Slide deck from mcn.edu annual conference, November 2, 2016. Panelists: Douglas Hegley, Carolyn Royston, Jeff Steward, Janet Strohl-Morgan and William Weinstein. Session Description: Going digital - such as providing global access to a museum’s collection - has not only had a profound impact on visitors, but has also affected museum staff and how museums as a whole are grappling with the normalization of digital thinking. In other words, the manifestation of digital actually starts and ends with people - who they are, what they seek, and how they find it. In this session we will check in with several museums – diverse in size, type, and at various stages of going digital – to hear how they are achieving success through implementing effective digital strategies and improving digital literacy. Those strategies are always driven by people (staff) and must be measured by impact on people (audiences). Internally, organizations have been radically changing methods and tools, from staffing models to creating cross-functional teams and in-house capacity to the adoption of Agile practices. Externally, organizations are developing better and more-relevant metrics that demonstrate audience participation and engagement. We’ll hear from: Harvard Art Museums on how digital thinking is starting to take hold two years into the operation of their new facility Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum on how digital is driving new ways of working in a Museum new to digital and the wider impact this is having for visitors and staff beyond digital projects. Minneapolis Institute of Art on strategy alignment, staffing/hiring, workplace culture, technology “ecosystems”, and impact Philadelphia Museum of Art on how they are normalizing digital thinking and their road-map to digital excellence Princeton University Art Museum on accessibility, collaboration, funding, and strategic digital planning. Session attendees will have ample opportunity to participate in the discussion, ask specific questions, and tell us how they’ve been tackling the integration and adoption of new technology at their institutions. This session is all about people. Let’s learn together.

1. The Digital Strategy Ecosystem
Douglas Hegley, Carolyn Royston, Jeff Steward, Janet Strohl-Morgan, William Weinstein
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
1

2. MCN 201602
Setting the Stage
Douglas Hegley @dhegley
Image Source: http://www.exfo.com/PageFiles/3612360/stage-VolTE.jpg

3. What is Strategy?
MCN 201603 Image Source: http://tripleseo.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/strategy-content.jpg
Image Source: http://modalpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Strategy-2.jpg

4. Digital Strategy
MCN 201604
Cleveland Museum of Art collection wall. Image Source:
http://www.form.de/images/dynamic/W1siZmYiLCJwdWJsaWMvc2l0ZXMvNTI1M2MzM2RjMGY4YWI4ZjNhMDAwMjgyL3RoZW1lL2ltYWdlcy8yNTAvMDNmaWxlcy9maWxlc18wMV
9Mb2NhbFBvcmplY3RzMDEuanBnIl0sWyJwIiwidGh1bWIiLCJ4NjAwIl1d/files_01_LocalPorjects01.jpg

5. Digital Strategy
MCN 201605 Image Source: http://24x7daily.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/student_success.jpg

6. Pros
Advantages and Opportunities of Digital Strategy
● Emphasizes the transformative power of digital
● Aligns digital efforts - frames decisions
● Helps manage expectations
● Provides clarity & transparency
● Enables long-term success of digital efforts
● Recognizes digital as a speciality area
○ Dynamic, still relatively “young”
● Teaching tool across the org
MCN 201606 Image Source: http://24x7daily.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/student_success.jpg

7. Cons?
MCN 201607 Image Source: http://cbsnews1.cbsistatic.com/hub/i/2014/01/24/921e8beb-d03f-42a5-9ff2-feac76a8dbc7/Art%20of%20Rube%20Goldberg_20a.jpg

8. Cons
Potential Pitfalls of Digital Strategy
● Adds unnecessary complexity
● Confirms that digital is separate, in a silo - someone else’s job
● Confirms digital as “extra” or “not core to mission”
● Focuses too much on tech, leaving the people and purpose out
● Sounds really, really expensive
● Implies that digital is only a series of projects - a checklist
● Reads as self-justifying (or even defensive)
MCN 201608
Image Source: http://static.squarespace.com/static/539d97ece4b00bc8faf4d7eb/53add15be4b02e6637a48a9c/53add15ce4b02e6637a48f19/1371566735000/silos.jpg?format=original

9. Today’s Session
MCN 201609 Image Source: http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1643308/images/o-LISTEN-facebook.jpg
Listen for:
● Essential “hot topics”
● Importance of technology to organization-level success
● People-centric perspective
● Innovation & embracing change
● Evolving leadership models
● Practical knowledge

10. Here we go!
MCN 2016010 Image Source: http://www.hudsonrivergroup.com/images/partners_1600_900.jpg

11. The Start of a Journey
Carolyn Royston
Director of Digital
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
@caro_ft
MCN 2016011

12. 12

13. Isabella
Stewart
Gardner
(1840-1924)
Anders Zorn (1860-1920)
Isabella Stewart Gardner in Venice, 1894
Oil on canvas, 91 x 66 cm
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston
P17e10
13

14. 14

15. 15

16. 16

17. 17

18. 18

19. 19

20. 20

21. 21

22. 22

23. 23

24. 24

25. 25

26. 26

27. A Complex Offer
● Art Museum
● Historic building
● Modern building
● Fine art collection, rare books, furniture, textiles, archival
materials
● Contemporary program
● Performance space for music and dance
027

28. For our Visitors
● Not a traditional art museum
● Immersive experience
● No linear narrative
● No labels
● Make your own connections
028

29. How can Digital help to transform
the visitor experience?
Digital
Stories
Knowledge
Personal &
Social
connections
Open up
access to
Collections
29

30. Our starting point
● Siloed and disconnected systems
● Outdated website
● Very limited onsite digital
● Growing social media presence
● Enthusiastic, heroic staff
● Cautious management
● Huge potential

31. The way forward
● Better understand the customer journey for our different
audiences and platforms
● Build a digital ecosystem that can support our ambitions
● Prioritize projects and focus on impact
● Prototype and experiment
● Measure impact and create a feedback loop
● Build staff confidence
● Move at a sustainable, affordable and scaleable pace
031

32. Digital Priorities
Website &
Social Media
Onsite digital
experiences
Collections
Management/
DAMs
CRM
IT
Infrastructure
32

33. So what have we been doing?
033

34. 34

35. 35

36. 36

37. 37

39. 39

40. 40

41. 04
1
My learning so far
● Start up operation
● Manage pace of change
● Challenge of ‘invest to save’ for unsexy projects
● Working in a US museum is different to the UK
AND
● Huge opportunity to make an impact
● Influence in every area of the organization
● Increased staff engagement through new ways of working
● Momentum will bring rapid change

42. Digital Strategy 2.0
William Weinstein
The John H. McFadden and Lisa D. Kabnick Director of Information and
Interpretive Technologies
MCN 2016042

43. MCN 2016043
2013 Strategic Plan

44. Digital Strategy
MCN 2016:044
ENGAGING audiences
Dramatically Increase Visitation and Strengthen Participation, Onsite as well as Online
Through Digital Technologies
ENHANCING the visitor experience
Provide a More Memorable and Engaging Experience for Digital Visitors
ACTIVATING our collections
Bring the Collections to the Heart of the Museum Experience as the Principal Means for
Increasing On-site and Online Participation
STRENGTHENING our commitment to community
Fulfill our Role as a Civic Institution by Engaging the Community more Broadly and Serving
as a Vital Resource for Arts Education

45. Collection Information Projects (2013-2016)
MCN 2016045
• Imaged over 48,000 objects
• Added over 51,000 objects to online
database
• Developed minimum catalog
information standard

46. System Updates (2013-2016)
MCN 2016046
• Deployed new admissions system and
ecommerce site
• Deployed new Retail POS and
ecommerce site
• Installed WiFi (public and private)
• Installed new fiber backbone
• Installed new VoIP system
• Updated network electronics

47. Interactive Projects (2013-2016)
MCN 2016047
• Launched location aware mobile app
using iBeacon technology
• Deployed new in gallery kiosks and
immersive experiences
• Launched new collection section
online

48. Engaging Technology Audience (2013-2016)
MCN 2016048
• Held Minecraft event as part
of design exhibit
• First Annual Hackathon
March 2016

49. MCN 2016049

50. Digital Roadmap (2016-2019)
MCN 2016050
• Updated Digital Presence (2016-2017)
‒Cross platform integration
‒Content strategy
•Development of mobile app (2017-2018)
•Digital Museum
‒Recommendation engine
‒Wearables
‒Open museum api

51. MCN 2016051

52. Princeton University Art Museum:
Accessible Collections
Janet Strohl-Morgan
Associate Director for
Information & Technology
MCN 2016: The Digital Strategy Ecosystem052
Circus Acrobats, 1981
George Segal, American 1924-2000
Plaster, 182.9 x 366.1 x 51.1 cm, Gift of the George and Helen Segal
Foundation, 2009-80 a-c, Photo: Bruce M. White,
© 1981 The George and Helen Segal Foundation
*All works of art in this presentation are from the Princeton
University Art Museum

53. Open Access to a Museum’s Collection
MCN 2016: The Digital Strategy Eco System, Janet Strohl-Morgan, Princeton University Art Museum053
Accessibility, as defined by Merriam-Webster:
- Able to be reached or approached.
- Able to be used or obtained
- Easy to appreciate or understand
In Museum speak . . .

54. Open Access to a Museum’s Collection
MCN 2016: The Digital Strategy Eco System, Janet Strohl-Morgan, Princeton University Art Museum054

55. Open Access to a Museum’s Collection
MCN 2016: The Digital Strategy Eco System, Janet Strohl-Morgan, Princeton University Art Museum055

56. Open Access to a Museum’s Collection
MCN 2016: The Digital Strategy Eco System, Janet Strohl-Morgan, Princeton University Art Museum056

57. The Power of the Plan
MCN 2016: The Digital Strategy Eco System, Janet Strohl-Morgan, Princeton University Art Museum057
Making the collections and exhibitions accessible to students,
scholars, and visitors of all kinds.
We will increase access to the Museum and its resources for
teaching, research, and engagement by expanding and enhancing
physical and virtual access to the collections, investing in
information technologies, increasing the visibility and impact of our
collections and exhibitions, and by making targeted improvements
to the current facility.

58. Collections Discovery Initiative
MCN 2016: The Digital Strategy Eco System, Janet Strohl-Morgan, Princeton University Art Museum058
July 1, 2015 – June 30, 2020
- Analog to Digital
- Object-based Research
- Publish online with improved Infrastructure and Retrieval Tools

59. Funding
MCN 2016: The Digital Strategy Eco System, Janet Strohl-Morgan, Princeton University Art Museum059
Money Tree
Chinese, Eastern Han dynasty, A.D. 25–220, Place made: China
Bronze with ceramic base, h. ca. 135 cm., Museum purchase, Fowler
McCormick, Class of 1921, Fund, 1999-79

60. Collaboration
&
Communication
MCN 2016: The Digital Strategy Eco System, Janet Strohl-Morgan, Princeton University Art Museum060
Walking Alone in Empty Mountains
Chinese, Ming dynasty, 1368–1644, Zhu Bang, 16th century,
Place made: China, Hanging scroll; ink and light color on paper
Painting: 161 x 91.5 cm., mount: 249 x 102.1 cm.
Gift of DuBois Schanck Morris, Class of 1893, y1947-135

61. Metrics & Impact: Making the Invisible Visible
MCN 2016: The Digital Strategy Eco System, Janet Strohl-Morgan, Princeton University Art Museum061

62. Progress: Achieving our Goal
MCN 2016: The Digital Strategy Eco System, Janet Strohl-Morgan, Princeton University Art Museum062

63. Shameless Plug for MCN SIGs: All are Welcome!
MCN 2016: The Digital Strategy Eco System, Janet Strohl-Morgan, Princeton University Art Museum063
Wednesday, November 2
5 – 5:45 pm SIGs Happy Hour, Rhythms Ballroom
Friday, November 4
8 – 9 am Vendor-sponsored SIG Birds of a Feather Breakfast, Ile de France
A few open spots remain. See a SIG chair to sign up!
12:30 to 1 pm SIG business meeting

64. Thank you!
MCN 2016: The Digital Strategy Eco System, Janet Strohl-Morgan, Princeton University Art Museum064
Janet Strohl-Morgan, jstrohl@princeton.edu
Co-chair Strategy SIG, MCN
Associate Director for Information & Technology,
Princeton University Art Museum
artmuseum.princeton.edu
facebook.com/princetonuniversityartmuseum
twitter.com/puartmuseum
instagram.com/princetonu_artmuseum
Greek, Double mask, Terracotta, h. 5.6 cm., w. 4.6 cm., d. 4.8 cm., Gift of Edward
Sampson, Class of 1914, for the Alden Sampson Collection, y1964-125

65. Slide Two Credits (from left to right)
MCN 2016: The Digital Strategy Eco System, Janet Strohl-Morgan, Princeton University Art Museum065
Yoruba artist, Place made: Nigeria, Tunic, late 19th–early 20th century, Glass and stone beads, fabric, and thread, approximately: 101.6 x 71.1 cm., Museum
purchase, Fowler McCormick, Class of 1921, Fund, 2012-77, Photo: Bruce M. White
Chinese, Southern Song dynasty, 1127–1279, Place made: China, Guanyin seated in Royal-ease pose, ca. 1250, Wood with traces of blue-green, red, and gold
pigments on white clay underlayer with relief designs, h. 110.0 cm., approx w. 79.0 cm., approx d. 50.0 cm., Museum purchase, Carl Otto von Kienbusch Jr.,
Memorial Collection, y1950-66
Protoclassic, Late Olmec to Early Maya, Place made: Southern Mesoamerica, Mexico, Guatemala, or Belize, Face pendant, ca. 400 B.C.–A.D. 200, Emerald-colored
jadeite, h. 5.7 cm., w. 5.7 cm., d. 1.3 cm., Museum purchase, Fowler McCormick, Class of 1921, Fund, 2012-101, Photo: Bruce M. White
David Smith, American, 1906–1965, Cubi XIII, 1963, Stainless steel, 289.6 x 208.6 x 55.2 cm., The John B. Putnam Jr. Memorial Collection, Princeton University,
y1969-19, © Estate of David Smith / Licensed by VAGA, NY, Photo: Bruce M. White
Hans (Jean) Arp, French, born Alsace, 1886–1966, Plastron et cravate (Shirtfront and Necktie), 1927, Cut and painted cardboard in painted wood frame, 51.1 x 39.1 x
0.6 cm., Museum purchase, Fowler McCormick, Class of 1921, Fund, 2012-1, © 2013 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn, Photo: Bruce M.
White
Claude Monet, French, 1840–1926, Water Lilies and Japanese Bridge, 1899, Oil on canvas, 90.5 x 89.7 cm., From the Collection of William Church Osborn, Class of
1883, trustee of Princeton University (1914-1951), president of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (1941-1947); given by his family, y1972-15, Photo: Bruce M. White
Early Intermediate (Middle Nasca), Nasca, Place made: South coast, Peru, Spouted vessel with strap handle in the form of a seated man with a moustache and
small goatee, A.D. 330–430, Ceramic, painted dark brown, dark tan, red, raw sienna, and cream, h. 11.7 cm., diam. 10.4 cm., Gift of Carol R. Meyer in honor of Gillett
G. Griffin, y1990-15
James Edward Davis, American, 1901–1974, Prelude, Photograph, 27 x 34.5 cm., Gift of James Edward Davis, x1968-32
Edgar Degas, French, 1834–1917, Dancers, ca. 1899, Pastel with charcoal on tracing paper mounted on cream wove paper, 58.8 x 46.3 cm., Bequest of Henry K.
Dick, Class of 1909, x1954-13, Photo: Bruce M. White

66. What’s happening at Mia?
Douglas Hegley
MCN 2016066

67. Strategy
MCN 2016067 @dhegley

68. Deepening Relationships
MCN 2016
06
8
@dhegley

69. Talent Strategy
MCN 2016069
Source: http://www.slideshare.net/reed2001/culture-1798664/20-Great_Workplace_isStunning_ColleaguesGreat_workplace
Source: http://media-cache-
ec0.pinimg.com/736x/19/31/c4/1931c4c5bf554742059e13c69720a3dd.jpg
@dhegley

70. MCN 2016070
Collaborative work environment
Together, toward common goals
Alignment with strategic plan
Workplace culture, applied
@dhegley

71. Workplace Culture Values
MCN 2016071
Generosity - you give praise freely
Agility - you think on your feet and can turn on a dime
Emotional Intelligence - you leave the drama in the artwork
Positive Energy - your smile is infectious
Drives Results - you keep your eyes on the ball, setting goals and achieving them
@dhegley

72. Ecosystems?
We’ve got plenty of ecosystems ...
MCN 2016072 @dhegley

73. MCN 2016073

74. MCN 2016074

75. MCN 2016075
The Small World Network Ecosystem, Simplified
Marketing
Registration
Exhibition Planning
Digital Experience Team
Media Production

76. What’s happening at HAM?
Jeff Steward
Harvard Art Museums
MCN 2016076

77. We don’t have a digital strategy
MCN 2016077

78. But we have a mission statement
MCN 2016078

79. But we have a mission statement
MCN 2016079
The Harvard Art Museums—the Fogg Museum, the Busch-Reisinger Museum, and
the Arthur M. Sackler Museum—advance knowledge about and appreciation of art
and art museums. The museums are committed to preserving, documenting,
presenting, interpreting, and strengthening the collections and resources in their
care.
The Harvard Art Museums bring to light the intrinsic power of art and promote
critical looking and thinking for students, faculty, and the public. Through research,
teaching, professional training, and public education, the museums encourage close
study of original works of art, enhance access to the collections, support the
production of original scholarship, and foster university-wide collaboration across
disciplines.

80. Lightbox Gallery
MCN 2016080
An experimental space for the research and development of digital
tools. Developed in collaboration with faculty, staff, students, and
visiting artists, Lightbox Gallery projects challenge how we
document, share, and examine collections and collections data.
Some of these projects are responsive, allowing users to navigate
and manipulate the collections; others are cinematic, transforming
the museums into a landscape of digital performance. Exploration in
the Lightbox Gallery is cross-disciplinary, merging a gallery
experience with a digital lab.

81. MCN 2016081

82. MCN 2016082

83. MCN 2016083
Ben Rivers: The Shape of Things
http://www.harvardartmuseums.org/visit/exhibitions/5307/ben-rivers-the-shape-of-things
Artist Ben Rivers collaborates with curatorial fellow Chris Molinski to define a project.
Ben R. and Chris M. discuss with technologists the feasibility of implementing the project.
Chris M. loops in conservators and curators to mine the collection and handle and research
objects so Ben R. can produce raw material for the project.
Ben R. starts to produce the raw material for the project.
Ben R. shares raw material with technologists for prototyping and testing.
Everyone continues to work together to finish and deploy the project.

84. MCN 2016084

85. MCN 2016085

86. How did we get here?
MCN 2016086

87. Food
MCN 2016087

88. Questions?
MCN 2016088

89. Thank you
MCN 2016089