Alison Caplan Email & Phone Number

I am a museum professional holding advanced degrees in education, museum studies, and art history. From designing and implementing a preschool art program to teaching a college art history course, I've successfully worked with groups of all ages. I've planned and overseen public programs of every type, including concerts, artist panels and art historical lectures, film festivals, studio classes and family drop-ins. I've curated several community and family friendly exhibitions, including a show of work by picture book illustrator Kadir Nelson and Please Touch, which brought together three regional artists to create hands-on artworks. Making interpretation fun, surprising and accessible is part of my job. I've produced a creative family guide inspired by magazine quizzes for an installation of kinetic art and designed a stamp shop maker space inspired by Devo frontman Mark Mothersbaugh. I’ve conceived, developed, and overseen major outreach initiatives, including Akron Art Library, a collection of original works of art available for check out at the Akron Summit-County Library. During the pandemic, I helped the National First Ladies Library grow a virtual audience of thousands, engaging with attendees across the country as I developed a portfolio of programs, from Fun with FLOTUS to First Ladies Night. I produced hands on interpretation for Beyond Camelot: The Life and Legacy of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, designed STEM kits inspired by woman scientists, created family guides connected to First Lady causes, led school tours of the Saxton McKinley house, and Zoomed with fashion designers, filmmakers, academics, authors, and even Jerry Torre of Grey Gardens fame.My interest in museums and libraries as community hubs and catalysts for change has led me to pursue coursework in library science at Kent State University where I was recently appointed the Director of the May 4 Visitors Center. In my spare time I'm a voracious reader, consuming everything from Joan Didion essays to design blogs and the latest Newbery Award winner. I adore old school country music and indie rock and pop music. I live in a charming, old house on a tree lined street in Akron with my beardy husband, two little boys and two cats.

Listed skills include Art History, Museums, Museum Education, History, and 24 others.