John G. Shedd Aquarium

The Big Open Source Strategic (BOSS) project is a comprehensive audience and community engagement project between the Shedd and its diverse community. The goal of this three-year demonstration is to measure the effect of an open source approach to connecting communities and museum collections. This project will directly affect schools, neighborhoods, and museum members by increasing audience input and collaboration. Communities will be empowered to design their own Shedd-based programs. Also, several new advisory councils will directly influence strategic thinking and education program development by allowing audience members to become the “boss.” A Web-based BOSS Project tutorial will be developed so that other institutions can adapt the practices that are developed in this project.