Cultural Connections

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Cultural Connections is a consortium of educators, designers, evaluators, and consultants representing museums and other cultural institutions in Northern California, who meet regularly in order to exchange ideas and inspire creativity in the field. Mission Statement: Cultural Connections provides a platform to connect, exchange ideas, and share resources to inspire creativity and action for Bay Area professionals in the museum, cultural, natural, and science fields.

Join us at Minnesota Street Project for a behind-the-scenes look at one of San Francisco’s most dynamic arts hubs.Saturd...
04/30/2026

Join us at Minnesota Street Project for a behind-the-scenes look at one of San Francisco’s most dynamic arts hubs.

Saturday, May 9
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Dogpatch, San Francisco

Located in the historic Dogpatch district, Minnesota Street Project and Minnesota Street Project Foundation are creating sustainable, artist-centered spaces that support galleries, nonprofits, and working artists—helping strengthen the Bay Area’s contemporary art ecosystem.

The morning will begin with an introduction by Project Director & Founder Julie Casemore, followed by a visit to nearby artist studios where we’ll hear directly from three incredible artists:

Craig Calderwood – Calderwood’s intricate decorative works draw on their personal vernacular of symbols and patterns. Their work uses familiar materials such as textiles, felt pens, paint, and modelling clay to share ideas related to desire, biodiversity and otherness.

Trina Michelle Robinson – Robinson’s interdisciplinary film, photography, printmaking, and installations explore the relationship between memory and migration. The catalyst of her art work and research based practice is her ancestors’ lives and stories.

Jeremiah Barber – Barber’s sculpture and multimedia work explore future landscapes, climate collapse, and feral technology. His work in interspecies dialogue grew from his interest in the outer boundaries of perception.

This is a limited-capacity, in-person event—spaces are filling up! Register at: https://culturalconnections.wildapricot.org/event-6628817

San Francisco’s arts ecosystem is constantly evolving, but what does it take to sustain it?Join Cultural Connections for...
04/14/2026

San Francisco’s arts ecosystem is constantly evolving, but what does it take to sustain it?

Join Cultural Connections for a behind-the-scenes visit to Minnesota Street Project in the Dogpatch.

This in-person program offers a rare look at a model designed to support galleries, artists, and nonprofits through affordable space and long-term investment in the arts community.

The morning begins with an introduction from founder Julie Casemore, followed by visits to artist studios and conversations with working artists Craig Calderwood, Trina Michelle Robinson, and Jeremiah Barber—each sharing perspectives on their practice and what it means to create in San Francisco today.

After the program, attendees are invited to explore the galleries at their own pace.
Space is limited, so be sure to reserve your spot.

Register at https://culturalconnections.wildapricot.org/event-6628817

Can Museums Still Be Trusted Voices for Science?Research on public engagement suggests trust is built not only through c...
03/30/2026

Can Museums Still Be Trusted Voices for Science?

Research on public engagement suggests trust is built not only through credible information, but through transparency, fairness, dialogue, and meaningful participation in civic life. The relationship between science and society is shifting, from simply delivering information to co-creating understanding and relevance with communities.

Cultural Connections is bringing together two science & museum educators working on the front lines of public engagement:

🌍 Eric Havel, climate science educator and sustainability advocate
🪐 Julia DeMarines, astrobiologist and planetary science communicator

Together we’ll explore how trust operates across different fields of science; from climate science to planetary exploration, and what museums, educators, and cultural institutions can do to strengthen public confidence in scientific expertise.

Virtual conversation this April 7
12PM-1PM
https://culturalconnections.wildapricot.org/event-6622423

Public trust in science isn’t just about facts.Research suggests that declining trust in scientific institutions is ofte...
03/24/2026

Public trust in science isn’t just about facts.

Research suggests that declining trust in scientific institutions is often driven less by knowledge gaps and more by polarization, identity, and perceptions of fairness and transparency. In some cases, simply presenting more information can deepen disagreement rather than resolve it.

So how do museums and science communicators build trust today?

Join Cultural Connections for a virtual conversation with astrobiologist and science communicator Julia DeMarines and climate science educator Eric Havel as they explore what it means to be an expert in the public eye. The panel will examine how trust is earned, challenged, and rebuilt in an era when public engagement matters more than ever.

Virtual program : April 7 12PM-1PM
Hosted by Cultural Connections

Register at: https://culturalconnections.wildapricot.org/event-6622423

Join us Tuesday, March 3 from 12–1 PM (via Zoom) for Censorship in Artwork: Impacts on Artists and Cultural Institutions...
02/22/2026

Join us Tuesday, March 3 from 12–1 PM (via Zoom) for Censorship in Artwork: Impacts on Artists and Cultural Institutions—a timely Cultural Connections panel exploring how social, political, and administrative pressures reshape artistic expression.

What happens when artwork is challenged, funding is threatened, or institutions face pressure to self-censor? How do artists and cultural leaders navigate these realities while staying true to their mission and voice?

Hear from:
Paz G
Becky Alexander
Max Blue

Together, they’ll share firsthand perspectives on censorship, institutional strain, artistic freedom, and the long-term impact on our cultural ecosystem.

Swipe through to learn more about each panelist’s background and experience.

RSVP now— https://culturalconnections.wildapricot.org/event-6559286

Join us Tuesday, March 3 from 12–1 PM (PT) for Censorship in Artwork: Impacts on Artists and Cultural Institutions, a vi...
02/07/2026

Join us Tuesday, March 3 from 12–1 PM (PT) for Censorship in Artwork: Impacts on Artists and Cultural Institutions, a virtual panel conversation examining how censorship shapes artistic practice and the cultural organizations that support it.

Across social, political, and administrative contexts, censorship can influence what gets shown, funded, preserved, or suppressed. This conversation will explore the real consequences of those pressures, from loss of funding and institutional strain to long-term impacts on artistic freedom, transparency, and community trust.

Hear from:
Paz G () - Chilean artist whose ceramic sculptures and paintings explore memory, displacement, sound, resistance music, power, and spiritual consequence.
Becky Alexander - Librarian and archivist with the SFAI Legacy Foundation + Archive, focused on institutional memory and cultural preservation.
Max Blue - Art critic for the San Francisco Examiner, with writing in Artsy, BOMB, and Hyperallergic.

RSVP now - https://culturalconnections.wildapricot.org/event-6559286

Join us at BAMPFA for a special Curator’s Tour with Elaine Yau exploring Routed West: Twentieth-Century African American...
11/07/2025

Join us at BAMPFA for a special Curator’s Tour with Elaine Yau exploring Routed West: Twentieth-Century African American Quilts in California.

Experience the artistry, love, and creative power stitched into each quilt as Elaine shares the stories of makers who shaped California’s rich cultural fabric. Don’t miss this intimate, in-person look at how quilts carry generations of memory, innovation, and community.

Friday, November 14
5:30–7:00 PM
Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA)
Sliding-scale registration starts at $1 — accessible to all.

Reserve your spot now
https://culturalconnections.wildapricot.org/event-6394350

Join Cultural Connections for an evening at BAMPFA!Curator’s Tour: Elaine Yau on Routed West: Twentieth-Century African ...
10/17/2025

Join Cultural Connections for an evening at BAMPFA!

Curator’s Tour: Elaine Yau on Routed West: Twentieth-Century African American Quilts in California
Friday, November 14, 2025
5:30 – 7:00 PM
Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA) — 2155 Center Street, Berkeley

Discover the beauty and history of African American quilt-making in California through an intimate, curator-led tour with Elaine Y. Yau, BAMPFA’s Associate Curator and Academic Liaison. Elaine will share the moving stories behind individual quilts, illuminating themes of love, kinship, remembrance, and innovation woven through their creation.

Sliding-scale registration (starting at $1!) keeps this program accessible for all.
Your chosen level helps us build a more inclusive and supportive arts community.

Register here: https://culturalconnections.wildapricot.org/event-6394350

Museum Accreditation: The Good, The Bad, and The TediousWednesday, June 18 | 12–1 PM | 💻 OnlineWhat actually is museum ...
06/13/2025

Museum Accreditation: The Good, The Bad, and The Tedious
Wednesday, June 18 | 12–1 PM | 💻 Online

What actually is museum accreditation—and is it worth the effort?

Join us for a practical, honest conversation about the realities of pursuing accreditation. We'll cover what it is, what the American Alliance of Museums says are the benefits, and hear from a Cultural Connections Board Member who recently went through the process!

Whether you're accreditation-curious or deep in the weeds, this session is for you.

Sliding scale tickets – support what you can, attend how you want.
Zoom link shared upon registration — link in bio

🌟 Join the Cultural Connections Board of Directors! 🌟Are you passionate about arts, culture, museums, and informal educa...
06/13/2025

🌟 Join the Cultural Connections Board of Directors! 🌟

Are you passionate about arts, culture, museums, and informal education in the Bay Area? Want to grow your leadership skills, build community, and shape professional learning opportunities? We’re looking for YOU!

Cultural Connections is now accepting applications for the 2025–2027 Board term! Board members help plan dynamic programs, contribute to task forces (like communications, membership, or DEIA), and connect professionals across the museum and cultural sectors.

🗓️ Apply by Sunday, June 15, 2025
📩 Send your resumé to [email protected]
📝 Complete the short application form —https://bit.ly/43OPdhW

Join a fun, dedicated, and welcoming team working to advance the field through collaboration, innovation, and equity.

Let’s shape the future of museum and cultural work — together!

Just a few days away! ⏳💬Join us Tuesday, June 10 at 7 PM for Wage Awareness: Continuing Our Conversation about Fair Pay—...
06/06/2025

Just a few days away! ⏳💬
Join us Tuesday, June 10 at 7 PM for Wage Awareness: Continuing Our Conversation about Fair Pay—a virtual conversation on wage transparency, labor equity, and what’s changed (or hasn’t) in the museum field since 2020.

✨ Featuring:
🔸 Marie Angel – Curatorial Assistant & union organizer, Cal Academy
🔸 Rita Haronian – Nonprofit compensation expert
🔸 Kara Newport – CEO, Filoli

Whether you're a museum professional, nonprofit leader, or just passionate about workplace equity, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

✅ Register now https://culturalconnections.wildapricot.org/event-6029132

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