In this episode of Museum Backstage, host Samantha Hunt Duran pulls back the curtain with Denver-based contemporary artist and arts leader Carrie MaKenna—co-founder of Dart Gallery and founder/president of the Colorado Women’s Art Center and Museum (CWAM).

Carrie shares what inspired her to help build a women’s art museum from the ground up, why museum representation still matters (especially for women artists), and what it takes to curate meaningful exhibitions without a permanent building. You’ll hear the real-world, behind-the-scenes logistics—calls for submissions, loan agreements, installation crunch time, and the creative strategy behind designing an experience people actually want to explore.

They also zoom out to the bigger mission: preserving the legacies of Colorado women artists, strengthening local culture, and creating a community-powered museum model supported by artists, members, and grassroots momentum.

Plus: a preview of CWAM’s upcoming Self-Portrait Exhibition and ways to get involved.

00:00 Welcome to Museum Backstage

00:42 Meet Carrie McKenna: Artist and Museum Founder

02:06 The Birth of the Colorado Women’s Art Center and Museum

05:15 The Denver Art Scene: A Unique Perspective

10:07 Challenges and Triumphs for Women Artists

19:25 Curating in Temporary Spaces

35:00 The Excitement (and Momentum) Behind CWAM

36:07 Why Denver Is the Right Home

36:49 A Growing Groundswell of Colorado Women Artists

37:47 Gender Representation in the Arts

41:54 Membership, Community, and Support

42:45 The Museum’s Vision for the Future

45:24 Building a Permanent Collection

50:59 Carrie’s Personal Journey + Family Influence

59:38 Upcoming Exhibitions and Events

01:02:07 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

If this episode resonated with you, there are a few ways you can support the work being done at the Colorado Women’s Art Center and Museum:

🌱 Learn more or become a member: CWAMUS.org

🎨 Attend an exhibition or event if you’re in or near Colorado

💬 Join the conversation — share this episode with an artist, curator, or museum professional

⭐ Subscribe, rate, and review Museum Backstage to help more people discover these stories

Your support helps amplify women artists, preserve cultural legacies, and shape the future of museums.

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In this episode of Museum Backstage, host Samantha Hunt Duran sits down with Luis Yllanes, founder of LRY Art Collection Management, for an in-depth look at the evolving dynamics of today’s art world. Together, they explore the intricate relationships between artists, galleries, museums, and private collectors—and how these connections shape the journey of an artwork.

Luis shares what makes an exhibition truly resonate, why proactive collection care is essential, and how collector responsibilities are shifting in a rapidly changing art landscape. He also reflects on his path from gallery and museum leadership to launching his own art management firm, offering practical advice for new collectors and those considering a transition into the art services field.

Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of the art ecosystem and actionable insights for managing and preserving collections.

Episode Timestamps

00:00 — Welcome to Museum Backstage

00:42 — Introducing Luis Giannis

01:37 — The Art Ecosystem

04:38 — The Journey of Artwork

07:36 — Collectors and Their Responsibilities

20:16 — Exhibition Impact

23:19 — Immersive Art Experiences

30:47 — The Impact of Unpolished Art

32:15 — Starting a New Business in the Art World

34:20 — Advice for Aspiring Art Entrepreneurs

36:00 — A Journey Through the Art World

43:03 — Daily Life of an Art Business Owner

51:00 — Rapid-Fire Q&A

52:40 — Conclusion and Contact Information

🔗Watch full episode:

#MuseumBackstage #ArtCollections #ArtManagement #ArtEcosystem #ArtCare #ArtConservation #ExhibitionDesign #ArtCollectors #Galleries #Museums #ArtEntrepreneurs #ArtBusiness #CulturalHeritage #CreativeIndustries #ArtLeadership #ArtInnovation #CollectionCare #ArtsAndCulture #BehindTheScenes #FutureOfArt #ArtWorldInsights

What does it take to build and steward a university art collection in a way that actually serves students, reflects the community, and respects history?

In this conversation, Geoffrey Shamos brings an unusually transparent and practical look at what really happens behind the scenes of academic museums.

Key Discussion Points

• 00:00 – Welcome + intro to Museum Backstage

• 00:36 – Meet today’s guest: Geoffrey Shamos

• 01:14 – Why university collections deserve a closer look

• 01:52 – What actually counts as a “collection”?

• 03:28 – Preserving the past while speaking to the present

• 05:08 – How academic collecting differs from traditional museums

• 06:20 – Curriculum, research, and learning as drivers

• 08:01 – Activating collections across campus (not just in galleries)

• 09:55 – The reality: many university collections begin haphazardly

• 11:50 – DU’s early collecting story

• 13:05 – DU’s shift toward purposeful collecting

• 14:22 – Listening to faculty + student needs

•16:00 – Public art, visibility, and beautifying campus spaces

• 17:40 – Representation, identity, and belonging

• 19:25 – Filling gaps in historical narratives

• 21:18 – Space, funding, capacity: the honest limits

• 22:55 – Why supporting living artists matters

• 24:40 – Artist donations, tax law, and inequities

• 26:05 – How institutional recognition impacts artists

• 27:48 – What the Study Center actually is

• 29:15 – Hands-on learning: conservation, handling, registration

• 31:05 – Treating students as emerging professionals

• 32:40 – The three categories: Main, Study, Campus Art

• 34:55 – How each category gets used

• 36:18 – When works are declined or deaccessioned

• 37:50 – How to turn down gifts respectfully

• 39:12 – Why transparency builds better long-term relationships

• 40:40 – DU’s Center for Art Collection Ethics

• 42:15 – Restitution and the evolution of museum ethics

• 44:30 – How to break into museum work

• 46:00 – Networking that actually works

• 47:32 – The “backdoor” paths: development, fundraising, operations

• 49:05 – Creating opportunities when they don’t exist

• 50:22 – Persistence and the zig-zag path

• 52:10 – Geoffrey’s unexpected route to his role

• 54:00 – From art history to fundraising to academia

• 56:05 – Early memories of art and influence

• 58:00 – How to access DU’s collection + community programming

• 59:20 – Final reflections

Whether you’re inside the museum world, adjacent to it, or just curious about how culture gets shaped at universities, this episode gives you a rare and grounded view into the process.

Don’t forget to:

👍 Like this episode

🔔 Subscribe for more real conversations from the museum world

💬 Comment with your biggest takeaway about collecting

🔗 Share this with someone curious about how museums really work

#museumbackstage #ArtCollections #UniversityMuseums #CuratorialPractice #ArtHistory #MuseumStudies #CulturalHeritage #AcademicMuseums #BehindTheScenes #CreativeCareers