A big part of Seattle’s MoPOP is a celebration of and destination for 90s grunge and alternative music and the culture it helped create
Pearl Jam display as part of MoPOP’s Grunge Collection.
The International Council of Museums defines “Museum” as:
“A not-for-profit, permanent institution in the service of society that researches, collects, conserves, interprets and exhibits tangible and intangible heritage. Open to the public, accessible, and inclusive, museums foster diversity and sustainability. They operate and communicate ethically, professionally and with the participation of communities, offering varied experiences for education, enjoyment, reflection and knowledge sharing.”
While the entirety of the definition is important, my favorite part is “permanent institution in the service of society that researches, collects, conserves, interprets and exhibits tangible and intangible heritage,” as it captures my sentiment regarding how culture should be appreciated and, consequently, chronicled and displayed. I’ve always felt that conserving popular culture is one of society’s more important obligations to itself. This is particularly true in the arts.
People from all walks of life, from different countries, landscapes, philosophies, and eras, have leaned on creating and distributing art in all forms. Human beings are inherently artistic, with the need to share our creations with those around us. Museums are there to make sure that what is created and shared during any period will stand the test of time to teach and inspire others decades and centuries down the line.
MoPOP, (Museum of Pop Culture) Seattle, Washington’s 24-year-old museum dedicated to contemporary pop culture is not simply a building that houses “things”, but it’s also a sanctuary for those of us who consider the preservation of art, music, film, and the like to live in a place that cares as much for its inhabitants as the artists who created what’s being held there in the first place. In other words, we should all be glad it exists.
The museum was founded by Microsoft’s Paul Allen in 2000 under the moniker The Experience Music Project, which remained until 2017 when it was changed to MoPOP. The change was made to reflect its mission better: to make creative expression a life-changing force by offering experiences that inspire and connect communities.
As it exists today, MoPOP is a leading-edge, non-profit museum, nestled amid the backdrop of the iconic Space Needle. The structure, a 140,000-square-foot building, was designed by internationally acclaimed architect Frank O. Gehry.
MoPOP creates private experiences for groups of 10–2,500+. They offer several exciting collections of exhibitions, rich pop culture content, state-of-the-art technology, and a myriad of unique spaces for an unforgettable occasion.
Growing up in New York City, museums are as common as traffic and lines at the supermarket. Currently, NYC has over 170 museums spanning dozens of themes. Sometimes, you take for granted the things you’re most used to, and I would say I, unfortunately, fall into that category. I didn’t realize museums' importance and cultural significance, even living in a melting pot such as New York City, until I visited one over 3,000 miles away from my home town.
It was 2013, and my wife and I were celebrating our first wedding anniversary. I had a pre-scheduled work trip planned for Seattle, and my wife joined me a few days into the trip so we could celebrate. Anyone who knows me, particularly during the early and mid-1990s, would know that I’d always considered Seattle my adopted hometown. Not that I had been there before because I hadn’t, it was solely due to the grunge and alternative music scene that had taken over the world in the early 90s which I had also adopted as my own. So being there to celebrate my anniversary and finally get to see my adopted hometown seemed like a no-brainer.
I realized that my interest in museums took a huge uptick once I was in one that championed the things I was particularly fond of. The music and culture of the Seattle scene from the late 80s/early 90s was my life. Being inside a building that collected and displayed so many of the things I’d seen on TV or read about in magazines was all it took to understand the importance of museums. This New Yorker would never again take museums for granted.
Fast forward to 2024, MoPOP is as important a destination as there is if you’re interested in pop culture. As a true museum of cultural impact, MoPOP understands that the culture of the past has a distinct and profound impact on the present and future. It’s all connected. The links and threads exist from one to the other, and an institution such as MoPOP takes preserving it all quite seriously.
A glance at their current exhibits explains just how deep the connection between society and culture at MoPOP goes. Exhibits such as Massive: The Power of Pop Culture, Guest Curator Program, Infinite Worlds of Science Fiction, Nirvana: Taking Punk to the Masses, Indie Game Revolution, Fantasy: Worlds of Myth and Magic, Hendrix: Wild Blue Angel, Guitar Gallery, Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame, Sound Lab, and Scared to Death: The Thrill of Horror Film (temporarily closed), showcase just how far the museum has gone to bring as much of pop culture to the rest of the world.
In March 2023, Michele Smith was named MoPOP’s Chief Executive Officer, thus being tasked with bringing the museum to the next level. The early returns are excellent. Reporting to the Board of Directors, Smith manages an annual operating budget of $20M, and the senior leadership team (currently seven (7)), supervises finance, people + culture, exhibitions/collections, sales/marketing, museum operations, education, and public programs. As the lead spokesperson and fundraiser of the museum, Michele Smith leads external engagement, community building, and direction of MoPOP’s presence and impact on the greater Seattle arts community.
In an interview conducted by Christa Terry in the Observer in January ’24, Smith had this to say when describing her attraction to the role of CEO of MoPOP:
“Arts and culture have been an integral part of my life. My mom was one of the first Black ballerinas in Philadelphia and instilled in me a passion for the arts. I always had a passion for music and learned to skillfully play both the piano and violin.
My DNA is infused with pop culture. I have an immense love for fashion, music, and film. Being a part of the arts community has been a lifelong journey for me, and this personal connection drives my desire to lead an organization that aligns with my values. I have always dreamed of a job that allows me to be creative, drive revenue, and provide extraordinary experiences. This aspiration is not just about passion but also about infusing a business lens to drive profit.”
Michele Smith Photo credit — Natalie Post
Pop culture may be a common phrase in today’s society, but it wasn’t always the case. The term “Popular Culture” dates back to the 18th or 19th century. It was originally meant to describe the lower class and less educated in society, with major cultural and social changes after the conclusion of World War II brought on by innovations in mass media, “Popular Culture” or “Pop Culture” as it was being called, developed a new meaning. The ideas of mass consumption, media, image, and consumer culture leaked their way into the new definition. This is where the term has thrived ever since.
As I mentioned, I have a newfound love and appreciation for museums. While all museums play a significant role in society, my personal bias lies with those who understand the importance of art as it intersects with culture. Our society is only as strong as its collective creativity and inspiration. MoPOP knows this and seems dedicated to fostering that sentiment tenfold.
MUSEUM OF POP CULTURE
HOURS
Open daily 10:00 am–5:00 pm
MoPOP
325 5th Avenue N Seattle, WA 98109
206–770–2700
Learn more about me and my writing by visiting my website. My first book, SLACKER — 1991, Teen Spirit Angst, and the Generation It Created (Inspired By You Books, 2024) will be out this Fall. You can pre-order a signed, first-edition copy here.
This article first appeared in The Riff on Medium.
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