MUSEUM EVENTS
Multiplying Museum Attendance with New Events
It’s always a challenge to keep attendance numbers up and develop exciting new experiences. The museum’s frequently-occurring smaller events had become common in the eyes of the visitor – attendance was trending downward while still proving to be a heavy lift for a small staff. The return was simply no longer worth the effort. Leadership re-examined this direction and wisely set the museum on a course for larger, unique, and less frequent events. This allowed for closer coordination and a concentration in staff efforts, and created opportunities to develop new and exciting visitor experiences. Design was sure to play a huge role in this effort.
Dippy 125
One Giant Party
There’s been a lot of strange projects in my career, but designing for a dinosaur’s birthday party has to be somewhere near the top of the list. 2024 marked the 125th year anniversary of the discovery of Diplodocus carnegii, more lovingly known as “Dippy,” one of the museum's premier dinosaur specimens. This occasion was commemorated by the first of the museum’s new big event direction: a birthday party of sorts featuring family-friendly events, a scholarly symposium, and a 21+ night at the museum for the adults.
The Fests
An Event Success Story
The roaring sucess of Dippy125 led to the development of a new strategy for 2025 – three larger seasonal “fests,” each with unique themes: NatureFest (springtime focus on area plants and wildlife), DinoFest (a summer event centered around how dinosaurs lived and how paleontologists work in the field), and WinterTide (a celebration of nature and human traditions during the winter season).
The Result:
The “fest” strategy was a resounding success. Each event was well received by the public, bringing 4-digit attendance numbers per day and contributing to record-breaking attendance months. Staff reacted positively too, finding it easier to coordinate with multiple staff and giving the chance for the science teams to be involved.
Select photos by Camilia Casas, The Warhol Academy, courtesy of Carnegie Museum of Natural History