In this new Conference Talk open to Pavilion attendees and fair participants, Michele Smith, CEO of the Museum of POP Culture (MoPOP) and Raphaël Chanay, Director of Exhibitions at the Palais de la découverte et Cité des sciences et de l’industrie, will be sharing their insights and perspectives as experts from organisations that host and produce international touring exhibitions.
Travelling exhibitions as catalysts for economic and strategic value
The talk will aim to give an insight into how touring exhibitions can power organisations’ economic, reputational, and mission impact. It will explore how, beyond attracting new audiences, touring exhibitions can strengthen an organisation’s brand, generate fresh revenue streams, and help it extend its global influence. Visitors will learn how hosting or producing a travelling show can drive economic sustainability, and create lasting strategic value for museums and heritage, attraction, tourism and event venues alike.
The talk will be convened by Agnes Bertocci-Ruiz, Director of Global Business Development at the American Museum of Natural History.
Michele Smith from the Museum of POP Culture (MoPOP)
Michele Y. Smith is the CEO of the Museum of Pop Culture (MOPOP), one of the few Black women leading a major cultural institution in the United States. With a career rooted in nonprofit leadership, operations, and business strategy, Michele has guided MOPOP through transformative growth while championing inclusive storytelling. Previously, she led Woodland Park Zoo through the pandemic, driving recovery and innovation. Today, she is focused on preserving culture, inspiring the next generation of creatives, and showing how pop culture can build empathy and community.
Raphaël Chanay
Raphaël Chanay is currently the Director of Exhibitions at the Palais de la découverte et Cité des sciences et de l’industrie in Paris, France, two institutions that form Universcience. He oversees the team that develops temporary and permanent exhibitions on both sites, as well as their maintenance and touring operations. After completing his MA in Museum studies at Leicester University in 2007, Raphaël has spent a large part of his career in the UK as interpretation lead working in the museum sector, on both public and private side.
Agnes Bertocci-Ruiz
Agnes Ruiz is Director of Sales within the Global Business Development team, at the American Museum of Natural History. The GBD team expands the reach of AMNH's traveling exhibitions, planetarium shows, IP and licensing opportunities. Agnes has over 15 years of marketing and sales experience in the museum world, in France (Universcience) and the US (Imagine), from a non-profit institution to a for-profit company environment, with intercultural perspectives. She holds a Master of Science in Arts Management from EDHEC Business School, with a background in Arts History.
Attending the session
The Conference Talk will take place on Wednesday 14 January 2026 from 10:00AM to 10:30AM at the Museum Connections event at the Porte de Versailles in Paris. Free registration
The Touring Exhibitions Pavilion
The Touring Exhibitions Pavilion is the annual event dedicated to international travelling exhibitions, organised by TEO, which brings together international exhibitions professionals in Paris for 3 days all about touring exhibitions. The Pavilion welcomes museums and culture, heritage, science, tourism and leisure organisations and stakeholders, who are looking for exhibitions for their future programmes. A large friendly pavilion space welcomes exhibitions professionals for 2 days of networking, conferences and meetings, followed by 1 day of exhibition visits. Come and meet international producers, specialists and the Teo team on the Touring Exhibitions Pavilion at the heart of Museum Connections.
Teo partners with Museum Connections to present the event as part of the Paris event for museums and cultural institutions.
About the authors & contributors
Teo
Teo is the global resource for the international touring exhibitions community. Created for hosts, producers and specialists of international touring exhibitions, Teo is a global living resource for sharing best practices and fostering new international collaborations in the world of travelling exhibitions.
