The Lab @ The Peale
Baltimore’s Center for Cultural Innovation
Welcome to The Lab
The Lab operates under the leadership of The Peale and advances innovation through applied, institutionally grounded practice. Anchored in Baltimore yet engaged globally, the Lab develops new strategies, technologies, and practices that expand the relevance, accessibility, and impact of cultural work. As the cultural sector confronts profound social, technological, and institutional shifts, the Lab provides space, structure, and support for bold ideas to take shape—grounded in equity, guided by community, and built for long-term sustainability.
Purpose
The Lab exists to strengthen the capacity of cultural organizations to lead in a rapidly changing world. We do this by supporting interdisciplinary collaboration, advancing digital and immersive technologies, and building innovative models for engagement and institutional transformation
Focus Areas
Innovation Development and Implementation
The Lab designs and refines cutting-edge applications in digital storytelling, immersive media, and adaptive user experiences. These projects are tested in partnership with artists, technologists, and cultural organizations, with a focus on ethical, inclusive, and sustainable design.
Cross-Sector Collaboration
We serve as a convener for universities, nonprofits, museums, and private-sector partners working at the intersection of technology and culture. These collaborations generate scalable solutions and new frameworks for shared public value.
Workforce Development
Through fellowships, apprenticeships, and training programs, the Lab equips emerging professionals with the skills and critical perspectives necessary to lead in a dynamic cultural landscape. Special attention is given to recruiting and supporting participants from underrepresented communities.
Applied Research and Public Exchange
The Lab hosts a range of programs—from field research to salons and public conversations—that generate insight, spark innovation, and contribute to broader discourse in the cultural and civic sectors.\
Institutional Context
Located within The Peale—America’s first purpose-built museum—the Lab carries forward a legacy of public access and civic innovation. Today, The Peale functions as Baltimore’s community museum, and The Lab builds upon that platform to serve as a national and international model for how cultural institutions can adapt and lead.
About John T. Suau
Executive Director, The Peale | Lead, The Lab @ The Peale
John T. Suau is a museum executive, strategist, and cultural innovator serving as Executive Director of The Peale, Baltimore’s Community Museum. As Lead of The Lab @ The Peale, John provides strategic direction, institutional alignment, and programmatic oversight for the Lab’s work in digital storytelling, cultural technology, workforce development, and experimental public engagement.
John brings more than two decades of experience in public history, digital strategy, and organizational leadership across museums, cultural nonprofits, and global heritage initiatives. His work focuses on building sustainable, mission-driven models that connect cultural institutions to contemporary audiences through technology, partnerships, and community-centered practice.
Under John’s leadership, The Lab operates as an applied innovation platform—integrating experimentation directly into The Peale’s exhibitions, programs, and national collaborations—while serving as a resource for institutions navigating transformation in the cultural sector.
About Nancy Proctor
Founding Director, The Lab @ The Peale | Advisor
Nancy Proctor, Ph.D., is a museum strategist recognized for her leadership in digital innovation and organizational transformation. She served as The Peale’s (re)founding director, leading the museum’s capital campaign, building renovation, and relaunch as Baltimore’s Community Museum.
Nancy founded The Lab @ The Peale as a visionary initiative to explore new models for museums and cultural organizations. Having held senior innovation roles at the Smithsonian, the Baltimore Museum of Art, and in the mobile sector, she continues to advise The Lab’s work, contributing strategic insight and national perspective.