IC News

If you’re looking for the center of the comedy world, just follow the sound of laughter to Jamestown, New York.

That’s where you’ll find the National Comedy Center, which this past year was voted “Best New Museum” as part of USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Travel Awards.

It’s also where you’ll find Journey Gunderson ’04, who, in her role as the center’s executive director, was named to Blooloop’s “Top 50 Museum Influencer” list. Blooloop, which writes about trends and developments in the museum industry, included Gunderson in its international listing, which included, among others, the director of the Museum of London and the secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.

“It’s surreal to be included in the list, and it’s reflective of quality of the team of people I work with,” Gunderson said.

It’s just the latest accolade for the museum, which in 2019 was included in TIME’s “World's 100 Greatest Places” list and People’s list of “100 Reasons to Love America.”

Blooloop highlighted Gunderson’s ability to overcome the challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic. In March of 2020, the museum was forced to close temporarily. But rather than dwell on the negative, Gunderson and her team moved the laughs online, creating the National Comedy Center Anywhere platform to allow comedy fans to explore the museum virtually and drive the center forward.

“It was heartbreaking to have to close the turnstiles to visitors, just two weeks after being recognized by USA Today,” she said. “But it enabled us to sharpen our focus on our digital initiatives, which otherwise might have taken years to develop.”

Another initiative was the first annual virtual Lucille Ball Comedy Festival, which took place last August. Comedians such as Jimmy Fallon, Tiffany Haddish, Jay Leno, Debra Messing, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Keenan Thompson, Margaret Cho and “Weird Al” Yankovic performed. It’s just another example of how Gunderson and her team aim to exceed expectations. 

“My favorite part of my role is working with our staff to fight above our weight and achieve things people didn’t believe we could,” she said.

The museum opened its doors again in July of 2020, with the launch of its LaughSafe health and safety program. All exhibits and screens are now touch-free with the use of a complimentary disposable stylus, disposable earbuds and a new “LaughCard” featuring an RFID chip.

“Once the pandemic took hold, we knew that we had to create an environment where people would feel comfortable spending the day with us – laughing freely without worrying about their health and safety,” Gunderson said. “We worked closely with the chief epidemiologist at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center to design our award-winning LaughSafe program: a stress-free and touch-free visitor experience.”

Gunderson’s drive to keep the museum afloat during these unprecedented times should come as no surprise. Before it first opened in August 2018, she had for years led the planning, fundraising, and creative development of the Center.

The project came to life because of Gunderson’s strong relationships with philanthropic supporters, local community, and comedy innovators, along with state and federal support.

“For 10 years, we worked to raise $50 million and build credibility,” she said. “I knew from day one that without the credibility and authenticity of approach, this kind of endeavor could become the butt of a joke,” Gunderson said. “It took every bit of energy I had. Working with seven different firms in different times zones to create the museum is an experience I’ll never forget.”

The Center is an event partner for the non-profit Chautauqua Institution, an education center and summer resort for adults and youth. The Center also owns and operates the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum.

In 2019, it was designated by Congress as the official United States cultural institution dedicated to showcasing and preserving the art form of comedy and its heritage.