As museums continue to explore which technologies will propel them forward in the digital era, we are eager to contextualize Gartner’s 2022 predictions for the cultural industry.
Read on to explore what the top technology trends for 2022 could mean for arts and culture.
Top Technology Trends in 2022 – And What They Mean for Alumni Relations
Cuseum's 2021 Year in Review
Over the course of 2021, we’ve worked with a growing and diverse range of cultural organizations, institutions of higher education, and member-serving organizations, including museums, zoos, aquariums, science centers, arboretums, botanical gardens, universities, and professional associations of all shapes and sizes. We’ve also published multiple industry-acclaimed reports on topics like membership and digital revenue streams, launched a leading-edge Member Portal product, and continued to innovate our mobile engagement solutions with AI and accessibility enhancements. We’ve examined new technology trends, like the growing discourse on NFTs, traveled (virtually) to over 25 conferences and speaking engagements, and won our very first Webby Award.
As we prepare to dive into 2022, join us in looking back on this 2021 highlight-reel!
Top Technology Trends in 2022 – And What They Mean for Associations & Membership Organizations
How 21 Museums & Cultural Organizations engaged with NFTs in 2021
While there is still uncertainty, how are cultural organizations approaching NFTs, and what might they mean for the future?
At this point, many institutions are offering programming and engagement opportunities to help educate audiences on this new phenomenon. Other organizations, still suffering from two years of pandemic slump, have used NFTs as a way to generate buzz and revenue through the sale of digital assets. Lastly, several museums have begun acquiring NFTs for display within their collections.
With this in mind, let’s dive into some examples of how museums are starting to navigate the world of NFTs in order to educate the public, create new revenue streams, and engage their audiences.
4 Ways Artificial Intelligence is Changing the Landscape of Alumni Relations
In the world of alumni engagement, AI has enormous potential that we’re only beginning to tap into. From saving staff time, generating fresh insights, personalizing content at scale, to enabling more intelligent fundraising, alumni relations had much to gain from considering the potential applications of AI:
Cuseum Shortlisted for Digital Innovation in Art Award!
We're thrilled to share some exciting news today: Cuseum has been shortlisted for the Digital Innovation in Art Award at the Investor Allstars.
According to .ART, the award honors “a cohort of creatives, who pushed the boundaries in an unprecedented turmoil during the year that has brought us online more than ever before.”
Providing Value Virtually: How Alumni Professionals Can Overcome Zoom Fatigue to Create Meaningful Remote Experiences
How do you overcome Zoom fatigue to deliver virtual value? Even in a sea of virtual meetings and programs, many alumni professionals continue to achieve high participation and engagement rates. So, what’s their secret?
Although there’s no magic bullet to overcoming screen fatigue, successful virtual alumni events have many common ingredients. Read more…..
6 Insights from the 2021 Membership Marketing Benchmarking Report You Don’t Want to Miss
For membership and association professionals, it has never been more important to stay on top of the latest developments and best practices in constituent engagement and marketing. But, when you’re short on time, staff, and budget, this can be an extra chore you don’t have the hours in the day for!
Here at Cuseum, we combed through the latest insights from MGI’s newly released 2021 Membership Marketing Benchmarking Report, and we are here to share some enlightening trends and numbers. In case you don’t have time to read the full report, here are six insights that you don’t want to miss.
Unpacking the Big Data Buzz: How Can We Leverage Data in Alumni Engagement?
With all the rumblings about “big data,” industry professionals understand the urgency to start making data-driven decisions, but may be unsure of the benefits, the potential challenges, and how to get started.
Here, we’ll break down the basics of data analytics, what technology you need to get started, top tips to become more data-driven in alumni relations, and the biggest challenges alumni relations professionals face when trying to leverage data. Let’s get into it!
5 Tips to Offer Valuable Alumni Benefits in the Twenty-First Century
Using Digital Membership “Back of Card Text” to Deepen Constituent Engagement
At increasing rates, associations and alumni organizations are launching Digital Membership Cards (also known as Digital Alumni Cards). Just what is a Digital Membership Card? Hosted in the mobile wallet, Digital Membership Cards are an easy way to provide digitally accessible member and alumni benefits. Already, leading institutions including University of Tennessee Alumni Association, University of Michigan Alumni Association, and Museums Association have begun issuing digital cards.
For organizations that traditionally issue physical membership cards, replacing paper or plastic cards with a low-lift mobile solution can provide enormous time and cost savings. However, that’s just the tip of the iceberg! For all colleges and universities, Digital Alumni Cards offer fresh value and facilitate deeper alumni engagement in myriad ways, starting with dynamic “back of card text.”
Introducing the Cuseum Community Forum
The Cuseum team is always working to provide a better experience for our clients and partners. As part of these efforts, we are excited to offer a special benefit to our customers: the Cuseum Community Forum. With this community, you will be empowered to take full advantage of Cuseum’s vast network of cultural organizations, universities, and associations to share knowledge and make the most out of our digital tools.
If you’re interested in getting active on the Community Forum, read on to learn how to join, how to use it, and more!
4 Important Alumni Relations Trends Every University Needs to Consider
In recent years, the models and structures that have historically guided alumni relations and alumni engagement have evolved significantly. In light of these changes, universities and alumni associations may be trying to understand what this new landscape looks like and seeking strategies to remain relevant. In order to keep up, alumni organizations need to recognize how conventional modes of engagement are shifting, anticipate changing constituent expectations, and determine how they fit into the new digital landscape. Looking to the present and future, here are four big trends in alumni relations:
Cuseum Wins Webby Award For Best Art & Culture App
We're thrilled to share some big news today: Cuseum has won a Webby!
With this honor, Cuseum’s [AR]T Museum app has been awarded the title of best Art, Culture, and Event App in the “Apps and Software” category of the 25th annual The Webby Awards.
Introducing Member Portal by Cuseum
In today’s day and age, serving members, providing modern conveniences, and offering valuable benefits have never been more important for membership organizations. Indeed, for museums, attractions, nonprofits, universities, and associations, there is heightened urgency to attract and retain members with new perks and incentives.
At the same time, organizations are facing many challenges and inefficiencies: membership professionals often devote significant time and resources towards updating database records, answering redundant questions, and helping members access their benefits. These inefficiencies can likewise diminish the member experience, as constituents struggle to update their own information, access their membership benefits, and enjoy a seamless experience.
In response to these challenges, Cuseum is thrilled to announce the latest innovation in membership: the Member Portal.
Cuseum Honored For Best Art & Culture App In the 25th Annual Webby Awards
Cuseum announced today that it has been nominated for Best Art, Culture, and Event App in the “Apps and Software” category of the 25th Annual Webby Awards. Widely recognized as the “Internet’s highest honor,” the Webby Awards celebrate excellence on the Internet. With this nomination, Cuseum’s Augmented Reality (AR) app, [AR]T Museum, has been singled out as one of the five best in the world in its category, and among the top 10% of nearly 13,500 projects worldwide. As a Webby Nominee, Cuseum joins the ranks of major brands including Google, HBO, and Comedy Central, along with renowned artists and celebrities Billie Eilish, James Corden, Jennifer Garner, Gordon Ramsay, Sir David Attenborough, and Bon Jovi.
Introducing AI-powered Multilingual Translations
More than ever before, museums and cultural attractions are working to improve accessibility and ensure audiences of all backgrounds feel welcome and able to visit. As organizations strive to implement new accessibility measures, a chief concern is developing experiences and content that are available in multiple languages. In response to this growing need for multilingual audio content, the Cuseum team is happy to announce an exciting new feature for our Mobile Engagement Platform: AI-powered Language Translation.
Introducing Extended Support for Google Pay / Android Wallet
Today, Cuseum is happy to announce an exciting new functionality for our Digital Membership customers: extended support for Android and Google Pay. This new release will provide our partners with even more comprehensive support for mobile wallets, empowering them to offer their members the most seamless and up-to-date way to download and use digital membership cards.
Why Parks and Gardens Are Switching to Digital Membership Cards Faster Than Ever
In the past several years, and at an exponential rate in 2020, more and more parks and gardens have decided to upgrade and improve their membership programs by launching Digital Membership initiatives. What accounts for this growing trend of digital membership in parks and gardens?