If you’ve ever thought, “I should really check out a museum around here,” Austin has a friendly nudge for you , and a whole lot of options right in its own backyard!
As part of the CBS Austin and Telemundo Austin Community Partner Program, the stations are highlighting Austin Museum Partnership, an organization that fosters collaboration within the museum community for the benefit of local museums and the broader Austin community. The monthly community partner segments are supported by RBFCU. Co-Chair Catherine Whited joined We Are Austin to share how the organization supports museums and museum professionals while connecting more Central Texans with the cultural institutions in their own backyard.
Co-Chair Catherine Whited joined We Are Austin to share how the organization supports museums and museum professionals while connecting more Central Texans with the cultural institutions in their own backyard.
Bringing Austin’s Museum Community Together
The Austin Museum Partnership works behind the scenes to strengthen museums throughout the region.
“Our mission is to facilitate collaboration within the museum community for the benefit of those museums, but also for the benefit of the Austin community at large,” Whited said.
That includes major institutions like the Bullock Texas State History Museum and Blanton Museum of Art, along with smaller museums that may not have the same resources for professional development.
The partnership offers workshops, grants, networking and other opportunities to help museum professionals sharpen their skills and share ideas.
Helping Museums Learn From Each Other
One recent initiative brought museum professionals together to discuss something many families know well: field trips.
Participants exchanged ideas about everything from communicating with teachers to managing student groups and sharing best practices. The series culminated in a field trip fair attended by more than 50 local teachers.
For smaller institutions, Whited says opportunities like these can be especially valuable when budgets don’t allow employees to travel to conferences or training programs.
Austin Museum Partnership joins CBS Austin’s Community Partner spotlight
Museums Worth Exploring Beyond Downtown
While Austin is home to plenty of well-known museums, Whited encourages families to explore destinations throughout Central Texas.
She highlighted the Williamson Museum in Georgetown, which shares stories from Williamson County; the Bastrop Visitor Center; and the Science Mill in Johnson City, where families can dive into interactive STEM experiences.
“There’s stuff all over,” Whited said. “It’s not just downtown Austin.”
Why Museums Still Matter
In a world where seemingly any piece of information is only a phone search away, Whited says museums provide something a screen simply can’t replicate.
“It is quite different to be confronted with a physical artifact that somebody used,” she said.
Seeing historical objects in person can make larger-than-life figures and distant moments in history feel tangible, helping visitors recognize the real people behind the stories they’ve learned.
And for anyone who feels obligated to read every museum plaque, Whited offered some liberating advice: don’t.
“Pick out a few that really inspire you,” she said. “Come back again and see it later.”
Austin Museum Partnership joins CBS Austin’s Community Partner spotlight
Save the Date for Austin Museum Day
One of the partnership’s biggest celebrations returns September 20 with the 29th annual Austin Museum Day.
More than 30 participating museums will open their doors to the public for free, with many offering additional activities and special programming.
At the Neill-Cochran House Museum, for example, visitors can traditionally try their hand at churning ice cream—an interactive reminder that making a frozen treat once required considerably more effort.
For participating museums and more information about Austin Museum Day, visit AustinMuseums.org.
Austin Museum Partnership joins CBS Austin’s Community Partner spotlight