and Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art! www.nytimes.com/2025/09/02/a...

Ed Rodley holding his new book in front of his face.

Looking for new additions to your summer reading list? Grab our own @erodley.bsky.social new book Designing for Playful Engagement in Museums www.routledge.com/Designing-fo...

Jennifer Foley, Ed Rodley, Hillary Spencer, and Melissa Mohr outside the Figge Museum

Ed Rodley and a Disruptor cocktail

Ed Rodley, MM

Ed Rodley, Emily Fry, Jennifer Foley

Our own @erodley.bsky.social was out on the road doing a workshop the Association of Midwest Museums, the Figge Museum, and a Drinking About Museums in Chicago!
#ammconference #drinkingaboutmuseums #chicago #figgemuseum #museums #museum #ontheroad #theexperiencealchemists #experiencedesign

New Red Order, Material Monument to Thomas Morton (Playing Indian), 2025. The Triennial 2025: The Exchange, on view from May 22—October 31, 2025. #BostonPublicArtTriennial #BOSTriennial #PublicArtCity #TheExchange #newredorder #nativeamericanart #nativeart #theexperiencealchemists #experiencedesign

Attended The American Institute of Architects Expo today. Lots of cool stuff to consider for future projects! #americaninstituteofarchitects #aia25
#experiencedesign #theexperiencealchemists
#architecture #architect #design #museum #museums #exhibitiondesign

We are thrilled to be an official partner of The Boston Triennial 2025: The Exchange, on view from May 22—October 31, 2025.

#BostonPublicArtTriennial #BOSTriennial #PublicArtCity #TheExchange #boston #theexperiencealchemists #experiencedesign

A Whirlwind Tour of Gulf Museums, Part 2: Abu Dhabi and Doha The Experience Alchemists My previous post looked at Dubai museums. Now we'll move on to Abu Dhabi and Doha in this post. To say that Abu Dhabi has been on museum building binge is actually a bit of an understatement. The Zaye...

Part 2 of our own @erodley.bsky.social write up on his visit to a number of Gulf museums. theexperiencealchemists.com/a-whirlwind-...

Everyone Has a Story Worth Telling The Experience Alchemists I’ve done a lot of thinking about families over the last six years. The origin place, tribal unit, and genetic pool we all spring from. Sometimes we love our families, sometimes we loathe them, and so...

Honored to have designed the Family Heritage Experience
@americanancestors.bsky.social Check out this short blog post featuring just some of the details! theexperiencealchemists.com/everyone-has... #genealogy #familyhistory #henrylouisgatesjr #experiencedesign #theexperiencealchemists #museums

Label welcoming visitors to American Ancestors. You have an amazing history!

The Family Heritage Experience that we designed for American Ancestors opens tomorrow! Lots of photos and videos forthcoming!

#museum #bostonmuseum #americanancestors #nehgs #theexperiencealchemists #experiencedesign #newburystreet #genealogy #familyhistory

Profit must not devalue people and planet. With B Corp logo - a B in a circle.

As a Certified B Corp, for us every day is Earth Day.
#earthday #bcorp #experiencedesign #theexperiencealchemists

Check out Ed's new newsletter "This Isn't What I Signed Up For, But..." where he muses on all things at the intersection of museums, culture, digital technologies, and the larger world.

‘It reminds you of a fascist state’: Smithsonian Institution braces for Trump rewrite of US history Normally staid historians sound alarm at authoritarian grasping for control of the premier US museum complex

Now is not the time to be quiet. Speak out and stand up for the IMLS, The Smithsonian, The National Museum of African American History and Culture, and whatever they come for next. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Trump executive order on Smithsonian targets funding for programs with 'improper ideology' President Donald Trump has signed an executive order on the Smithsonian Institution that targets funding to programs that contain what he calls “divisive narratives” and “improper ideology.”

This is vile censorship and fascist promotion of revisionist history. #Smithsonian #Museums

Urge Congress to Save IMLS (For museums, staff, and board members) On March 14, President Trump issued an Executive Order directing further cuts to an agency that is already operating at a minimum level, making up only 0.0046% of the overall federal budget. IMLS effi...

If you care about museums and libraries, please contact your members of Congress. This will crush museums and libraries who rely on this support. It only accounts for like .0046 % of the budget. Please contact your members of Congress. It takes just a few minutes.
www.congressweb.com/aam/94/

As a Certified B Corporation™, we believe there’s a better path to a better world—one of action and purpose, inspiration and community. This movement is powered by an emerging generation of people using business as a force for good. #bcorp

Cards and game pieces displaying the number 4.

TEA is 4 today! Happy Birthday to us! #experiencedesign #theexperiencealchemists #museum #museums #bcorp

More Trump layoffs with deliberate intentions.

@davecpatten.bsky.social

We are a values-based public benefit corporation. We are a Certified B Corp. We believe that: Racial equity is urgent. Diversity, inclusion and accessibility will make us stronger. Climate change is a critical issue. Love and respect matter. Everyone deserves a living wage.

This won't change. #museums #values #theexperiencealchemists #experiencedesign

American Association of Museums - Take Action

The folks at the American Alliance of Museums have made it really easy to contact Congress members on issues related to museums. Fill out this simple form and click away and letters are sent. www.congressweb.com/AAM

Listen on Apple Podcasts:
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Listen on Spotify:
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Listen at Making the Museum, the Website:
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Links to Every Podcast Service, via Transistor:
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Playful Engagemen with Ed Rodley. Making the Museum. With photos of Jonathan Alger and Ed Rodley.

Our own @erodley.bsky.social is the guest on the latest Making the Museum podcast with @jonathanalger.bsky.social
It is a fantastic podcast, even when Ed isn't the guest! #museum #experiencedesign #design #museumexperience

Narrative Power in Crisis: How to Narrate Towards Action A key element of the Trump administration's strategy is to convince the public that the MAGA movement is unstoppable. They will broadcast the message that “No one can beat us” with each advance, wheth...

Many thanks to the folks at Narrative Initiative for these excellent tips and guidelines for using narrative power to encourage real action in your messages during these uncertain times.

www.narrativeinitiative.org/blog-narrati...

Bayou bound and ready for Mardi Gras!

Graphic with my headshot and the words: Workshop: Rethinking "Family Friendly": Queer museum content and children Presented by Margaret Middleton, Freelancer #RethinkingMuseums Kids in Museums

Looking forward to talking about LGBTQ exhibits for children and their loved ones next week.

Join me for the @kidsinmuseums.bsky.social online conference #RethinkingMuseums Wednesday, 5 Feb.

More here:
kidsinmuseums.org.uk/what-we-do/t...

Rectangle filled with logos of companies that are certified b corps. The Experience Alchemists in center with companies like Patagonia, Ben & Jerry's, Tom's, and Seventh Generation all listed.

We are a proud Certified B Corp! Businesses can be a force for good in the world. #bcorp #bcorpuscan #bcorporation #blab #bcorpglobal #experiencedesign #theexperiencealchemists #giveback #museum #museums