Museums & Social Capital: A Discussion of the Film “Join or Die” and the Work of Robert Putnam

This event is now full! We’d love for everyone to be able to join a discussion about this film, though: comment below if you’d like to be added to the waitlist for this gathering or would be interested in joining a second gathering. 11-13-24 Update: Thanks to everyone who participated in today’s discussion. Those in attendance are welcome to join us in the chat space to continue the conversation.How do museums build meaningful connections among their constituents? How does your museum help visitors — both online and in-person, and among existing and potential visitors — get to know one another and form a sense of community? And why should it? What role can museums play in remedying the epidemic of loneliness and isolation? In this MaP session, we’re convening a conversation about these questions, in response to the recent documentary film Join or Die. Join or Die is a film about why you should join a club — and why the fate of America depends on it. The film follows the journey of social scientist Robert Putnam, whose groundbreaking book Bowling Alone detailed America’s decades-long decline in community connections, and how rebuilding community could hold the key to resolving our democracy’s present crisis. With insights from experts such as US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy and Priya Parker, as well as groups building community in neighborhoods across the country, the film explores urgent civic questions: Why is American democracy in crisis? What do community connections have to do with it? And, most importantly… What can we do about it? For this event, we’re heeding their advice and convening a conversation about the film’s and book’s lessons, and how and why they apply to museums and cultural institutions.  How to participateRSVP for the session and add it to your calendar. Space is limited to 30 participants to ensure quality discussion. For this free session, we’re asking folks to commit to watching the movie or reading the book (or the intro/first chapter of this 400+ pager!) beforehand so we can dive right into the conversation. We’ll have time in breakout rooms as well as in a full group to share and reflect on the questions above and others like it. How to watch the movie• Stream it on Netflix beginning October 18 • Rent the movie without a Netflix subscription • Attend an in-person screening near you Who should attendThis session is ideal for museum/cultural institution professionals involved in education, public programs, membership, and audience development. We request that all attendees watch the movie or read (at least part of) the book in advance, as we’ll dive right into discussion during this session. If you’re interested in gathering, community building, relationships, collaboration, well-being, and participation, this session is for you.