Ep. 62 — You’re Not Imaging It-The State of Museums in 2026
In this episode, Amy shares what she is seeing in museums and why this summer feels different. Drawing on data from the American Alliance of Museums' 2025 National Snapshot Report, she makes the case for why museum professionals need to give themselves permission to rest and announces the fifth annual Love my Museum summer series.
Key Takeaways:
The pressure is real and the data backs it up. The American Alliance of Museums' 2025 National Snapshot Report shows one-third of museums have had government grants cancelled, more than half are still below pre-pandemic attendance, and two-thirds of those who lost federal funding have not been able to replace it. You are not imagining it.
Only 4% of museums are working smarter. Almost no one in the field is using systems or tools to lighten the load on their teams. That means the people already doing the most are absorbing even more, with no relief in sight.
Burnout is not just a personal problem. When the one person holding communications together runs out of steam, the whole museum feels it. Rest is not a luxury. It is what makes the work sustainable for you and for your institution.
This summer is different. The fifth annual Love my Museum summer series is launching in July, and it is designed specifically for this moment. Weekly emails and biweekly podcast episodes with practical tips to help museum professionals build the systems that make rest possible.
