The Mint Museum

🎉 We’re excited to share that Alexandra Olivares the Mint’s Audience Research & Evaluation Specialist, presented at the Visitor Studies Association Conference. Supported by the NEA Research in the Arts grant, Olivares showcased her commitment to making museums more inclusive not only at the Mint, but nationally. 💡 Key Highlights: Innovative Research: Her work demonstrates the significance of museum decisions on visitor engagement. Visitor-Centered Approach: Alex advocates for better understanding visitor motivations and behavior to enhance museum experiences. Collaborative Impact: Partnering with Dr. Jaclyn Piatak at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, the team blends museum practice with academic research to push the field toward greater inclusivity. Thank you, Alex, for your dedication and for driving meaningful change in the arts! 🎨 #MuseumInclusion #ArtIsForEveryone #TheMintMuseum #UNCC #NEA 📸 Photo credit: Lynn Roberson | Director of Communications Academic Communications/Belk College of Business| UNC Charlotte

NC museum professionals - it's time! Come share your work in Raleigh 2025!

Last month, my colleague Jamila Brown and I led two sessions at the Arts Integration Symposium at The Music Center in Los Angeles. We encouraged teachers of all disciplines to use art investigation to reinforce big ideas and build empathy in the classroom. It was an absolute HONOR to share works from The Mint Museum's collection, ideas, resources, and stories with some amazing LA teachers.

THIS IS WHY I DO WHAT I DO! Having a big-kid desk job is nice and all, but getting into the galleries and facilitating arts investigation is the best part. Watching visitors' minds work and communicate ideas is exciting stuff, no matter the age group. The "ah-ha!" moments make it all worth it. Images from a Member's Only tour of The Mint Museum's landscapes.

We are always excited when the YAMs onboard new board members, but this group feels extra special. Welcome all, and thank you for representing the museum and our mission so well! The YAMs are an incredible opportunity for young professionals to deepen their relationship and interaction with the Mint.

Earlier this week, I had the privilege to attend the VIP opening of the new exhibit, “Whitfield Lovell: Passages,” at The Mint Museum. The show was several years in the making and is a must-see. It opened to the public this weekend and will be on display until September 22. Chief curator Dr. Sudul Edwards moderated a deep conversation with Lovell, where we learned more about his philosophy, journey as an artist, and his creative process. The exhibit consists of two immersive installations and approximately 30 additional works. Lovell is renowned for his masterful conte crayon portraits and multi-sensory installations that focus on aspects of African American history while raising universal questions about identity, memory, and America’s collective heritage. If you are in Charlotte, you must see this in person. For those who are out of state, you can check it out via the Bloomberg Philanthropies app.

🎉 Hats off to two of the Mint's senior leaders who were recently named in Charlotte Business Journal's top executive honoree lists. Gary Blankemeyer, the Mint's chief operating/chief financial officer, leads the 2024 class of CFO of the Year honorees and will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from CBJ. CBJ seeks to put a spotlight on the Charlotte area's brightest financial executives through the CFO of the Year Awards program. Read more about Blankemeyer here: https://lnkd.in/gy8v37hm todd herman, PhD, president and CEO of the Mint, was selected as an honoree in CBJ's Most Admired CEO awards under Arts & Culture. CBJ's Most-Admired CEO Awards program recognizes established leaders in the Charlotte region who have demonstrated a strong vision for their companies and a commitment to the community. 👏 They have a proven track record of innovation in their field, outstanding financial performance, promoting diversity in the workplace and making an impact that extends beyond the boardroom.

"The Best Museum Websites for Art Lovers" sure does have a nice ring to it! We were surprised (but not completely surprised, because it's awesome) to learn that our website was selected as one of the "16 Best Museum Websites in 2024" by Big Sea. A visual arts museum's website should be as beautiful as the objects displayed there. It wouldn't have been possible without the hard work of our incredible Marketing team and the collaboration between all of our departments. It also took the wisdom, patience, and sheer willpower of Ben Visser and the team at Social Design House. Together we created a website that radiates the Mint's mission and purpose. https://lnkd.in/eugZX4P4

🎧 Listen to Lorne Lassiter and Gary Ferraro on their collection and current exhibition "Craft Across Continents" featuring works in glass, wood, ceramics, and textiles. The final day of the exhibition is May 5th!

Here is your Wednesday hump day dose of inspiration! The Mint Museum Uptown location had the William Ivey Long Costume Design exhibit a few years back. The curator did a phenomenal job showcasing the art in an educational, yet creative way. The colors popped. The room flowed (great inspiration for UX design). Having the sketches in front of the finished work told a cohesive story effortlessly. The little details made this exhibit more than amazing. Remember you don't have to go far for something new each time. Inspiration is right in your back yard.