Seen+Heard: Winter 2023

In brief, what’s new around the museums.

Science Center Honored

The Mars exhibit at the Carnegie Science Center

The Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) has again recognized Carnegie Science Center with a Roy L. Shafer Leading Edge Award. The Science Center received ASTC’s top prize for “visitor experience”—and, specifically, for its groundbreaking exhibition Mars: The Next Giant Leap, which opened last year. This is the fourth time that the Science Center has received a Leading Edge Award, having previously been honored in 2009, 2012, and 2015.


Violins Of Hope

A woman dressed in black playing a violin. The words Violins of Hope are displayed next to her.

On Oct. 26, Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh hosted a moving musical performance featuring three violins once played by Jewish musicians during the Holocaust—each with a unique story of hope to tell. The violins were part of an exhibit organized by Violins of Hope Greater Pittsburgh, which was on display from Oct. 7 through Nov. 21 at Carnegie Mellon University’s Posner Center. Performed by members of the Edgewood Symphony Orchestra, the Songs for the Soul concert was “a tribute to the endurance of the human spirit and the power of the arts to inspire and heal,” said Steven Knapp, president and CEO of Carnegie Museums.


An high definition photo of the Carnegie Music Hall.Photo: Brock Ward

“This is one of the most acoustically perfect concert halls that you’ll find anywhere.” 

–Carnegie Museums President Steven Knapp, in an interview with KDKA-TV on Carnegie Music Hall’s first major renovation in its 128-year history.


Welcome, Carey Miller

A portrait of Carey Miller near the Grand Staircase of Carnegie Museum.Photo: Joshua Franzos

The fundraising operations of Carnegie Museums has a new leader. Carey Scheide Miller, who joined the organization in August as vice president for development, now heads up the team responsible for meeting the fundraising goals of all four Carnegie Museums. Previously, Miller spent seven years at Chatham University, where she most recently served as vice president of advancement. Miller also served on the management team of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, as director and then senior director of development.


A Splash of Color

A group of people paining a colorful mural on a large panel.

On Sept. 26, more than 80 PPG volunteers pitched in to give areas within Carnegie Science Center a colorful makeover by painting two science-themed murals. PPG and the PPG Foundation were celebrating the 500th Colorful Communities project, a program launched by the PPG Foundation to beautify spaces in neighborhoods where PPG operates around the world.