Mar Dixon (October 29, 1971 – March 16, 2024) was a social media consultant who influenced how museums and cultural institutions engaged with the public through digital platforms. Dixon is best known for launching global campaigns like #MuseumSelfie,[1] #AskACurator,[2] and #LoveTheatreDay,[3] which encouraged interactive public participation in cultural spaces.

Early life and career

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Mar Dixon was born in Morrisville, Pennsylvania, into the Ebarb Choctaw Apache Tribe, and began her career in IT with the Attorney General's Office of New Jersey. She later moved to Bridgnorth, Shropshire, in the United Kingdom, where she taught at Wolverhampton College.[1]

Social media impact and campaigns

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In 2011, Dixon co-founded CultureThemes to promote interactive hashtag campaigns that encouraged museums to engage more directly with audiences. One of her most prominent projects, #MuseumSelfie Day, launched in 2014, encouraged visitors to share selfies taken in museums, reshaping public perceptions of museums as fun and accessible spaces.[4]

Dixon also took over the annual #AskACurator event in 2012, encouraging museum curators worldwide to interact with the public via Twitter, which fostered a dialogue between cultural institutions and their audiences.[5] She was later approached by Twitter UK to help create MuseumWeek in 2014, and in 2015, she was involved in organizing #LoveTheatreDay, promoting theater through social media.[1]

Projects and initiatives

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In 2012, Dixon co-founded MuseumCamp, an "unconference" event designed to democratize the exchange of ideas in the museum sector, breaking down hierarchical barriers between professionals and enthusiasts.[1] Dixon's museum sector leadership also included MuseomixUK, which was an annual event to help innovate the museum visitor experience[6]

She also launched 52Museums in 2016, an Instagram initiative that allowed different museums to take over the platform each week, showcasing their collections and activities.[1] One of Dixon's sisters, Darlene Cavalier, collaborated with Dixon on global citizen science work[7]

Legacy

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Mar Dixon's influence extended across the museum sector, impacting how cultural institutions interacted with the public. She passed away on March 16, 2024, at the age of 53, after a short illness.[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Spurdle, Linda (April 11, 2024). "Obituary | Mar Dixon, 1970-2024". Museums Association.
  2. ^ Magazine, Smithsonian; Hetz, Victoria. "Get Your Burning Questions Answered, It's #AskaCurator Day". Smithsonian Magazine.
  3. ^ Sutherland, Ashley (November 13, 2017). "#LoveTheatreDay 2017 - Let's Celebrate".
  4. ^ https://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/14/fashion/perfecting-the-art-selfie-in-miami.html
  5. ^ Nayyar, Rhea (March 26, 2024). "Mar Dixon, Social Media Guru Who Launched #AskACurator, Dies at 53". Hyperallergic.
  6. ^ Winney, Becky (November 25, 2014). "Derby Museums Trust is showing it has the Wright stuff".
  7. ^ a b "Opening Doors and Connecting People Worldwide: Remembering Mar Dixon - SciStarter Blog". March 18, 2024.