Meet the Team: Al Ebanks (Exhibition Coordinator)

1. If you could choose one word to describe the kind of experience you hope visitors have here, what would it be?

Choosing just one word is always a challenge so I’ll take some creative liberty and give you two: transformation and wonder.

What I hope visitors feel when they step into one of our exhibitions is a sense of unexpected connection where something shifts in how they see a story, an object, or even themselves. Whether it’s through a painting, a piece of carved wood, or a carefully crafted audio story, I want them to walk away feeling both moved and curious to know more.

2. What’s your secret weapon for staying calm during the chaos of exhibition deadlines?

Deadlines can definitely stir up pressure I’m human, so yes, I have my freak-out moments. But I’ve learned to pause, take a deep breath, and remind myself:

“You’ve done hard things before, and you can do them again.”

That mindset along with a great team and a good playlist helps me recenter and focus on what matters: the story we’re telling, and the people we’re reaching.

3. Outside of museums, where’s your happy place when you need to recharge?

Nature is my reset button. I’m happiest swimming around the coral heads at Cemetery Beach, exploring Eden Rock, or hiking the Mastic Trail.

There’s something grounding about being surrounded by the natural beauty of Cayman — it reminds me why preserving and sharing our culture and environment is so important.

4. What’s one thing you’re most excited to bring to this museum that maybe hasn’t been done before?

I’m really excited to introduce interactive and immersive elements to our exhibitions. With my background in game development and digital storytelling, I see so many creative possibilities for how we can engage visitors especially younger ones in meaningful and playful ways.

Whether it’s through augmented reality, digital storytelling, or tactile experiences, I want to find ways to make our exhibitions not just something you look at, but something you step into and feel.

5. Are you more of a “plan every detail” person or a “let’s see where creativity leads” person when starting a big project?

I’m definitely a big-picture thinker. I like to begin by asking: What’s the story we’re telling? What do we want people to feel and take away? Once I understand that, I zoom in and start building the structure and details.

It’s a balance having a strong foundation while leaving space for creativity and collaboration to shape the final outcome.

6. Lastly, what’s your biggest dream for your time here what do you hope people will say about your exhibitions years from now?

I’d love it if people remembered an exhibition I worked on and said, “Wow, that really stuck with me.” But more than that, I hope visitors walk away saying:

“I learned something.” “I felt something.” “I had fun.”

If years from now, people remember the Museum as a place that sparked their curiosity, deepened their understanding of Cayman, and made them feel connected then I’ll know I’ve done my job.