Archives | February 2009 | Bemusement - The Attractions Industry Blog

Friday, February 27, 2009 Bridging the History/Art Divide: The Multi-Disciplinary Museum of the Future What do art works by Werner Heldt, White House footage of Reykjavik summit meetings, and an original draft of President Reagan’s “Tear Down This Wall” speech have in common?

They were all tapped into as part of workshop on the Cold War that I was asked to give for Pitzer College and the San Bernadino School District, in conjunction with the “Art of Two Germanys: Cold War Cultures” exhibit at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. When I asked one of the history educators involved in the workshop what he expected to get out of the art exhibit, he said, “We’ll do anything we can to reach them [our students].” And he was provided with a lot of opportunities. Right now, all high school history teachers in California are required by the state to teach the Cold War, but are provided with very few, if any, materials. So, they turn to outside sources. At the Reagan Library, I’ve developed a set of materials on President Reagan and the Cold War, utilizing everything we have to offer – footage, pictures, documents, ideas for use in the classroom. The materials provide an opportunity to explore the United States/Soviet relations from the perspective of the American executive branch during the 1980s. Pair this with an opportunity to absorb the stark, bleak, minimalist artistic work from East Germany and the soul-searching modernism of West Germany during the same time period, and the experience expands. Not only do you create an intellectual sensibility for the working of government, but you build a visceral experience as well. 1980s punk rock underground films expressing adolescent anxiety provide a picture that words on paper can not describe. High school history teachers have the job of immersing an ambivalent audience in study of times past and contemporary issues. Most importantly they must develop and share tools that students will use throughout their lives to examine, search and analyze. Sometimes the work is tedious, sometimes exhilarating, often frustrating. Good teachers will use any tools, information, products, projects they can to reach their students. Is the museum audience that much different? Studies show that most visitors attend museums as a tourist activity – a break from the daily routine – not necessarily because they are drawn to the museum collection. What would our museums look like if we approached our audience as teachers reach out to their students? What if we used any tool in our collective kits to explore ideas, topics, and subjects? What if we collaborated to create multi-disciplinary experiences to reach people on a series of levels? What would that museum look like? See also: Themed Design : Air Force One Discovery center Wins 15th Annual THEA Award Museums: What do Kids Want? Themed Attractions: Visitors are Immersed, Educated and Engaged at Air Force One Discovery Center
Posted By Mira Cohen -- At 1:49 PM \| Comments (0) \| Trackbacks (0)
Add Comment
Categories Attractions Business, Museums, Science Centres Tags attendance, education, history, reagan library
	(What are these?)	Recommend to a Friend

Wednesday, February 25, 2009 Amusement Parks: "They Want You Back, yeh, yeh, yeh, yeh" A story that, to “the man on the Clapham omnibus”, (a quaint English expression originating from the legal profession, possibly from the same judge who had not heard of Bruce Springsteen) might seem outlandish and improbable has been in the news recently: The Badgary Historical Resort.

The Guardian reported (Michael Jackson's brother plans slavery theme park) last week that: A museum for the Jackson Five is to be built in Nigeria… as part of a $3.4bn (£2.4bn) luxury resort including concert halls, golf courses, casinos – and a memorial for Africa's former slave trade. A museum celebrating the achievements of the popular, eccentric singing family and a slavery memorial seem unusual bedfellows, and a combination that might raise eyebrows. Is it possible to treat such a serious and important historical issue with any degree of gravitas if the environment is a luxury entertainment resort? In an opinion piece last week, Lisa Richardson in the LA Times observed, “I usually think of slavery as having been a bad thing. As a descendant of slaves I’m clear on that point.” The official promotional literature from the investment group behind the plan, The Motherland Group states: "Visitors will be able to see the route their ancestors walked, shackled together as they were whipped towards the point of no return. Visitors will be able to pay their respects at the site of a mass grave for those who died before boarding ships across the Atlantic ocean. Visitors can then travel a few yards in a buggy to play a round of golf.” It is easy to be facetious. Marina Hyde in the Guardian suggests that “ [the resort] will be a must-visit destination for all those who feel that remembering slavery needn’t preclude slot machines and 18th green speakers that play “I Want You Back” when you hole out” . All kinds of questions come up. Does Hyde's tittering reflect a legitimate concern that the topic of slavery will not be addressed with sufficient dignity (or is it just tittering)? Is it acceptable to incorporate a slavery memorial into the leisure development mix? And if not, why not? There have been numerous proposals for slavery memorials in the US – one in Richmond, Virginia ran up against a ballpark proposal for the same site, which had been a hub of slave trading in the past. Such proposals inevitably collide with other developers' plans and raise questions about the appropriate modern uses of the land. However a report earlier this year in the Metro, about plans for another slavery themed experience/attraction, one which promised a full immersive experience, including visitors being “kidnapped', chained and forced to march to a slave ship in a mock crossing of the Atlantic” in Haiti elicited an interesting mix of comments - ranging from those who found the proposition offensive and exploitative to others who wished the venture well and spoke of the value of such re-enactments and experiences. There are of course more mainstream approaches but if these attractions are educating and informing then the operators might well argue that they are providing a valuable public service. And in the case of The Badgary Historical Resort, a round of golf. See also: Event is shortlisted for $70m redesign of flagship African American Museum
Posted By Charles Read -- At 5:44 PM \| Comments (1) \| Trackbacks (0)
Add Comment
Categories Amusements Parks, Attractions Business Tags african american, jackson, nigeria, slavery
	(What are these?)	Recommend to a Friend

Saturday, February 21, 2009 Amusement Parks: The Economy and Regional Theme Parks. 2009. It’s the economy, stupid. Some days I feel pretty stupid because I can’t envision what effect the economy will have on us as a regional theme park...

Sure, there will be folks who’ve lost their jobs, or are working fewer hours who won’t be able to afford a trip to Holiday World in 2009. Those are lost this season. In addition, our early numbers for Corporate Picnics indicate that that business segment will be down substantially this year (understandable: it’s not cool to throw a party when you’re cutting hours and/or laying people off). On the other hand, can we benefit from a tradeoff as folks in our market region stay closer to home rather than traveling to distant destinations (and spending big bucks on plane tickets, hotels, rental cars, etc.)? I think the answer is yes. Is there a way to target these folks? Maybe. We’re trying to figure that one out. We also think it’s important to send a message to the community that we are compassionate toward those who are less fortunate—we’re working on a promotion that would involve collecting food for the needy. One thing I do know for certain is that we can’t make a mistake by watching our expenditures carefully, and living within our means (budget). We are sending that message every day to our staff, and intend to monitor spending very carefully. On the other hand, we are moving forward with the construction (above right) and opening of the world’s tallest water ride, Pilgrims Plunge, on May 2 (see World's Tallest Water Ride coming to Holiday World). This will certainly be a highly marketable attraction. In good economic circumstances, I would have hoped for a 5-10% increase in attendance. This year? Who knows? Maybe the new project keeps us at 2008 attendance levels. This year, I think that would be a cause for celebration. The crystal ball is cloudy. It’s hard to guess what the summer will be like. Be careful. More from Will Koch:: Amusement parks: Off Season - Free, Unlimited Bon Bons Focusing on Families and also: Holiday World Announces Two New Directors Holiday World to “Twitter” this Season
Posted By Will Koch -- At 10:35 AM \| Comments (0) \| Trackbacks (0)
Add Comment
Categories Amusements Parks, Attractions Business Tags budget, construction, economy, Holiday World, pilgrims plunge, water ride
	(What are these?)	Recommend to a Friend

Thursday, February 05, 2009 Museums and Green Building: Look at the big picture to create a truly sustainable facility and establish a basis for meaningful decisions The term “green building” is something of a misnomer because the heaviest environmental impact comes after construction, with the behavior and consumption of the building's occupants. When you look at the life cycle and total cost of a green building, the vast majority of the expenditures involved are connected to the people inside it ...

Green building does not transfer human responsibility to bricks and mortar. And green isn't just altruistic – it has measurable economic benefits. When you create an environment that is better for people in terms of enhancing their sense of well-being and comfort, the gains are significant. Rates of absenteeism go down and productivity goes up. It's important to favor long-term thinking over short-term, and recognize the difference. Recycling is short-term: throwing things away in three bins instead of one. A longer-term strategy is to think about consumption patterns, and look at design from a more responsible and more economical long-term viewpoint: Use recyclable materials, but also design re-use into the product so that those materials have a longer life. This is how my company, Cinnabar, approached exhibit design and production for the Kimball Museum of Natural History at the new California Academy of Sciences, now one of the most celebrated green facilities in the world. We established a standard framework – a modular platform called the “kit of parts.” These modules are made primarily of sustainable materials, but more importantly, they enable the museum to change the content while keeping the physical framework. The framework can be used again and again, and is reconfigurable – you can move things around, change heights, couple modules together or separate them – but continue to re-use them. In selecting materials, apply long-term thinking by considering the life cycle of a product along with its carbon footprint. Acrylic materials have their conveniences, but carry a heavy carbon footprint. They also scratch and age and warp. Not only can glass be recycled, it also looks a lot better than most plastics after five years. Acknowledge that resources are limited and their consumption has an impact on the world. Make judicious choices. In green building and green design, you don't necessarily draw hard, prescriptive rules (which we're seeing a lot of as people scramble onto the green wagon) but rather begin to establish a sense of principles and understanding about the system, and about behavior and consumption relative to the particular project. At that point it becomes easier to make decisions. Sometimes, taking a certain action is much simpler and less disruptive than anticipated. About two years ago when some museums proposed eliminating bottled water at their facilities, discussion was very contentious. But when it was actually put into practice, it became a non-issue and people adapted easily. Being green requires that you enter into an honest debate to achieve an understanding of consumption-related issues that go far beyond just the selection of materials. You do have to have an understanding of materials, where they come from and how available they are. You do have to think about their inherent carbon footprint and carbon miles. But it is equally critical to ask questions about how the institution functions and how the people in it function. Going green is good for your image, but it's not just about the public face – it's about being green in who you are and what you do – while also being economical, efficient, and providing a great guest experience. Jonathan Katz will speak at two industry gatherings in San Francisco about the California Academy of Sciences: The panel, “Exhibitions: Experimentation, Risk and Reward,” takes place Feb 27 at the Hotel Kabuki in San Francisco and is part of the annual conference of the California Association of Museums, www.calmuseums.org. The panel, “The Living Building” is a by-invitation event for the design community on April 3, presented by Metropolis magazine and Coalesse, www.coalesse.com. Photo: JOE FLETCHER. Exhibits produced by Cinnabar Inc. for the California Academy of Sciences Kimball Museum of Natural History. Video showing the devastating environmental effects of a hotter and drier Earth. See also: Cinnabar Installation Diary: The California Academy of Sciences Collaborate, Design, Engage, Succeed! An Interview with Jonathan Katz Cinnabar Inc. Executive Produces Major Exhibits For New California Academy of Sciences
Posted By Jonathan Katz -- At 4:21 PM \| Comments (0) \| Trackbacks (0)
Add Comment
Categories Unclassified Tags california academy of sciences, CAS, climate change, Design
	(What are these?)	Recommend to a Friend

Sunday, February 01, 2009 Social networking : The Accidental Network I clicked “Send” and in the moment of clicking, realized I had done the opposite of what I had intended. I had invited the omitted names instead of the selected ones...

After selecting from a long email list those people I wanted to join my LinkedIn network, my click sent the invitations to the wrong list. I had just invited to join my network personal contacts who aren't part of my business community, people with whom I've exchanged business emails but don't really know, and people of whom I'm in awe and didn't feel in a position to invite. I'd also sent the invitation to phantoms such as the Bed Bath Store shipping notification email. Cringing, I watched as reply emails started to flow in. They included puzzled messages from people already in my network and a surprising number of acceptances from the awe-inspirers as well as the short acquaintances. My accidental network flatters me by wanting the connection I had hesitated to suggest. I will embrace the phenomenon and try to make it worth our collective while. My impression is that social business networks are going to grow and mature quite a bit in the next year or so, as people scramble to find opportunities. Will the one with the most Internet visibility win the job, or will they just achieve visibility? Baby Boomers are compelled to follow the direction of youth. Those not following quickly enough will be chided. Isn't that what we're doing when, as happens on a regular basis at trade events, a youth-identified speaker tops the audience by demonstrating his or her familiarity with youth pop culture? The message is clear: Those who don't know and study these neo-icons will be left behind. We used to sigh that our elders were out of it, now we shrink with horror that we ourselves might be. But, in fact, as humor writer Dave Barry points out concerning our generation's desire to feel always with-it: “The light leaving from It will not reach us for several years.” (I nearly deleted this paragraph out of concern that it will make me seem old.) So when it comes to social networks, we've simply got to be on board. And once on board, we've got to apply peer pressure to get others on board. The networks have been conveniently set up to facilitate this – to make you bring in all your acquaintances, whether deliberately, or by accident. See also: Marketing and Customer Service: What are You Really Selling, and to Whom? The Attractions Industry Press wants to be your Marketing Partner
Posted By Judith Rubin -- At 2:00 PM \| Comments (2) \| Trackbacks (0)
Add Comment
Categories Attractions Business Tags facebook, linkedin, marketing, networking
	(What are these?)	Recommend to a Friend