Learn How to Become a Smithsonian Affiliate
Considering an affiliation with the Smithsonian Institution? Core to our work is catalyzing public engagement, sparking curiosity and learning, and ultimately inspiring a deeper understanding of our world. Get to know Smithsonian Affiliations, what it means to be an engaged Affiliate, and the process for applying on our Learning Excursion pages.
Fostering Essential Community Conversations
At this watershed moment in American history, museums are finding a wide spectrum of ways to address injustice with their communities, and facilitate the difficult but essential dialogue that is necessary. Find resources from the Smithsonian and our Affiliates to help catalyze these conversations in your community.
“Our Smithsonian Affiliation has enriched our entire community in wonderful, varied, and surprising ways. Smithsonian treasures, the expertise of noted Smithsonian scholars, and partnerships that have engaged a cross-section of our county have provided profoundly memorable experiences for those we serve. This important relationship is a point of pride for all of us.”
“It’s simply awesome to be an Affiliate and bring Smithsonian innovation to the nation’s heartland. Our recently opened Cherish Nebraska renovation was directly inspired by the National Museum of Natural History galleries, especially its Q?rius learning space. Next for us—high-impact Smithsonian education programs through the Lineage partnership, a cross-platform learning experience exploring the history of life on Earth.”
“Thanks to Smithsonian Affiliations we are able to bring special experiences to our community, like screenings of The Day We Walked on the Moon, a Smithsonian Channel film, and programs like Let’s Do History for area teachers. We are especially thankful for the role Smithsonian Affiliations has taken in the support of our current SITES exhibition American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith. The exhibition has inspired us so much we created a virtual reality game and reinterpreted the whole museum as part of our own Project Democracy 20/20.”
