Barbara Henry / USA
As principal of Barbara Henry & Associates, Barbara is devoted to transforming museums into welcoming, comfortable, and thriving public places. Drawing from 25+ years of experience as a museum practitioner in authentic public engagement, she knows how museums can be vibrant cultural spaces truly embraced by diverse communities. Using best practices with her clients, Barbara applies her expertise in community collaborations, visitor experiences, programming, and organizational culture. She tailors her approaches based on each client’s goals, unique circumstances, and resources.
Barbara has presented at numerous conferences and served as a panel reviewer for the National Endowment for the Humanities and Institute of Museum and Library Services. She received her MAT in Museum Education from George Washington University and a BA in Art History from U.C. Berkeley.
Before BH&A, for more than two decades, Barbara held senior executive positions as Lab Center Director and Chief Curator of Education at the Oakland Museum of California. She developed extensive expertise in community engagement and institutional change. Barbara was a leader in transforming the museum’s art gallery, the results of which were recorded in the book How We/Visitors Changed the Gallery of California Art at the Oakland Museum of California. These experiences informed her passion for museums as dynamic public places evolving with their changing communities.
ORGANIZATION: Barbara Henry & Associates
SHORT BIO: Principal
SESSIONS: