Field Trip

FIELD TRIP

The Art of Communications

This year, we’re kicking things off with a private tour made just for communicators, digging into how North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA) mixes intention, storytelling, and collaboration to create experiences that actually hit. Then we’ll head behind the scenes with their comms crew for some honest talk about brand standards, cross-team chaos, and keeping things sharp—even when everyone’s juggling a million things. After that, we’ll help you turn those lessons into real tools your driven nonprofit team can use tomorrow.

Part field trip, part reboot, it's a great foundation to create good trouble.

Please note that the field trip is an add-on to the regular Create Good ticket. So if you want to join us, grab your spot below or contact us to learn how you can get signed up.

Schedule and Agenda

Tuesday, March 24

Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Location: NC Museum of Art – 2110 Blue Ridge Rd, Raleigh, NC

10:00 – 10:15 AM

Arrival, Welcome & Orientation

Arrival and check-in
Welcome and overview of the day
Framing the field trip: learning from art, space, and process
Setting shared expectations for curiosity, reflection, and participation
Led by Dawn Crawford

10:15 – 10:30 AM

Context Setting: The Museum as a Communications Space

Brief overview of the museum’s mission, audiences, and approach to storytelling
How exhibitions, programs, and spaces communicate values and intent
Lead by Art Museum team: Karen Kelly, Senior Editor

10:35 – 11:30 AM

Guided Museum Tour

Curated tour focused on storytelling, interpretation, and visitor experience
Discussion prompts on perspective, context, and meaning
Observations on how voice, narrative, and design shape understanding
Led by Art Museum team

11:45 AM – 12:15PM

Learning Session 1: Branding as Storytelling

How museums use visual language, narrative, and experience to express brand
What consistency, credibility, and trust look like in public-facing spaces
Interactive discussion and reflection
Co-led by Dawn Crawford and the Art Museum team

12:15 – 12:45 PM

Freetime/Lunch

30 minutes of unstructured time to eat, connect, and explore
Catered lunch

12:45 – 1:15 PM

Learning Session 2: Team Dynamics & Creative Collaboration

How museum teams collaborate across departments and disciplines
Balancing expertise, creativity, and operational realities
Lessons participants can apply to their own teams and workflows
Co-led by Dawn Crawford and the Art Museum team

1:15 – 1:45 PM

Learning Session 3: Communications Planning that Centers Diverse Voices

How museums plan programs and communications with multiple audiences in mind
Strategies for centering community voice, lived experience, and shared authority
Practical planning approaches for more inclusive and effective communications
Co-led by Dawn Crawford and the Art Museum team: Melissa Dean, Museum Evaluator

1:45 – 2:00 PM

Reflection, Integration & Closing

Guided reflection on insights and takeaways
Connecting museum practices to participants’ day-to-day work
Final Q&A with you and the Art Museum team
Closing remarks and next steps
Lead by Dawn Crawford