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From The Industry: Trendswatch, Cars Week and the rise of ‘vaccine tourism’

Rounding up all the biggest news from both publications and associations, here is this week’s edition of From the Industry

In this week’s edition of From The Industry, lots of news in the world of museums, with new trends identified, cultural institutions making it to the silver screen and a senior figure stepping down following a lengthy tenure. In other areas, Disney is celebrating the Daytona 500 with Cars week and a trend known as ‘vaccine tourism’ seems to be on the rise.

Forward thinking

The American Alliance of Museums’ Center for the Future of Museums has released its annual TrendsWatch report, with this year’s edition looking at issues museums must attend to with urgency to minimise harm to their communities and ensure their own survival.

Meanwhile, the Museums + Heritage Advisor has looked at how and why museums make it onto television and the financial support such an endeavour offers in a time cultural institutions are forced to remain closed.

From ARTnews, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art’s director, Neal Benezra, has announced that he will soon step down from the role, staying on at the museum until a new director is appointed.

The Museums Journal from the Museums Association has looked at Britain’s island museums on the Isle of Man and Jersey, which are the only indoor museums open to the public in the UK.

Turning to the STEM community, Ecsite has launched its 2021 strategy, which has been a collaborative achievement between Ecsite and its member organisations. For animal attractions, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Connect has looked at the Alaska SeaLife Center and how the attraction pulled off a lifesaving fundraising campaign during the COVID-19 crisis.

The Themed Entertainment Association’s blog TEA Connect has covered a historic day for the organisation, which recently held its first ever Town Hall Meeting.


Credit: Disney

Life is a highway

Life is a highway and the Disney Parks Blog want to celebrate that all week long with Cars Week. The blog’s latest article looks at five ways to celebrate the event, which leads up to the annual Daytona 500 NASCAR race on February 14.

Ready Player One? This week Blooloop has delved into the topic of theme park gamification, with Screamscape’s Lance Hart exploring the subject.

At EuroProfessional, the magazine has looked at Poland’s Energylandia, which has revealed new details about its upcoming themed area anchored by Abyssus - the world’s tallest wooden rollercoaster.

RePlay, has reported on a collection of New York’s indoor FECs, which have filed a lawsuit against the state of New York for what they allege is the “arbitrary way governor Andrew Cuomo has allowed some businesses to reopen after the March 2020 Covid-19 shutdown”.


Credit: CDC on Unsplash

The rise of ‘vaccine tourism’?

TourismReview says a new trend is developing around the world, with people taking trips to second homes or where criteria for vaccination is different in order to jump the queue rather than wait for immunisation against COVID-19 at home.

IAAPA’s official publication Funworld has asked how FECs can get their employees to put down their smartphones while on the clock.

And finally, Apollo - the international art magazine - has taken a look at the private art collections of some of the aces in world of tennis, including Serena Williams, John McEnroe and Andy Murray.