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rainey tisdale

interpretive and strategic planning | content and collections curation | institutional capacity building | creative process
  • About
  • Where Does It Hurt?
  • Project Portfolio
  • CV
  • Contact

Social science research shows that lifelong curiosity drives a raft of positive outcomes that we all seek as human beings: employment success, physical and mental well-being, creativity, and community engagement. How can museums increase curiosity in visitors of all ages?

March 29, 2023

Cultivating lifelong curiosity with History Nebraska


Museum audience researcher Susie Wilkening and I developed a pilot project at History Nebraska to explore this question. I trained staff in techniques to nurture an internal culture of curiosity and coached them as they wove curiosity into exhibitions, programs, and public services. Susie contributed her research knowledge and measured the results.

The 2017 pilot was so successful that we have continued to work with History Nebraska to deepen their curiosity culture and are seeking funding to expand the curiosity model to additional cultural organizations in Nebraska.

Read Susie Wilkening’s Data Story explaining the link between curiosity, empathy, social justice, and museums.

Learn more about the project in the American Alliance of Museum’s September/October 2019 issue of Museum magazine

”This investment in our staff has allowed us to define a common language, leverage curiosity internally and more broadly, build camaraderie to bridge silos, and embrace risk-taking.” —Jill Dolberg, Associate Director, History Nebraska

In Applying Social Science, Workshops, Planning, Prototyping, Coaching, Capacity Building, Experience Design, Organizational Culture
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