We’ve all got fascinating things, but not everyone gets to show them off in a museum. Thanks to the Pop Up Museum, that’s all about to change…The Pop Up Museum is a temporary exhibit created by the people who show up to participate. It works by choosing a theme and venue and then inviting people to bring an object on-topic to share. Participants write a label for their object and leave it on display. A Pop Up Museum usually lasts for a few hours on one day. Popping up in unorthodox arts spaces, like libraries, town squares, parks or even a local cafe. Pop Up Museums focus on bringing people together in conversation through stories, art, and objects. They can happen anytime, anywhere, and with any community.

As part of the Swarthmore Community Challenge, you can get seed funding to help you start a pop-up museum on campus. This can be a once off pop-up event to engage the community around an issue or subject or it could happen regularly around different topics. The goal is to provide an open space for connection, discussion and learning.