Often, museum don’t collaborate because of the risk involved. What do I mean by that? Museums carefully craft their image, maintain their reputation, and work to build connections in their communities. Partnering with a person or institution that may have an unknown impact on those relationships seems very very risky.
The result of this risk management is that museums appear not just “safe” but stodgy. In history museums, where I do the majority of my work, this problem is compounded by the inability to let go of historical authority or to risk a mis-interpretation of history that will outlive us all.
One museum took a fun risk last week that made me shout, “Yeah! Way to go!” at my computer when I read the news.
Reader, meet T.Rex:
T.Rex Trying is a tumblr created by Hugh Murphy. The simple premise is that T.Rex, with his stubby arms and giant head has some difficulty participating in normal life. Each comic panel presents T.Rex diligently trying to accomplish things we take for granted.
Last week T.Rex was a rousing success at something! The Houston Museum of Natural Science announced T. Rex as the mascot of their new Paleontology Wing.
In their blog post they introduced the fossilized claws of a 65-million year old T. Rex from Montana that will be part of their new exhibits while simultaneously introducing the illustrated lizard king as completely understanding how limiting those claws could be.
A viral tumblr comic can seem pretty risky to some big museums. This collaboration probably made a good number people at the HMNS nervous. Maybe it still does– check out the claim in the blog that the new mascot is not the same T. Rex but that they like T. Rex Trying so much that they decided they needed a struggling T. Rex of their own and commissioned their own “HMNS frustrated dino.” The need to own it, to have control over it, and maybe even to make people think the idea was the museum’s rather than an adoption of an existing character, is probably necessary from a legal standpoint but to me it smacks of a big museum’s discomfort in risky collaborations. Luckily for us, the plunge was made.
As a loyal reader of T.Rex Trying, I am thrilled that this low-visibility web stream has caught the eye of the people that can make the most meaningful collaboration. No one will fit in better in the new Paleontology Wing than T. Rex Trying!
Hi Jodi, I’m Caroline, HMNS’ Digital Media Editor and the die-hard T-Rex Trying fan that helped make this collaboration happen! I’m glad you enjoy it, and the response we’ve gotten indicates you’re not the only one!
I wanted to clarify that our ownership of the collaborative images we published is strictly for legal reasons, as you suggested. And I want to make very clear that we would never mean to imply that T-Rex Trying was at all our idea. That’s why we linked to the blog, named Hugh Murphy and commissioned him to create some images for us – because we love HIS idea so much! You can find the collaborative images on T-Rex Trying’s blog and social networks as well
Thanks again for the love!
Posted by Caroline Gallay (@carolinegallay) | May 17, 2012, 2:28 pmThanks for the response!
Posted by Ashley | May 17, 2012, 4:40 pmSorry – Ashley!
Posted by Caroline Gallay (@carolinegallay) | May 17, 2012, 2:32 pmNope, it was Jodi’s post. We are building a tiny team of bloggers here!
Posted by Ashley | May 17, 2012, 4:39 pmCaroline, It’s great to hear from you and I’m thrilled that you made this collaboration happen! Big museums often move so slowly (and safely) and museum professionals like yourself are the culture scouts who are willing to walk point and guide big, safe museums into new territory. Thanks for clarifying my assumptions about legal issues and giving some insight into how these collaborations work. As long as your here, could you share some of the guest reactions that you’ve seen so far to T. Rex’s exciting foray into HMNS’ world?
Posted by museumjodi | May 17, 2012, 4:50 pmHi Jodi, our members and patrons, like Ed T. below, have loved the idea! One Facebook fan wrote “It’s my two favorite things together! This is why HMNS is my favorite part of Houston (besides the Astros and Texans).”
Obviously we were pretty delighted!
Posted by Caroline Gallay (@carolinegallay) | May 17, 2012, 9:06 pmHi {{waves}} – I am a fan of HMNS (and am also a member), and I for one think this is a WONDERFUL idea! HMNS has done some very interesting things with regard to social media and their exhibits, I remember very well the “Lois the Corpse Flower” incident (and the Twitter identity that was not under their control, but with whom they collaborated when it was all over.) I am glad to see them recognize, and work with, such a talented “indie” artist – and yes, this is indicative of the forward-thinking that goes on at HMNS.
Cheers,
~EdT.
Posted by Ed T. (@etee) | May 17, 2012, 6:52 pmThat’s great to hear. I hope more large museums follow HMNS’ lead.
Posted by museumjodi | May 18, 2012, 3:03 am