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| Margaret Trudeau and George Jacob. Photo courtesy of George Jacob. |
When George Jacob graduated in 1996 he had broken barriers as the first Commonwealth scholar admitted to the Museum Studies program at the University of Toronto. His extensive CV includes being trained at the Smithsonian, attending the Birla Institute of Technology and Science, attending the Getty Leadership Institute at Claremont Graduate University as well as the Yale School of Management. He mixes IT innovations with traditional museum approaches with a special focus on the idea of a living museum. He is the author of seven books focused on the future of Museum Design and Practice. He has worked at various institutions including the Philip J. Currie Museum in Northern Alberta, the Mauna Kea Astronomy Education center in Hawaii and is currently at the San Francisco Bay Ecotarium.
Which Museum Studies program are you a graduate of and when did you graduate?
I graduated in 1996. I was the first Commonwealth Scholar admitted to the UofT Museum Studies Graduate Program.
What is your favourite memory from your time in the Museum Studies program?
While interaction with peers and professors was enlightening, the summer internship at the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. was memorable and rewarding. It inspired me to return to the Smithsonian years later to contribute to various galleries and exhibits over the years.
How has your path after graduation lead to your current job?
I was the world’s youngest planetarium and science museum director for 7 years, prior to joining the Museum Studies Program for my second Masters. But despite excellent credentials, it was impossible to even get an interview call after graduation. For some time, I considered changing my area of interest and pursuing a career as an IT professional. I then decided to set up my own consulting practice to offer Master Planning and Design-Build services to new and established museums around the world. I offered my services to various other larger forms that were involved in projects in Singapore, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia and elsewhere. Soon my work started getting noticed and gaining a reputation of precision, speed of implementation and cost savings. This has fortunately opened many doors through the years.
What exactly is ‘museum design build’?
Design-Build is a process of project implementation where the Designer also takes the lead in Production of the project. This applies to both Exhibit Services and Architectural Services. It saves time, enhances efficiencies and ensures better quality control, provided the person at the helm is astute, experienced and competent to lead such an effort with minimum margin of error.
What is a typical day like in your current job at the Bay Ecotarium?
There are three aspects to my current role as President & CEO of Bay Ecotarium. We have six branches with a staff of 200 united under one mission of ocean conservation and ecosynthesis from Sierra to the Seas. The first aspect is to oversee the operations of this complex institution, the second is to work on the vision to transform the existing aquarium into the first of its kind Living Museum focused on Climate literacy and Ocean Conservation. The third aspect, of course, is to work towards raising $200 million to make this vision a reality.
What exactly is a “living museum”? How is this different from traditional museums?
In physical terms a LIVING museum has live ecosystems, vivariums and animals. In our case we will increase the number of animals in our care from the current 23,000 to 30,000! In notional terms, a LIVING museum is an idea or a mission that continuously engages the public to join a movement to save our ecosystems, our environment and our planet. It is an idea that drives us all to come together for a cleaner planet with cleaner solutions, transcending generations and geo-political boundaries.
What do you find most fulfilling in your work?
Learning and Creativity. It also provides a wonderful opportunity to make a difference, shape minds and create a premise that is so vital to our collective memories as a society, as a civilization and as a species.
What are some of the greatest risks you have taken in your career?
Starting my own practice, carving out my own path and challenging existing paradigms. This has resulted in the birth of new museums, visitor centers and nature parks. When I took on the Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum project, I had envisioned completing this design-build initiative in under 24 months- including building construction, landscape, interpretive planning, exhibit design, production, staffing, retail and programs, to name a few. This seemingly impossible target was ambitious and unheard of. I executed the project in 23 months winning 9 awards in 9 months, delivering the fastest museum project implemented in Canadian history- before time and under budget.
What have been some of the greatest challenges in your career?
As the FIRST visible minority Canadian Museum President, I am concerned about the lack of diversity and inclusivity at the helm of Canada’s museums and amid the Museum Studies faculty and student enrollment- given that we are a multi-cultural country. This has often played a role in access and equal opportunity. It must be addressed through policy and structured dialog.
You have held many leadership roles, what is your advice for being a great leader?
Believe in yourself and believe in the power of the Universe.
What advice would you give to museum professionals entering the sector today?
It is a tough discipline to practice. But do keep in mind- No pressure. No Diamonds!
What is your advice to young museum professionals in creating a solid financial base for their future?
There are three paths ahead for museum professionals:
A. Choose to work in a museum with a salaried structure/ pension, job security etc.
B. Be a risk taker and launch your own practice, be it Museum Law, Curatorial or Master Planning Services or any number of other lucrative areas to make significant $$ for retirement and beyond.
C. Be an innovator and creator of new paradigms and opportunities in the gig-economy- become an out-sourcing guru; infuser of new means and methods of learning platforms; block-chain tailor made for various museum/ traveling exhibit realms; walk the line between education-entertainment / theme parks. The list is long…the world is your oyster! Have fun doing it- explore the unexplored.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity. We conducted our interview over email.
