Devon Akmon’s professional updates and news on adventure and travel.
I enjoyed a beautiful century ride with friends during the 2017 Tour de Livingston earlier today. This was our last major ride of the season. It’s now time to turn our attention to some serious gravel grinders, including the 209-mile Coast to Coast race, in the first half of 2018.
I recently had the chance to speak with Ian Elsner, host of the podcast Museum Archipelago, about the work of the Arab American National Museum. Museum Archipelago is an “audio guide through the landscape of museums.” Our conversation, featured on episode 26, is now live.
The Arab American National Museum’s Yalla Eat! culinary program was recently featured on NPR’s The Salt. We’re incredibly honored our work is garnering national coverage. The tour is a key component of our institution’s work towards embedding museum experiences into the local community; dispelling stereotypes and misconceptions about Arab Americans; and working with the community to tell our story. Read on! Unlike most museums, the Yalla Eat! tours take people outside of the building and into the community. People whoRead More
This past week, the Arab American National Museum opened a new exhibition entitled Epicenter X: Saudi Contemporary Art. Epicenter X represents the first exhibition of its kind from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to appear in Michigan. Epicenter X explores contemporary Saudi culture by promoting meaningful dialogue between Saudi artists and U.S. audiences. Furthermore, the exhibition sheds light on the vast diversity of contemporary artistic practice in Saudi Arabia. Cutting through the political discourse of media outlets and government officials, theRead More
A big thanks to the National Council on Public History for inviting me to deliver the keynote address at the organization’s annual meeting in Indianapolis last weekend. It was great connecting with colleagues from across the nation to explore the many ways public history enriches our society. And, a big thanks to those who woke early to attend my talk. Key Presentation for NCPH from Devon Akmon I would also like to give a big shout out to the conferenceRead More
On March 16, President Donald J. Trump put forth his budget proposal and it calls for the elimination of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), among other governmental agencies. These vital government programs have been pillars of cultural and intellectual production throughout our nation. Thousands of museums, libraries, and cultural institutions will be significantly impacted if these programs are eliminated. In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the National Foundation onRead More
Here are a few photographs from my recent visit to the Holyrood Palace and Abbey in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Last Friday I had the pleasure of speaking with Carol Bossert, host of the show The Museum Life, about the Arab American National Museum. It was big fun. Take a listen to the show!
I’m very honored to have been selected to join such a talented and accomplished cohort of twelve nonprofit professionals taking part in the 2016-17 American Express NGen Fellows Program with the Independent Sector. Involvement within the fellowship program provides space for self-reflection, intellectual growth, and ongoing professional development. The program runs from November 2016 – October 2017, which began last year during the IS annual conference in Washington, D.C. I’m really looking forward to learning, sharing, and growing with this talentedRead More