Lessons from the Museum of Broken Relationships Indianapolis: Exploring Museum Activities in Social Work Practice

What do museums and social work have in common? How can museum activities and settings be utilized in social work practice? After a brief introduction and overview of the “social work of museums,” this workshop will offer an in-depth look at an exciting case study – the replicable activities of the Museum of Broken Relationships Indianapolis. Through key findings from an evaluation study, this workshop will invite and support participants to explore the use of MBRI’s museum activities in different areas of social work practice.

Presented By:

Dr. Lois H. Silverman, PhD, MSW is Professor, Public Scholar of Museum Education, and Director of Graduate Studies for the Indiana University Indianapolis (IUI) Museum Studies Program. A 2006 graduate of the IU School of Social Work, Lois is the author of The Social Work of Museums (Routledge, 2010) and is a leading expert on the intersections of museums, social work, and health and well-being professions.

Izzy Silverman is a Loretta Lunsford Fellow who will soon graduate IUI with a Master of Arts in Museum Studies. Izzy has years of experience working with children and families in museums and other informal learning settings, including the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis and Goldman Union Camp Institute. Most recently, Izzy has conducted exhibit evaluation as an Indianapolis Zoo intern.

Min Durham is a Community Engagement Associate and a Norman Brown Diversity & Leadership Scholar at IUI. She will soon graduate IUI with a BA in Art History and a Certificate in Museum Studies. Min was the recipient of the 2024 Asian Pacific Islander Desi American(APIDA) Student Leader Award, presented by the IUI Asian Student Union.