Public Engagement
The Smithsonian shares knowledge with the public through compelling exhibitions, educational programs, and media products—strengthening the world’s social and intellectual capital by telling the American story, sustaining and celebrating diverse cultures and communities, revealing the natural world, and showcasing American intellectual and technological achievements. We measure public engagement in three interconnected realms—onsite (visits to Smithsonian museums, Zoo, and research centers); across the nation and world (traveling exhibitions and our network of Affiliate museums, zoos, and other cultural organizations); and digitally (Smithsonian websites and social media).
A standard measure of museum and program success is the number of people who “vote with their feet.” Collectively, more people visit Smithsonian museums than any other museum complex in the world. Visitors to the nation’s capital can tour our museums and the National Zoo 364 days a year free of charge, and visitors to Manhattan can see two museums: the George Gustav Heye Center of the National Museum of the American Indian and the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. Learn more about visiting the Smithsonian.
The number of new exhibitions in a given year and total on display at the Smithsonian are measures of our research productivity and public access to the collections. Roughly, two-thirds of exhibitions are “permanent” or long-term and one-third are “temporary” exhibitions that showcase collection items not regularly on display. About two-thirds of exhibitions are classified as “major”; the other one-third are generally small cases or single special exhibit items. Explore our exhibitions.
Attendance at Smithsonian educational offerings and receipt of Smithsonian educator-created publications are indicators of educational access and quality. Educational programs range from on-site offerings such as docent-led tours, to digital learning opportunities, to special events such as the annual Folklife Festival on the National Mall. The Smithsonian Science Education Center’s inquiry-based science curriculum is helping students in every U.S. state and 25 countries worldwide gain first-hand experience of science and engineering practices. Visit our education page for more information.
The number of visitors to the Smithsonian's public websites is an indicator of our online presence and access to our digital resources. The number represents data for over 200 websites. The Website Visitor Satisfaction Score derives from a random survey of website visitors across Smithsonian sites that represent more than 90 percent of its web traffic, and are benchmarked against an index for other nonprofit and education websites.
The number of “followers” on social media platforms is an indicator of audience engagement, and the Smithsonian has an active presence on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and other platforms.
The Smithsonian partners with a national network of over 200 museums, science centers, universities, and other arts and cultural organizations. These Smithsonian Affiliates extend the reach of the Smithsonian by touching millions in their local communities. The mutually beneficial relationships include sharing collections and expertise, and collaboration on education and research projects. Visit Smithonian Affiliations to learn more.
The extent to which the Smithsonian shares its collections and expertise through traveling exhibitions is another measure of outreach. The Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) develops and circulates an extensive range of exhibitions about art, science, history, and popular culture to exhibitors across America, from major urban museums to small rural community centers. Visit SITES for more information.
