By Franklin Vagnone, Museum Maverick for the Hudson Valley Session
Not many people know this about me, but if the data suggests – and the situation allows, I am not afraid to change my mind. Going in another direction (either literally or figuratively) provides me with more possibilities. One of the reasons why I consider myself a “museum anarchist” is that I shy away from narrow mission statements or highly curated environments. Situations like these only constrain decision-making, solidify stasis and repress innovation and experimentation. After the daylong “Creativity Incubator,’ organized by the Greater Hudson Heritage Network with the New York State Council on the Arts, someone told me that my words of the day were “grit” and “foil”. It came as a surprise to me because I am usually so in the moment that I don’t have time to be so immediately self-reflective. These two words speak to the need for flexibility in museum process. This gathering was attended by museum, cultural organization staff and board members. Its purpose was to provide a safe and open space to experiment with collections items and play with ideas on how to innovate, re-combine, and expand visitor interactions with them.
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