The George R. Brown Convention Center has played host to endless sessions and think tanks about the future of the world's cultural institutions since Sunday. It's all been part of the American Association of Museums Annual Meeting and MuseumExpo, which has unleashed more than 5,000 museum professionals upon the Bayou City.

After the stream of inspired seminars — and a healthy dose of enlightened partying — the city's cultural purveyors are rather pleased with the conference's impact.

"I've gotten so many great ideas," said Apama Mackey of the nascent Museum of Drawing (MOD) as she exited a panel about presenting site-specific electronic art in a public environment (think the Mitchell Center for the Art's recent Tex Hex debut). That Houston-heavy discussion included the Aurora Picture Show's director, Delicia Harvey, the Mitchell Center's Bree Edwards, Aurora curator Mary Magsamen, and the prodigal microcinema high priestess (and now, associate curator at Southampton, New York's Parrish Museum), Andrea Grover.

"It was nice to show that off, because it's all in our own backyard," Mackey said.

"It's a beautiful thing," echoed The Orange Show's Elaine Dillard.

Both museum folk were eager to impart lessons from the rapid-fire session, "75 Winning Ideas in 75 Minutes: Worst, Best and Next!" Rather than focusing on thick theory, the session offered quick tips for smart museum management.

"Like saying, 'thank you,' — a lot. Easy, easy things," Dillard said.

Another lesson? Using Groupon for tickets is a no-no, as are excessive acronyms. "I love my acronym though," said Mackey of the sleek MOD before absconding with Dillard in tow to a panel on technology and teamwork.

The AAM conference offered Houstonians an opportunity to flaunt the city's cultural splendors, be it art, nature, science, music or dance. Wednesday's general session included a Hope Stone Dance Company bonanza.

"There were these three women in cocktail dresses," Bill Arning, director of the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, said, "and at one point, Jane Weiner, the artistic director, just started smoking and putting out her cigarette in raw meat. To see someone smoke inside the conference hall was amazing. It was the most revolutionary thing I'd seen in days."

The Hope Stone gig was followed by a riveting performance by the Texas Southern University Jazz Ensemble and Steppers. The session also included a keynote address by Neil deGrasse Tyson and the presentation of a lifetime achievement award to Dallas Museum of Art director Bonnie Pitman.

With all of the museum talk, one paramount question loomed over the entire conference: Who will replace the lionized, late Museum of Fine Arts, Houston director Peter Marzio?

Despite the wealth of museum practice discourse, conclusions remained out of reach. "There are a lot of people here who knew Peter and have come up to me and expressed their sadness over the loss," related interim director Gwen Goffe. "I knew Peter for so many years, but I have only begun to know everyone he knew."

When asked whether she was eyeing visiting museum professionals for the open position, she confirmed that the matter is out of her hands, and the placement will be determined by the confirmed search committee. The decision will be directed by committee chair Rich Kinder, a life trustee of the MFAH and a close friend of Marzio. Also on the small selection committee are chairman of the Board of Trustees Cornelia Long, Brad Bucher, Anne Duncan, William Mathis and Michael Zilkha.