We talk about the long evolution of interpretation at Monticello, from the site's earliest tours to the integration of slavery and the story of Sally Hemings into the core narrative. Kelsie shares the process behind the Frick's "Gilded, Not Golden" tour - a ground-up redesign of Clayton's 30-year-old house tour that involved consultants, an advisory board, difficult internal conversations and a willingness to start from scratch.

We also dig into what it means to support guides doing this work: hiring for empathy, investing in training, facilitating ongoing dialogue, and empowering guides to be facilitators rather than lecturers. And we reflect on the civic role of historic sites in a polarised moment, including how Monticello is approaching the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Whether you're working at a historic house, leading tours in any kind of museum or cultural space, or thinking about how to hold space for complexity in your guided programmes, I think you'll find a great deal to take away from this conversation.

The Art Engager is written and presented by Claire Bown. Editing is by Matt Jacobs and Claire Bown. Music by Richard Bown. Support on Patreon

Episode Links:

LinkedIn Kelsie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelsie-paul-39561b199/

Frick website: www.thefrickpittsburgh.org

Frick Instagram: @frickpittsburgh

Recent article on Clayton: https://www.pittsburghmagazine.com/places-we-love-clayton/

LinkedIn Brandon: www.linkedin.com/in/brandonmdillard

Monticello website: https://www.monticello.org/

Monticello Instagram: @tjmonticello

Show Links:

✨ If you've enjoyed this episode, please consider supporting The Art Engager on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArtEngager

Or pick up a copy of my book, The Art Engager, for step-by-step guidance on creating meaningful, interactive guided experiences https://www.theartengager.com/

Buy it here on Amazon.com: https://tinyurl.com/buytheartengager

Europeana brings together millions of artworks, objects, photographs, films, texts and archival materials from museums, libraries and archives across Europe. But access alone is not enough. Beth shares how the platform invites people to move from browsing to creating through prompts, activities, and collaborative spaces.

This episode will resonate with anyone working in museums, galleries or cultural institutions who is interested in using digital collections as a starting point for storytelling, creative engagement and new ways of working with cultural heritage.

The Art Engager is written and presented by Claire Bown. Editing is by Matt Jacobs and Claire Bown. Music by Richard Bown. Support on Patreon

Episode Links:

Dr Beth Daley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-daley-a032b537/

https://www.europeana.eu/

https://pro.europeana.eu/post/join-our-events-for-writers-and-get-creative-with-cultural-heritage - this one covers all our activities including the following:

https://pro.europeana.eu/event/europeana-writers-room-monthly-creative-writing-workshops - Europeana Writers' Room registration

https://www.europeana.eu/en/stories/six-ways-to-play-with-europeana-story-dice - Europeana story dice

https://pro.europeana.eu/page/seven-tips-for-digital-storytelling - in 16 languages

https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-daley-a032b537/ - my LinkedIn profile

https://bethdaley.substack.com/ - my Substack page

Europeana's social media:

https://www.facebook.com/Europeana

https://bsky.app/profile/europeana.bsky.social

https://www.linkedin.com/company/europeana

https://www.instagram.com/europeana_eu/

Show Links:

✨ If you've enjoyed this episode, please consider supporting The Art Engager on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArtEngager

Or pick up a copy of my book, The Art Engager, for step-by-step guidance on creating meaningful, interactive guided experiences https://www.theartengager.com/

Buy it here on Amazon.com: https://tinyurl.com/buytheartengager

The conversation traces an 18-month process of articulating a shared pedagogical framework shaped by national context, cultural responsibility, and First Nations-led principles. Rather than adopting an existing model, the team worked through workshops, observation, interviews and iterative “campaigns” to develop a cohesive, values-led approach.

A key commitment was centring the artist’s voice, placing artist intention in conversation with students’ existing knowledge. From this, the team developed a Creative Learning strategy planning tool that supports inquiry-led, multimodal, embodied and reflective practice.

Across the episode, they explore:

1. How to develop a context-specific learning approach rather than importing a model
2. What it means in practice to centre the artist’s voice
3. How small, iterative “campaigns” can embed reflective practice in a team
4. How multimodality and embodiment deepen engagement beyond discussion
5. Why joy is understood as a serious pedagogical commitment
6. What co-design and participatory action research look like inside a museum setting

This episode will resonate with anyone working in museums, galleries or cultural institutions who is thinking carefully about pedagogy, reflective practice, and how to articulate an approach that genuinely reflects their context and values.

The Art Engager is written and presented by Claire Bown. Editing is by Matt Jacobs and Claire Bown. Music by Richard Bown. Support on Patreon

Episode Links:

https://nga.gov.au/learn/our-creative-learning-approach/

The Creative Learning Project Digital Publication: https://nga.gov.au/media/dd/documents/NGA_The_Creative_Learning_Project_Digital_Publication.pdf

Zouwer, N. & Hamilton, O. (2026). The Creative Learning Project: Defining the National Gallery of Australia’s Creative Learning Approach. 10.13140/RG.2.2.35063.28324

Zouwer, N., Hamilton, O., Menser Hearn, N., & Ali, I. (2026). Using Practice-Based Methods to Co-create, Define, and Articulate a New Approach to Art Education in the National Gallery of Australia. Australian Journal of Education, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/00049441261421257

Georgia Close, Head of Learning, National Gallery of Australia

Harriet Body, Creative Learning Convenor, National Gallery of Australia

Harriet Body on LinkedIn

Naomi Zouwer, artist, teacher, and researcher. Lecturer of Creative Arts Teacher Education and a researcher in the Centre of Advanced Education Studies (CASE) in the Faculty of Education at the University of Canberra.

Naomi Zouwer on LinkedIn

Naomi’s website https://www.zouwer.com/

The Centre for Advanced Studies in Education (CASE)

https://www.canberra.edu.au/research/centres/case

Show Links:

✨ If you've enjoyed this episode, please consider supporting The Art Engager on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArtEngager

Or pick up a copy of my book, The Art Engager, for step-by-step guidance on creating meaningful, interactive guided experiences https://www.theartengager.com/

Buy it here on Amazon.com: https://tinyurl.com/buytheartengager

Our conversation focuses on how what Clare describes as museum habits of mind begin forming early in life, shaped by access, culture, and experience, and what can be at risk when early encounters with art and museums are uneven, delayed, or absent.

Clare’s perspective is shaped by her work as co-founder and executive director of cARTie, Connecticut’s first nonprofit art museum bus for young children, alongside her doctoral research into how people come to understand what museums are and who they are for. She describes research and practice as running in parallel, rather than as separate phases.

The conversation looks at why early childhood matters as a time when confidence, hesitation, and ways of taking part in museum-like spaces begin to take shape. Clare shares what she notices when children encounter art and museum environments for the first time, and what they appear to be learning beyond information about the artworks themselves.

Across the episode, they reflect on:

1. how early encounters with art begin to shape museum habits of mind
2. how confidence and hesitation show up and evolve through repeated encounters
3. what children seem to pick up about how to take part in museum-like spaces
4. what can be missed when access to art and museum experiences is uneven or delayed
5. how research and practice can run in parallel, with each informing the other

This episode will be of interest to anyone working with children, art, or learning spaces, and to museum educators, guides, and facilitators interested in how early experiences shape longer-term relationships with museums.

The Art Engager is written and presented by Claire Bown. Editing is by Matt Jacobs and Claire Bown. Music by Richard Bown. Support on Patreon

Episode Links:

Clare Murray on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/murrayclare

Museum Design with, by and for Children: Innovative, International Approaches https://www.routledge.com/Museum-Design-with-by-and-for-Children-Innovative-International-Approaches/Murray/p/book/9781032774404

cARTie https://www.cartie.org/

cARTie on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ctcartie/

Show Links

✨ If you've enjoyed this episode, please consider supporting The Art Engager on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArtEngager

Or pick up a copy of my book, The Art Engager, for step-by-step guidance on creating meaningful, interactive guided experiences https://www.theartengager.com/

Buy it here on Amazon.com: https://tinyurl.com/buytheartengager

Our conversation centres on Artful Moments, a gallery-based, small-group programme for people living with dementia and their care partners. Based at the Art Gallery of Hamilton, the programme supports shared experiences, connection, and wellbeing through guided engagement with artworks.

In this episode, we talk about:

1. What Artful Moments is and how the programme was developed in collaboration with healthcare partners
2. How assumptions shifted as the work developed, and what has helped sustain the work over time.
3. What person-centred practice looks like in programme design and in the moment as a facilitator
4. Planning with care while staying responsive to participants during each session
5. Why success in this work is understood through connection and wellbeing rather than traditional learning outcomes
6. What an Artful Moments session looks like in practice, from first communication and arrival to gallery conversations, making activities, and leaving the museum
7. Why attention to the whole visit experience really matters

A great listen if you are developing or evolving programmes for people living with dementia, or are interested in how dementia-inclusive practice can inform everyday museum engagement and deepen your approach to inclusion, pacing, and person-centred facilitation.

Laurie is also the co-author of Artful Moments: Building Meaningful Museum Experiences for People Living with Dementia, which is discussed throughout the episode.

The Art Engager is written and presented by Claire Bown. Editing is by Matt Jacobs and Claire Bown. Music by Richard Bown. Support on Patreon

Episode Links

Art Gallery of Hamilton website: www.artgalleryofhamilton.com

Artful Moments eLearning site: www.artfulmoments.ca

A link to the book - Artful Moments: Building Meaningful Museum Experiences for People Living with Dementia : https://www.bloomsbury.com/ca/artful-moments-9781538195420/

Laurie's two favourite videos from the website:

Janis’s Story https://vimeo.com/801998446/77939bc3d0

Rosemary's story: https://vimeo.com/809930852/fb94d13a5d

Also:

An article about virtual programs (2022) https://www.artgalleryofhamilton.com/artful-moments-fostering/

A lovely review of the website by Dementia Trust (2024): https://dementiatrust.org/news-and-views/25/2/2025/review-artful-moments

Artful Moments also included in Chapter 4 of this book (2024): https://www.intellectbooks.com/art-education-in-canadian-museums

An article on our early work: Artful Moments: A framework for successful engagement in an arts-based programme for persons in the middle to late stages of dementia (2019) by Janis Humphrey, Maureen Montemuro, Esther Coker, Laurie Kilgour-Walsh, Katherine Moros, Carmen Murray, Shannon Stanners DOI: 10.1177/1471301217744025

Show Links

✨ If you've enjoyed this episode, please consider supporting The Art Engager on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArtEngager

Or pick up a copy of my book, The Art Engager, for step-by-step guidance on creating meaningful, interactive guided experiences https://www.theartengager.com/

Buy it here on Amazon.com: https://tinyurl.com/buytheartengager

Together, we talk about why ordinary moments matter, how our attentional filters shape what we see and the social dimension of noticing. We also explore the pull of digital technology, the difference between algorithmic seeing and intentional looking, and how small shifts can help us reclaim our attention.

Whether you work with visitors in museums, guide groups through artworks or simply want to nurture a more spacious way of looking, this conversation offers practical ideas you can apply directly to your facilitation practice (and to your life!).

The Art Engager is written and presented by Claire Bown. Editing is by Matt Jacobs and Claire Bown. Music by Richard Bown. Support on Patreon

Episode Links

Menka is the founder of Just Looking, a global community of people looking at everyday life with slowness and curiosity. She is also the co-author of Your Best Digital Life. Her work invites people to notice more, reflect more and reconnect with both the digital and physical worlds.

Just Looking newsletter

Just Looking’s Instagram

60 Experiments in Looking

Your Best Digital Life

Menka Sanghvi’s website

Show Links

✨ If you've enjoyed this episode, please consider supporting The Art Engager on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArtEngager

Or pick up a copy of my book, The Art Engager, for step-by-step guidance on creating meaningful, interactive guided experiences https://www.theartengager.com/

Buy it here on Amazon.com: https://tinyurl.com/buytheartengager

Recorded during the conference itself in the unique setting of the FÆNGSLET Prison Museum, this episode features eight speakers from across Europe and beyond.

Together, we explore how museums are engaging with wellbeing and care – for their communities, their staff, and the wider world.

You’ll hear from museum professionals, researchers and cultural leaders reflecting on what care looks like in practice – from building organisational resilience to creating spaces for recovery, reflection and connection. The episode weaves together their experiences to to show how museums are finding new ways to care for people and communities.

In this episode

• How museums are rethinking their roles in wellbeing and resilience
• Practical examples of care-centred work in action
• The emotional and organisational challenges of supporting wellbeing
• The importance of caring for the people who care for others

Featuring

Julia Pagel (Germany) • Vera Carasso (Netherlands) • Elizabeth Merritt (USA) • Inga Surgunte (Latvia) • Sinéad Rice (Ireland) • Yurii Horpynych (Ukraine) • Roberto Casarotto (Italy) • Dr Nuala Morse (UK)

The Art Engager is written and presented by Claire Bown. Editing is by Matt Jacobs and Claire Bown. Music by Richard Bown. Support on Patreon

Links

• NEMO – Network of European Museum Organisations
• NEMO 2025 Statement on Museums and Wellbeing
• Conference webpage with recordings

✨ If you've enjoyed this episode, please consider supporting The Art Engager on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArtEngager

Or pick up a copy of my book, The Art Engager, for step-by-step guidance on creating meaningful, interactive guided experiences https://www.theartengager.com/

Buy it here on Amazon.com: https://tinyurl.com/buytheartengager

Zab’s research asks one key question: how does what we see guide our decisions, actions and behaviours? Her work combines neuroscience, visual perception and museum-based learning to show how what we see shapes how we think, communicate and lead.

At Wharton, Zab leads sessions for business executives that bring slow looking and perspective taking together — helping leaders strengthen empathy and communication through shared experiences of looking at art.

We talk about her journey from researching colour and form processing in the brain to designing slow art experiences that build leadership skills. You’ll hear why museums are ideal for practising perspective taking, what happens when groups spend an hour with a single artwork, and how slow looking in dialogue with others fosters deep learning and connection.

We also discuss the neuroscience behind these practices, the ‘no pointing’ rule, and why words like ‘obviously’ can shut down conversation.

This episode offers plenty to think about for anyone interested in how collective looking can enhance empathy, attention and leadership.

The Art Engager is written and presented by Claire Bown. Editing is by Matt Jacobs and Claire Bown. Music by Richard Bown.

✨ If you've enjoyed this episode, please consider supporting The Art Engager on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArtEngager

Or pick up a copy of my book, The Art Engager, for step-by-step guidance on creating meaningful, interactive guided experiences https://www.theartengager.com/

Buy it here on Amazon.com: https://tinyurl.com/buytheartengager

Episode Links

https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/perspective-taking-brain-hack-can-help-make-better-decisions/

Visual Marketing: A Practical Guide to the Science of Branding https://www.routledge.com/Visual-Marketing-A-Practical-Guide-to-the-Science-of-Branding--Retailing/Kahn-Johnson/p/book/9781032731322

Dr Elizabeth (Zab) Johnson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-johnson-phd-a3160932/

Wharton Neuroscience website:https://neuro.wharton.upenn.edu/

From how long to let people look at artworks to building psychological safety with established groups, Claire tackles the real challenges educators and guides face every day. Does everyone have to talk to be actively engaged? How do you pull a group back when disengaged? What's a good way to redirect someone who's going on too long? When should you share the artist's perspective if the group's discussion is quite different?

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Book anniversary quick survey
• The Art Engager: Reimagining Guided Experiences in Museums (Claire's book)
• Episode 148: How to create active engagement on guided experiences
• Episode 142: Building Trust and Psychological Safety on guided experiences
• The 10 Questioning Practices (QPs) from The Art Engager
• The Thinking Museum® Approach

The Art Engager is written and presented by Claire Bown. Editing is by Matt Jacobs and Claire Bown. Music by Richard Bown. Support the show on Patreon.

As mentioned in the episode, share what's been most helpful from The Art Engager book and what you'd like to see next: Share your input here.

https://clebown.typeform.com/to/l9e6mzN9

Tina is someone who in her own words 'changes people's minds' about poetry, about themselves and about their capacity for creative expression. Working primarily with second language learners and immigrant communities in Los Angeles she has developed unique approaches that use visual art as a gateway into poetry writing.

The conversation explores why museums are 'sacred spaces' that support creativity, practical techniques for facilitating poetry writing in galleries and how to help people overcome their intimidation about writing.

Listen to this episode if you want to:

• Learn practical techniques for poetry programming in museums, including spine poetry and found poetry using curator and wall texts
• Discover why the museum environment uniquely supports creative confidence and expression
• Explore how visual art can serve as a bridge to poetry for diverse audiences
• Understand how to help visitors overcome intimidation about poetry and writing

This episode offers practical insights into poetry programming and how to create the 'ease' that helps everyone discover they have at least one powerful poem in them.

The Art Engager is written and presented by Claire Bown. Editing is by Matt Jacobs and Claire Bown. Music by Richard Bown. Support the show on Patreon and find more resources at thinkingmuseum.com

‘The Art Engager: Reimagining Guided Experiences in Museums‘ is now available worldwide through your favourite online platforms and retailers. Buy it here on Amazon.com: https://tinyurl.com/buytheartengager

The Art Engager book website: https://www.theartengager.com/

Support the show with a simple monthly subscription on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArtEngager

Episode Links:

 Art inspires youth poetry at MOCA 

 ARTful Conversations 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-demirdjian-a102488/

https://www.instagram.com/poetinastudio/

https://www.poetryconsults.com/museums-libraries

After a values-led redevelopment, Manchester Museum has reimagined how a museum can engage with its community. Its mission is to be the most caring, imaginative, and inclusive museum people will ever visit - a place where everyone belongs.

Ciaron shares how this vision has reshaped the museum’s spaces and ways of working: co-curating the South Asia Gallery with 30 community members over five years, celebrating faith and culture through the Manchester Museum Celebrates series, and opening the Top Floor hub, shared with 25 local organisations dedicated to social justice and climate action.

This conversation offers practical insights into co-curation, community engagement, and the values-led decisions behind creating cultural spaces where everyone feels welcome.

The Art Engager is written and presented by Claire Bown. Editing is by Matt Jacobs and Claire Bown. Music by Richard Bown. Support the show on Patreon and find more resources at thinkingmuseum.com

‘The Art Engager: Reimagining Guided Experiences in Museums‘ is now available worldwide through your favourite online platforms and retailers. Buy it here on Amazon.com: https://tinyurl.com/buytheartengager

The Art Engager book website: https://www.theartengager.com/

Support the show with a simple monthly subscription on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArtEngager

Episode Links:

Manchester Museum website

Manchester Museum Instagram

Article on European Museum of the Year

Article on decolonisation

New York Times article following reopening

From handling uncertainty and awkward silences to managing participation and time, she guides you through simple, actionable ways to build confidence and make inquiry feel rewarding- for you and your participants.

Inquiry-based teaching works. It creates the kind of museum experiences where participants lean in, ask questions, and make personal connections with art and objects. But despite all these benefits, why do many people feel hesitant about giving it a go?

We’ll explore common concerns - like losing control, time management, participation, or not having all the answers - and I’ll walk you through strategies to move past them.

Here’s what I cover in today’s episode:

• Why understanding your own relationship with inquiry is the first step
• How to develop comfort with uncertainty and not knowing
• Why it helps to start small and build confidence gradually
• The role of flexible structures (like Questioning Practices) in supporting inquiry
• Practical ways to manage time, participation, and group dynamics
• Building your facilitation toolkit step by step
• Why practice and reflection are essential for growing your skills
• How to reframe “failure” as a valuable learning opportunity

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• The Art Engager: Reimagining Guided Experiences in Museums (my book)
• Episode 143: Uncertainty: Finding Wonder in Not Knowing with Maggie Jackson
• Episode 137: How to Use the Universal
• Episode 142: Building Trust and Psychological Safety on Guided Experiences in Museums
• Episodes 95 & 96: The Power of Silence in Guided Experiences
• Episode 66: 7 Ways to Improve Your Active Listening Skills
• Every single episode of The Art Engager podcast webpage: https://thinkingmuseum.com/every-single-episode-of-the-art-engager-podcast/

–––

✨ If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please consider supporting The Art Engager on Patreon. Or pick up a copy of my book, The Art Engager, for step-by-step guidance on creating meaningful, interactive guided experiences.

The Art Engager is written and presented by Claire Bown. Editing is by Matt Jacobs and Claire Bown. Music by Richard Bown. Support the show on Patreon.

Show notes

‘The Art Engager: Reimagining Guided Experiences in Museums‘ is now available worldwide through your favourite online platforms and retailers. Buy it here on Amazon.com: https://tinyurl.com/buytheartengager

The Art Engager book website: https://www.theartengager.com/

Support the show with a simple monthly subscription on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArtEngager

How can we reawaken that natural sense of wonder that we had as children? What happens when we intentionally create space for amazement and discovery in our museum experiences?

In this episode, we're exploring wonder as a fundamental human capacity. Claire distinguishes wonder from awe and curiosity, introduces different types of wonder we might find in the museum from intellectual and sensory to historical and reflective—and examines why adults often lose their capacity for wonder.

Claire shares eight practical strategies for inviting wonder into guided experiences and reminds us that wonder is about slowing down, opening up, and helping participants surprise themselves as they see things anew.

The Art Engager is written and presented by Claire Bown. Editing is by Matt Jacobs and Claire Bown. Music by Richard Bown. Support the show on Patreon.

Show notes

‘The Art Engager: Reimagining Guided Experiences in Museums‘ is now available worldwide through your favourite online platforms and retailers. Buy it here on Amazon.com: https://tinyurl.com/buytheartengager

The Art Engager book website: https://www.theartengager.com/

Support the show with a simple monthly subscription on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArtEngager

Every single episode of The Art Engager podcast webpage: https://thinkingmuseum.com/every-single-episode-of-the-art-engager-podcast/

Episode 150 -  How to Create Meaningful Museum Engagement: 10 Best Practices from 150 Episodes

Episode 151 - The Complete Guide to Slow Looking

Episode 32 - 6 Ways to Create Awe-Inspiring Experiences with Art and Objects

Episode 38  3 Key Ways to Foster Curiosity in your Programmes

Episode 39 -  How to stay curious in your practice

Episodes 95 - How silence is a superpower in museum and gallery programmes

Episode 96 - 7 Ways to Make Time and Space for Silence

The Art Engager is written and presented by Claire Bown. Editing is by Matt Jacobs and Claire Bown. Music by Richard Bown. Support the show on Patreon.

SHOWNOTES

Every single episode of The Art Engager podcast webpage: https://thinkingmuseum.com/every-single-episode-of-the-art-engager-podcast/

‘The Art Engager: Reimagining Guided Experiences in Museums‘ is now available worldwide through your favourite online platforms and retailers. Buy it here on Amazon.com: https://tinyurl.com/buytheartengager

The Art Engager book website: https://www.theartengager.com/

**Support the show with a simple monthly subscription on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArtEngager

**Make a one-off donation: https://buymeacoffee.com/clairebown

All of the mentioned episodes:

For this milestone episode, Claire revisited the entire back catalogue, re-listening to past episodes and looking for patterns. What she found were 10 essential insights about engagement that can shift how we think, plan, and work in museums today.

What comes through again and again is the power of simple, intentional adjustments. These are practical strategies you can try out straight away.

Four years and 150 episodes of exploring what really works in museum engagement – distilled into 10 essential principles for anyone working in museum and heritage education.

The Art Engager is written and presented by Claire Bown. Editing is by Matt Jacobs and Claire Bown. Music by Richard Bown. Support the show on Patreon.

SHOWNOTES

Support the show with a simple monthly subscription on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArtEngager

Every single episode of The Art Engager podcast webpage: https://thinkingmuseum.com/every-single-episode-of-the-art-engager-podcast/

‘The Art Engager: Reimagining Guided Experiences in Museums‘ is now available worldwide through your favourite online platforms and retailers. Buy it here on Amazon.com: https://tinyurl.com/buytheartengager

The Art Engager book website: https://www.theartengager.com/

Make a one-off donation: https://buymeacoffee.com/clairebown

All of the mentioned episodes:

149 Art, Play and Joy at Compton Verney with Geraldine Collinge

144 6 ways to create powerful connections in museum experiences

137 How to use The Universal Questioning Practice

136 What are Questioning Practices?

131 Stimulating the senses: using smell to engage visitors with Sofia Collette Ehrich

130 The power of inquiry, curiosity and questioning with Trevor MacKenzie

125 How to build rapport in museum and gallery programmes

99 Striking the right pace in museum programmes: less is more

96 7 Ways to Make Time and Space for Silence

95 How silence is a superpower in museum and gallery programmes

90 How to Create Intellectual Comfort

87 How to ask more open-ended questions

81 7 Ways to Refresh your Practice in 2023

72 Reacting to art with our bodies with Rachel Ropeik

61 How mindfulness and drawing can help us to connect with art with Karly Allen

57 Bitesize: How to End Well – Creating a Strong Conclusion for your Programmes

52 From Good to Great: Personal Growth & Development for Museum Educators

49 Inspiring Creative Writing Through Art with Mary Hall Surface

44 The 4 elements of a great introduction

29 How to develop a reflective practice

12 6 Best Practices for Sharing Information

Geraldine shares how this unique 'art space in a park' in Warwickshire brings together a historic Robert Adam mansion, 120 acres of Capability Brown landscape, and six distinctive collections ranging from Chinese bronzes to British folk art. She explains how Compton Verney's core values - particularly their inclusion of 'fun' - guide everything from exhibition design to community engagement initiatives.

Listen to discover their multisensory approach to gallery spaces that incorporates touch, smell and sound, doubling visitor numbers to their Naples collection. Learn about their 'play first' philosophy that encourages visitors of all ages to engage meaningfully with art through creative exploration, and hear about their 97% discounted community passes that are breaking down barriers to access.

Geraldine also shares insights into how they're connecting art and nature through immersive experiences like 'Breathing with the Forest,' creating what she describes as a restorative experience that ultimately delivers on their promise: giving visitors 'a day full of joy.'

The Art Engager is written and presented by Claire Bown. Editing is by Matt Jacobs and Claire Bown. Music by Richard Bown. Support the show on Patreon and find more resources at thinkingmuseum.com

SHOWNOTES

 https://www.comptonverney.org.uk/

Breathing with the Forest (now closed) - https://www.comptonverney.org.uk/whats-on/breathing-with-the-forest/

What we do - https://www.comptonverney.org.uk/our-story/what-we-do/

Geraldine Collinge on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geraldinecollinge/

‘The Art Engager: Reimagining Guided Experiences in Museums‘ is now available worldwide through your favourite online platforms and retailers. Buy it here on Amazon.com: https://tinyurl.com/buytheartengager

The Art Engager book website: https://www.theartengager.com/

Support the show with a simple monthly subscription on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArtEngager

How can we move beyond knowing that active participation matters to actually implementing it day after day? What practical techniques make the difference between visitors following along and truly engaging?

In this episode, Claire explores:

• Why traditional approaches often lead to disengagement (despite focusing on collection highlights)
• The spectrum from passive to active
• The fundamental mindset change required to create active experiences
• How to make your introductions more active
• How to transform questioning from testing knowledge to sparking genuine connection, and meaning-making
• Ways to use movement and positioning as powerful tools for engagement rather than defaulting to "follow the leader"
• Simple strategies to move beyond the 'hub and spoke' model and foster direct participant-to-participant interaction
• How to share information in a responsive and adaptable way that offers multiple pathways into the core ideas.
• How to create active closings to help visitors reflect, connect, and carry something forward.

The Art Engager is written and presented by Claire Bown. Editing is by Matt Jacobs and Claire Bown. Music by Richard Bown. Support the show on Patreon.

Show notes

‘The Art Engager: Reimagining Guided Experiences in Museums‘ is now available worldwide through your favourite online platforms and retailers. Buy it here on Amazon.com: https://tinyurl.com/buytheartengager

The Art Engager book website: https://www.theartengager.com/

Support the show with a simple monthly subscription on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArtEngager

What began as weekly walks in Canberra has grown into a thriving social enterprise with nationwide expansion plans for their women-focused history tours.

In today's conversation, Sita shares her people-centred approach to guide hiring and training, and how she builds community around a cause rather than just history. She offers valuable insights on designing experiences for specific audiences, creating consistent brand voice across all touchpoints, and using creative approaches such as post-tour feedback surveys to continuously improve quality and support guides.

Useful for anyone leading museum tours, developing visitor experiences, or passionate about making history more engaging and accessible. Sita's practical wisdom and enthusiasm will change how you think about connecting audiences with stories that matter. Enjoy!

The Art Engager is written and presented by Claire Bown. Editing is by Matt Jacobs and Claire Bown. Music by Richard Bown. Support the show on Patreon.

SHOWNOTES

SUPPORT THE SHOW with a simple monthly subscription on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArtEngager

She Shapes History website: https://sheshapeshistory.com.au/

She Shapes History Book: https://sheshapeshistory.com.au/she-shapes-history-guided-walks-and-stories-about-great-australian-women/

Instagram She Shapes History: https://www.instagram.com/sheshapeshistory/

Sita Sargeant LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sita-sargeant/

‘The Art Engager: Reimagining Guided Experiences in Museums‘ is now available worldwide through your favourite online platforms and retailers. Buy it here on Amazon.com: https://tinyurl.com/buytheartengager

The Art Engager book website: https://www.theartengager.com/

For Slow Art Day 2025 (April 5), listeners will learn about events across four Antwerp churches, including St. Paul's exhibition featuring masterpieces by Rubens and Van Dyck displayed at eye level - a rare opportunity to get up close with artworks normally hung four metres high.

Tonia and Armand share practical advice for churches interested in joining the movement, emphasising the importance of training guides to facilitate rather than lecture, maintaining flexibility in approaches, and creating inclusive experiences where no prior knowledge is required.

Whether you're interested in slow looking techniques or considering how your own church might participate in Slow Art Day, this conversation offers lots of new insights into creating meaningful art experiences in sacred spaces.

The Art Engager is written and presented by Claire Bown. Editing is by Matt Jacobs and Claire Bown. Music by Richard Bown. Support the show on Patreon and find more resources at thinkingmuseum.com

SHOWNOTES

SUPPORT THE SHOW with a simple monthly subscription on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArtEngager

MKA website: https://mkantwerpen.be/

St Paul's Church (Sint Paulus Kerk) Antwerp: https://www.sintpaulusantwerpen.be/en/

Tonia Dhaese, Coordinator of Monumental Churches Antwerp (MKA), Tonia.Dhaese@antwerpen.be

Antwerp’s Church-Based Slow Art Day Movement - https://www.slowartday.com/antwerps-church-based-slow-art-day-movement/

‘The Art Engager: Reimagining Guided Experiences in Museums‘ is now available worldwide through your favourite online platforms and retailers. Buy it here on Amazon.com: https://tinyurl.com/buytheartengager

The Art Engager book website: https://www.theartengager.com/

Francine shares two major museum projects in this episode: her Rijksmuseum escape room that attracted 10,000 participants in nine weeks and received a 9.4/10 rating, and her recent Palace Mysteries project at the Amsterdam Royal Palace. Both demonstrate Francine's ability to reach difficult age demographics (12-18 and 10-12 year olds) through carefully designed puzzles and storytelling that connect visitors with museum collections.

Listen to discover practical solutions for designing games in museum spaces, from protecting valuable objects to managing visitor flow. Learn how giving players specific roles encourages appropriate behaviour, explore techniques for building compelling narratives around objects, and find out how to ensure visitors engage meaningfully with collections rather than just playing games.

The Art Engager is written and presented by Claire Bown. Editing is by Matt Jacobs and Claire Bown. Music by Richard Bown. Support the show on Patreon and find more resources at thinkingmuseum.com

SHOWNOTES

Torrentius painting mentioned in this episode: https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/collection/object/Emblematic-Still-Life-with-Flagon-Glass-Jug-and-Bridle--9d74acc82f2cd8aa34b03be8414de0cf

MuseumNext article: https://www.museumnext.com/article/unlocking-curiosity-transforming-the-rijksmuseum-with-an-escape-room-experience/

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/francineboon

website: www.sherlocked.nl 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sherlocked/

Form to collaborate: www.sherlocked.nl/museums  

‘The Art Engager: Reimagining Guided Experiences in Museums‘ is now available worldwide through your favourite online platforms and retailers. Buy it here on Amazon.com: https://tinyurl.com/buytheartengager

The Art Engager book website: https://www.theartengager.com/

Support the show with a simple monthly subscription on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArtEngager

How can museums provide spaces for genuine human interaction in our increasingly disconnected world? What might happen when we put 'connection before content' in our museum practice?

In this episode, we're exploring the unique role museums play in bringing people together. Claire introduces the principle of 'connection before content' and explores the 5 layers of connection that create the conditions for engagement to flourish.

Claire shares six essential strategies for creating powerful connections in guided experiences and reminds us that while visitors may forget the facts and figures, they'll remember how they felt and the connections they made.

The Art Engager is written and presented by Claire Bown. Editing is by Matt Jacobs and Claire Bown. Music by Richard Bown. Support the show on Patreon.

Show notes

When You Connect, You Protect: The Impact of Social Connection on Mental Health, Ep. 172

An interview with Jessica Gifford, LICSW, explaining the link between social connectedness and mental health.

https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=1437668161&i=1000604514535

‘The Art Engager: Reimagining Guided Experiences in Museums‘ is now available worldwide through your favourite online platforms and retailers. Buy it here on Amazon.com: https://tinyurl.com/buytheartengager

The Art Engager book website: https://www.theartengager.com/

Support the show with a simple monthly subscription on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArtEngager

Maggie Jackson's latest book "Uncertain: The Wisdom and Wonder of Being Unsure" has been making waves - named on four top books of 2024 lists and recently awarded Nonfiction Book of the Year by the Independent Publishers of New England. Drawing from cutting-edge neuroscience research, Jackson explores how uncertainty affects how we think, learn, and work together.

Listen to discover what her research might mean for museum educators and how understanding uncertainty better could transform our practice. Learn about to build your 'uncertainty tolerance', how hedge words like "maybe" can create space for multiple perspectives and interpretations, explore why productive disagreement leads to better group outcomes, and discover the difference between routine and adaptive expertise.

This episode will change how you think about uncertainty. Discover how embracing not-knowing can enhance attention, deepen learning and create more meaningful connections with art and visitors alike.

Want to learn more? Visit maggie-jackson.com

The Art Engager is written and presented by Claire Bown. Editing is by Matt Jacobs and Claire Bown. Music by Richard Bown. Support the show on Patreon and find more resources at thinkingmuseum.com

SHOW NOTES

Uncertain: The Wisdom and Wonder of Being Unsure is available now

website -- https://www.maggie-jackson.com/uncertain

New York Times op-ed on uncertainty and resilience: https://www.maggie-jackson.com/the-gift-of-being-unsure-what-to-do-1

Maggie Jackson on LinkedIn -- https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggiejackson/

‘The Art Engager: Reimagining Guided Experiences in Museums‘ is now available worldwide through your favourite online platforms and retailers. Buy it here on Amazon.com: https://tinyurl.com/buytheartengager

The Art Engager book website: https://www.theartengager.com/

Support the show with a simple monthly subscription on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArtEngager

In this episode, we're looking at how to create the conditions that allow people to really engage with art and objects. We're going to explore why trust matters in museum facilitation, what psychological safety looks like in practice, and how to create environments where people feel able to share, question, and discover.

The Art Engager is written and presented by Claire Bown. Editing is by Matt Jacobs and Claire Bown. Music by Richard Bown. Support the show on Patreon.

Links

‘The Art Engager: Reimagining Guided Experiences in Museums‘ is now available worldwide through your favourite online platforms and retailers. Buy it here on Amazon.com: https://tinyurl.com/buytheartengager

The Art Engager book website: https://www.theartengager.com/

Support the show with a simple monthly subscription on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArtEngager

Inspired by Nicole's experience with her baby niece 13 years ago, the Clyfford Still Museum has pioneered innovative ways to engage infants with art, including their groundbreaking 2022 exhibition 'Clyfford Still Art and the Young Mind' and Art Crawl, a monthly programme for infants and caregivers to explore art together through multi-sensory experiences.

Listen in as Nicole and Paris share insights about their Reggio Emilia-inspired approach, the impact on families and caregivers, and how the program is now expanding beyond museum walls into community spaces. Learn about their successful strategies for creating welcoming environments for the youngest visitors, from professional development across departments to thoughtful program design.

If you're interested in early childhood engagement in museums, creating inclusive spaces for young families, or exploring innovative approaches to art education, this episode offers valuable insights and practical recommendations for implementing similar programs.

Want to learn more? Visit clyffordstillmuseum.org or email learning@clyffordstillmuseum.org

The Art Engager is written and presented by Claire Bown. Editing is by Matt Jacobs and Claire Bown. Music by Richard Bown. Support the show on Patreon.

Episode Links

Instagram: @still_museum

Email: learning@clyffordstillmuseum.org

CSM's website and Art Crawl's page

AAM article 

Here are some of the videos that we referenced in our conversation

Art Crawl video

Art Crawl "Know Before You Go" video 

Infant Curation video

New York Times article featuring Art Crawl 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-cromartie-31b19024/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/paris-baker-74b71620a/

Links

‘The Art Engager: Reimagining Guided Experiences in Museums‘ is now available worldwide through your favourite online platforms and retailers. Buy it here on Amazon.com: https://tinyurl.com/buytheartengager

The Art Engager book website: https://www.theartengager.com/

Support the show with a simple monthly subscription on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArtEngager

Inspired by her own family's experiences, Nicky specialises in making museums more accessible for children who struggle to attend school and is currently developing a toolkit to support museums and galleries in their work with home educators.

Listen in as Nicky shares insights from her Arts Council funded research exploring how museums can better serve the estimated 1.5 million children in England who face barriers to education, and learn about successful case studies from institutions making their spaces more inclusive.

If you're interested in making museums more accessible, supporting diverse learning needs, or exploring ways to engage children facing barriers to education, this episode offers valuable insights and practical recommendations.

The Art Engager is written and presented by Claire Bown. Editing is by Matt Jacobs and Claire Bown. Music by Richard Bown. Support the show on Patreon.

Episode Links

Nicky McIntosh on LinkedIn

Website: Museum Learning Works – supporting education outside of school - includes links to the reports and survey results from my Developing Your Creative Practice grant funded by Arts Council England

Information about barriers to school attendance UK

Not Fine in School - School Refusal, School Attendance

Square Peg (teamsquarepeg.co.uk)

Recommended Publications

‘Can't Not Won't: A Story About A Child Who Couldn't Go To School’ by Eliza Fricker

‘A Different Way to Learn: Neurodiversity and Self-Directed Education’ by Dr Naomi Fisher

‘Square Pegs: Inclusivity, compassion and fitting in – a guide for schools’ by Ellie

Costello & Fran Morgan

Links

'The Art Engager: Reimagining Guided Experiences in Museums' is now available worldwide through your favourite online platforms and retailers. Buy it here on Amazon.com: https://tinyurl.com/buytheartengager

The Art Engager book website: https://www.theartengager.com/

Support the show with a simple monthly subscription on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArtEngager

Beth's work as a coach and supervisor aims to support people to be happy and well in their professional practice.

Listen in as Beth shares how museum and gallery spaces offer unique potential for coaching - creating softer, more reflective environments where the space itself becomes part of the coaching process.

If you're interested in exploring innovative ways of using museum spaces for arts-based coaching, or want to enhance your understanding of how public spaces can foster reflection and growth, listen to this episode.

The Art Engager is written and presented by Claire Bown. Editing is by Matt Jacobs and Claire Bown. Music by Richard Bown. Support the show on Patreon.

Episode Links

• Website: https://bethclaremc.com
• LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/bethclaremc
• Email: hi@bethclaremc.com
• Book chapter referenced in this episode (pre-order available from 2nd December 2024) Arts-based Coaching Book: https://www.routledge.com/Arts-Based-Coaching-Using-Creative-Tools-to-Promote-Better-Self-Expression/GiraldezHayes-Max/p/book/9781032591902
• Illustrated guide to working ethically with creativity: Available to download from https://bethclaremc.com/ethics
• Journal articles:
• Exploring music and mark-making in coaching supervision (inspired by MAG) https://philosophyofcoaching.org/v6i2/03.pdf
• Using arts-based approaches to support 'reflethical practice' https://philosophyofcoaching.org/v9i1/02.pdf

Links

'The Art Engager: Reimagining Guided Experiences in Museums' is now available worldwide through your favourite online platforms and retailers. Buy it here on Amazon.com: https://tinyurl.com/buytheartengager

The Art Engager book website: https://www.theartengager.com/

Support the show with a simple monthly subscription on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArtEngager

Based in the UK, Jessi specialises in creating engaging artwork for the cultural and heritage sector, blending her background as a museum educator with her artistic skills. Her work includes family trails, maps, and educational resources designed to foster deeper connections with museum collections—even the overlooked pieces!

We explore Jessi’s journey from museum educator to illustrator, her process for creating family trails, and her popular 'Draw Along' sessions, which help people to overcome drawing hesitations and to observe artworks more closely.

Tune in for practical insights on using creative activities to enhance visitor engagement in museums.

Episode Links

Jessi's website: www.jessicahartshorn.com 

All about Jessi's work video: https://youtu.be/hRtQaETmPqE?si=HCXSGuH0MTUq9dI9

Other links for you  to explore:

Draw along for Sporting Heritage:

https://youtu.be/n503X14tRqE?si=Kf5W2q-yPpxK4ENO

Jubilee draw along:

https://youtu.be/RgXJijMdHvU?si=Zi7wCPxN-mAFjsk6

(800) Jessica Hartshorn - YouTube

Links

'The Art Engager: Reimagining Guided Experiences in Museums' is now available worldwide through your favourite online platforms and retailers. Buy it here on Amazon.com: https://tinyurl.com/buytheartengager

The Art Engager book website: https://www.theartengager.com/

Support the show with a simple monthly subscription on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArtEngager

In this episode, we’ll be exploring The Universal Questioning Practice in detail, how it came about and how you can use it with art and objects. 

The Universal is an all-purpose and versatile Questioning Practice that can be applied to all types of art and objects, across any museum setting.

The Universal's 4 stages provide a logical structure to guide conversations around artworks and objects. This episode explores takes an in-depth look at how to use the Universal Questioning Practice to support your guided experiences.

Links

'The Art Engager: Reimagining Guided Experiences in Museums' is now available worldwide through your favourite online platforms and retailers. Buy it here on Amazon.com: https://tinyurl.com/buytheartengager

The Art Engager book website: https://www.theartengager.com/

Support the show with a simple monthly subscription on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArtEngager

Questioning Practices (QP) are structured sets of questions or prompts designed to guide inquiry, stimulate critical thinking, and facilitate learning in museum and gallery environments. These practices are powerful structures for crafting deeper, more engaging experiences.

This episode explains what Questioning Practices (QPs) are, why they're important, and how they can be used to actively and intentionally support question use and foster participation and engagement during guided experiences.

If you've ever struggled with formulating questions or facilitating discussions in a museum setting, this episode is for you. Whether you're a museum educator, guide, or volunteer, you’ll discover how these flexible practices allow you to bring your unique style to every interaction, creating rich and engaging experiences for your audiences.

Links

'The Art Engager: Reimagining Guided Experiences in Museums' is now available worldwide through your favourite online platforms and retailers. Buy it here on Amazon.com: https://tinyurl.com/buytheartengager

The Art Engager book website: https://www.theartengager.com/

Support the show with a simple monthly subscription on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArtEngager

Anja shares her passion for creating engaging experiences in museums and cultural spaces, emphasising the importance of building trust and making meaningful connections with visitors.

Anja reveals practical techniques to enhance visitor engagement, including the use of "chatterboxes" to spark conversations, sensory experiences to deepen artwork connections, and slow looking practices to encourage thoughtful observation. She also discusses innovative methods like drawing yoga and role-playing exercises to make museum visits more interactive and memorable.

Throughout the conversation, Anja highlights the challenges of limited time frames and the need for coordination among museum staff. She stresses the importance of allowing visitors to feel seen and heard, adapting approaches for different age groups, and effectively wrapping up visits to solidify memories and encourage return trips.

Listen to this episode to gain practical, innovative strategies to transform museum visits into engaging, interactive experiences that foster deeper connections between visitors, artworks, and museums.

**My book 'The Art Engager: Reimagining Guided Experiences in Museums 'will be published soon as an e-book and a print edition too. If you want to hear more about it and be one of the first to get your own copy, sign up here: https://mailchi.mp/thinkingmuseum/book

Episode Links

Anja Høegh on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/anja-h%C3%B8egh-92032389/

Museum Salling

@oplevkulturensammen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/oplevkulturensammen/

https://vardemuseerne.dk/museum/nymindegab/

https://www.museumsalling.dk/laering/kunst-og-kulturlaboratorium/

The Art Engager Links

Sign up for my Curated newsletter - a fortnightly dose of cultural inspiration

Make a donation and contribute to the ongoing costs of running the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/clairebown

The Art Engager is written and presented by Claire Bown. Music by Richard Bown.

Rebecca has a wealth of experience in museum education and leadership, and is passionate about how we can make museums better places to work through improving organisational culture.

Listen in to discover why museum educators are naturally suited for leadership roles through our skills in fostering inquiry, trust, and psychological safety. Rebecca also discusses the current challenges museums face, such as generational divides and the need for clear goals. This conversation is packed with practical advice and fresh ideas. Enjoy!

**My book 'The Art Engager: Reimagining Guided Experiences in Museums 'is out now as an e-book and a print edition too. https://www.theartengager.com/

The Art Engager is written and presented by Claire Bown. Music by Richard Bown.

Episode Links

• Museum Questions website - https://museumquestions.com/
• Information about SEED:Management and Culture Shift - https://museumquestions.com/museums-and-organizational-culture/
• DEI: Deconstructed https://www.amazon.com/DEI-Deconstructed-No-Nonsense-Guide-Doing/dp/1523002778/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1677818933&sr=1-1
• Power to the Middle: Why Managers Hold the Keys to the Future of Work https://www.amazon.com/Power-Middle-Managers-Hold-Future/dp/1647824850
• The museum values framework: a framework for understanding organisational culture in museums https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09647775.2013.831247

The Art Engager Links

Sign up for my Curated newsletter - a fortnightly dose of cultural inspiration

Make a one-off donation and contribute to the ongoing costs of running the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/clairebown

Listen in to uncover practical frameworks (such as the 4 Truths and the Arc of Dialogue) for facilitating productive dialogues and handling conflicts effectively. Linda discusses essential skills for leading conversations that foster understanding and address contentious issues.

Links

https://www.sitesofconscience.org/

Library of videos on our YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/SitesofConscience/videos but particularly the short intro to the Arc of Dialogue https://youtu.be/IhiPUh_l49k?si=nUCgXR8u3RPtoZPh

Article: Life-long Anti-Oppression for Museum Professionals by Braden Paynter and Linda Norris;  https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10598650.2022.2140555

Book recommendation: Clint Smith - How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America

Aleksandra (Sasha) Igdalova is an interdisciplinary researcher in the final year of her Psychology PhD at Goldsmiths, University of London conducting large-scale, experimental studies on slow looking within exhibition spaces at Manchester Art Gallery. 

Her work investigates how popular engagement strategies may be used to increase aesthetic experience and well-being

Listeners to this podcast will know that slow looking has gained in popularity in museums worldwide over the last decade or so. But there hasn’t been much research on its effectiveness, until now.

In today's chat, we explore two studies -  the first study to look at the impact of slow looking in an online environment. This study explores how different audio contexts and types of art affect people's moods and engagement levels in online viewing.

The second study is the first large-scale experiment to investigate how social interaction impacts the art museum experience. This study took place in Manchester Art Museum’s fabulous dedicated slow looking space known as Room to Breathe. 

We discuss the implications of both studies for educators..and so much more!

This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in slow looking, aesthetic experiences in museums, and the benefits of group interactions for overall well-being in museum environments.

Episode Links:

Episode 24 Using art and objects to learn wellbeing skills and improve mental health with Louise Thompson

Aleksandra (Sasha) Igdalova Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aleksandra-sasha-igdalova-a66770106/

Website: www.aleksandraigdalova.com 

Researchgate profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Aleksandra-Igdalova 

Articles on slow looking:

First ever study examining how social interaction impacts art viewing: https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/x9wrt

First ever study looking at slow looking in an experimental manner (online study): https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2023-59333-001 

Free access to it here: https://research.gold.ac.uk/id/eprint/33048/9/Igdalova%20&%20Chamberlain%20(2023)%20Slow%20looking%20at%20still%20art.pdf

CREA interdisciplinary workshop: www.crea-workshop.com 

The Art Engager Links:

The Art Engager: Reimagining Guided Experiences in Museums - sign up for the waitlist to hear when my book will be published!

Sign up for my Curated newsletter - a fortnightly dose of cultural inspiration

Join the Slow Looking Club Community

Support the show here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/clairebown

Download my free resources: 

How to look at art (slowly)- 30+ different ways to look at art or objects in the museum

Slow Art Guide - six simple steps to guide you through the process of slow looking

Ultimate Thinking Routine List - 120 thinking routines in one place

If you have any suggestions, questions or feedback, get in touch with the show by emailing info@thinkingmuseum.com

We discuss when she first realised her passion for working with scents and how smell can make museum experiences more engaging.

We cover her creation of a scent-based tour for Museum Ulm in Germany and a 'Scratch and Sniff' self-guided tour for the Amsterdam Museum.

We also look at the Olfactory Storytelling Toolkit, 'smell walks,' and the idea of a 'sniffer in residence.' Sofia shares lots of practical tips for adding olfactory elements to your programmes.

If you want to infuse the sense of smell into your practice or incorporate more multisensory approaches into your programmes, you'll learn a lot from this episode.

Episode Links:

Sofia Collette Ehrich

https://sofiaehrich.wordpress.com/

https://thesensesationalexplorer.substack.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sofia-collette-ehrich/

https://www.instagram.com/thesensesationalexplorer/

Museum Ulm Links:

https://odeuropa.eu/2022/04/now-open-follow-your-nose-at-museum-ulm/

https://museumulm.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/SELECTION-OF-WORKS-NEW-GUIDED-TOUR-CONCEPT-FOLLOW-YOUR-NOSE-MUSEUM-ULM-1.pdf

https://odeuropa.eu/2023/01/update-follow-your-nose/

City Sniffers Links:

https://odeuropa.eu/2022/08/launch-of-city-sniffers-a-smell-tour-of-amsterdams-ecohistory/

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7utP_pAx_E

Odeuropa Impact:

This is an interesting report about the interviews Cecilia Bembibre conducted with museum professionals who have used smells in GLAMs: https://odeuropa.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/D6_1_Guidelines_on_the_Use_of_Smells_in_GLAMs.pdf

Olfactory Storytelling Toolkit:

Download it here: https://zenodo.org/records/10254737

Guidelines for conducting an olfactory guided tour here: https://zenodo.org/records/10102080

Guidelines for conducting a smell walk here: https://zenodo.org/records/10101016

A talk Sofia gave for the Swedish Heritage Commission which included many practical examples:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YByb-wbXw6E

The Art Engager Links:

Sign up for my Curated newsletter - a fortnightly dose of cultural inspiration

Join the Slow Looking Club Community

Support the show here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/clairebown

Download my free resources: 

How to look at art (slowly)- 30+ different ways to look at art or objects in the museum

Slow Art Guide - six simple steps to guide you through the process of slow looking

Ultimate Thinking Routine List - 120 thinking routines in one place

If you have any suggestions, questions or feedback, get in touch with the show by emailing info@thinkingmuseum.com

Trevor’s day job is as a high school English teacher in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, He teaches from an inquiry stance, guided by specific values and beliefs. In addition, Trevor is also an author, speaker and consultant, travelling worldwide to help schools implement inquiry-based teaching structures and frameworks. 

Trevor’s new book Inquiry Mindset Questions Edition is out imminently and because questions are a favourite subject of mine, I had to invite him onto the podcast to talk about it. 

I’ve known Trevor for a few years now since we connected on social media through shared interests and enthusiasms.

Trevor is an advocate and champion for inquiry-based learning, generously supporting the work of many educators in the field, including me, and he is well known for his kindness, alongside his expertise. 

Listen to find out more about:

• the power of inquiry-based learning and what it means to teach from an inquiry-based stance
• the key principles and values that guide Trevor's work, drawing from his extensive experience and his new book, 'Inquiry Mindset Questions Edition'
• generating question confidence and competence; the importance of both open and closed questions
• the 10 high impact question routines in Trevor's new book, 'Inquiry Mindset Questions Edition' and how they can be used to promote inquiry.
• using images, photos, and art as provocations to spark curiosity and engagement. 

There’s so much in our conversation from fostering curiosity, agency, active listening and the connections between Trevor’s work and our work in museums. What can we learn from each other? Where are the crossovers? 

Listen to our conversation to discover more about the power of inquiry, curiosity and so much more. 

Episode Links:

Episode webpage

Trevor MacKenzie's website: https://www.trevormackenzie.com

Inquiry Mindset Questions Edition: https://www.trevormackenzie.com/inquiry-mindset-questions-edition

https://www.trevormackenzie.com/posts/2024/4/14/announcing-inquiry-mindset-questions-edition

Trevor MacKenzie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trev_mackenzie/

Trevor MacKenzie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-mackenzie-37103b261/

The Art Engager Links:

Sign up for my Curated newsletter - a fortnightly dose of cultural inspiration

Join the Slow Looking Club Community

Support the show here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/clairebown

Download my free resources: 

How to look at art (slowly)- 30+ different ways to look at art or objects in the museum

Slow Art Guide - six simple steps to guide you through the process of slow looking

Ultimate Thinking Routine List - 120 thinking routines in one place

If you have any suggestions, questions or feedback, get in touch with the show by emailing info@thinkingmuseum.com

Today, I'm talking to Cecilie Skøtt about how to engage students with the music of Carl Nielsen through a blend of philosophical questioning and the art of slow listening.

Cecilie Skøtt is a mediation designer at Hans Christian Andersen’s House and the Carl Nielsen Museum in Denmark. 

Cecilie plays a key role in crafting and delivering school programmes for both museums, as well as interacting with visitors of all ages on weekends and holidays. With a passion for literature and dialogical teaching in the arts, Cecilie focuses on easing classroom-related anxiety and uses her expertise to create memorable museum experiences for children and families

Today we’re chatting about how the Carl Nielsen museum engages students in classical music. At the museum, they’ve been teaching from an Open Questioning Mindset (OQM) and using Philosophical Dialogue for a few years now.

OQM is both a teaching method and a mindset developed by Peter Worley to engage students in different topics, concepts, and stories. The method offers different tools and techniques for asking open and engaging questions, and to quickly create an environment where children feel safe and comfortable speaking their minds.

Slow listening is a natural extension to the philosophical questioning environment and allows children to deeply connect with Nielsen's music . In two new programmes developed for schools the Carl Nielsen Museum combines all three to engage students with classical music.

Listen to discover more about the Carl Nielsen Museum, philosophical questioning techniques and slow listening. 

Episode Links:

Episode web page + transcript:

Cecilie Horup Skøtt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cecilie-horup-sk%C3%B8tt-b60a93ab/

Carl Nielsen Museum website: https://museumodense.dk/carl-nielsen-museet/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarlNielsenMuseet

Open Questioning Mindset and philosophy with children: https://www.philosophy-foundation.org/

YouTube links for the music:

Symphony no. 5 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agPrhTFqD0o

Nielsen’s paraphrase on Nearer, My God, to Thee https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5FUNK2wZms

Tågen Letter, played during Music Dynamite https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_-wkidKX54

Maskerade, Keraus, played during Music Dynamite https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TFfRwq-lrM

The Art Engager Links:

Sign up for my Curated newsletter - a fortnightly dose of cultural inspiration

Join the Slow Looking Club Community

Support the show here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/clairebown

Download my free resources: 

How to look at art (slowly)- 30+ different ways to look at art or objects in the museum

Slow Art Guide - six simple steps to guide you through the process of slow looking

Ultimate Thinking Routine List - 120 thinking routines in one place

If you have any suggestions, questions or feedback, get in touch with the show by emailing info@thinkingmuseum.com

Kylie Neagle is the Education Coordinator at the Art Gallery of South Australia (AGSA) in Adelaide . 

With a small team and limited resources, catering to diverse student needs can be challenging. Volunteer Gallery Guides, though invaluable, cannot always provide guided tours.

At the Art Gallery of South Australia in Adelaide (AGSA), this prompted a shift towards empowering teachers to lead self-guided tours, emphasising inquiry and engagement rather than content delivery. The aim is to discourage teachers from relying on booklets during gallery visits. When students solely focus on facts or information from wall texts, they miss out on the chance to discover artworks that genuinely pique their interest.

And this is where the Curiosity Cards come into play. These fantastic cards are a set of 52 tools designed to enhance art engagement among students. Perfect for self-guided gallery visits, they ease the pressure on teachers and empower students to articulate their thinking.

They promote 'long looking' and also foster critical thinking, creativity and confidence in discussing art, enriching the whole learning experience.

Episode Links:

Episode webpage + transcript: https://thinkingmuseum.com/2024/05/15/fostering-curiosity-on-self-guided-field-trips/

Curiosity Cards

https://www.agsa.sa.gov.au/education/resources-educators/resources-educators-themed/curiosity-cards/ 

Other AGSA Resources

https://www.agsa.sa.gov.au/education/resources-educators/ 

AGSA Education Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/agsa.education/ 

The Art Engager Links:

Sign up for my Curated newsletter - a fortnightly dose of cultural inspiration

Join the Slow Looking Club Community

Support the show here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/clairebown

Download my free resources: 

How to look at art (slowly)- 30+ different ways to look at art or objects in the museum

Slow Art Guide - six simple steps to guide you through the process of slow looking

Ultimate Thinking Routine List - 120 thinking routines in one place

If you have any suggestions, questions or feedback, get in touch with the show!

Key Points:

• Understanding the importance of informal engagement in fostering meaningful interactions.
• How the role of visitor teams has changed over time from a more security-focused role to their current role as facilitators of engagement.
• Insights into the strategies and techniques employed by museum visitor teams, for informal, spontaneous interactions and structured engagements.
• Why visitor teams are uniquely placed to engage with museum visitors
• How museum visitor teams expertly navigate interactions with strangers, based on curiosity and open questioning.
• Learn about the three areas of impact: how visitors might think differently, feel differently, or act differently after engaging with museum content or staff.
• Discover how museum visitor teams are supported during challenging interactions, including skills development, duty manager support, de-escalation techniques, and reflective practice sessions.

Episode 127 Links

Wellcome Collection https://wellcomecollection.org/

Dickon Moore on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/dickonmoore

Transcript available here:

The Art Engager Links:

Sign up for my Curated newsletter - a fortnightly dose of cultural inspiration

Join the Slow Looking Club Community

Support the show here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/clairebown

Download my free resources: 

How to look at art (slowly)- 30+ different ways to look at art or objects in the museum

Slow Art Guide - six simple steps to guide you through the process of slow looking

Ultimate Thinking Routine List - 120 thinking routines in one place

If you have any suggestions, questions or feedback, get in touch with the show!

Harma works as a curator of education for the Van Gogh Museum where they have just created a brand new slow looking programme and a slow looking experience for the Matthew Wong exhibition. 

Listen in to hear:

• How the programme started and why they chose the Matthew Wong exhibition
• Techniques for engaging participants, including a deep dive into one of Wong's artworks
• Considerations in programme design: ensuring comfort, choosing artworks, and managing duration
• Designing a slow looking programme in a busy museum (hint: it can be done!)
• "In Silence with Matthew Wong": silent slow looking experience with one artwork
• Reflections on the pilot programme and future plans

If you’ve ever thought about designing and facilitating slow looking programmes in your museum, you will learn a lot from this episode!

Episode Links:

Matthew Wong, The Realm of Appearances, 2018, 

https://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en/about/news-and-press/press-image-bank/images-matthew-wong/the-realm-of-appearances

Matthew Wong exhibition at the Van Gogh Museum

https://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en/visit/whats-on/exhibitions/matthew-wong-vincent-van-gogh

Slow Looking Programme at the Van Gogh Museum

https://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/nl/bezoek/agenda-en-activiteiten/rondleidingen/matthew-wong-vincent-van-gogh

Open up with Vincent

https://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en/about/organisation/inclusion-and-accessibility-policy/open-up-with-vincent#collaborations

Harma van Uffelen on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/harma-van-uffelen-4b50b721/

H.vanUffelen@vangoghmuseum.nl

The Art Engager Links:

Sign up for my Curated newsletter - a fortnightly dose of cultural inspiration

Join the Slow Looking Club Community

Support the show here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/clairebown

Download my free resources: 

How to look at art (slowly)- 30+ different ways to look at art or objects in the museum

Slow Art Guide - six simple steps to guide you through the process of slow looking

Ultimate Thinking Routine List - 120 thinking routines in one place

If you have any suggestions, questions or feedback, get in touch with the show!

I recently wrote an article for the Journal of Museum Education inspired by the coaching training I did in 2022.

In ' Fostering a coaching mindset: applying coaching competencies to enhance museum educator practice and visitor experience' I explored how museum educators can benefit from using coaching skills to enhance their teaching and improve the visitor experience.

One of the competencies I talked about in this article is building rapport. 

Rapport is quite a subtle or nuanced concept. It’s also not something that comes up  in everyday conversation. So what is rapport, why is it important for us as educators? I'll also be sharing 5 ways to build rapport in your museum and gallery programmes.

Links

Journal of Museum Education article: 'Fostering a coaching mindset: applying coaching competencies to enhance museum educator practice and visitor experience' https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10598650.2023.2283400

Episode 44 The 4 Elements of a Great Introduction

The Art Engager Links:

Sign up for my Curated newsletter - a fortnightly dose of cultural inspiration

Join the Slow Looking Club Community

Support the show here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/clairebown

Download my free resources: 

How to look at art (slowly)- 30+ different ways to look at art or objects in the museum

Slow Art Guide - six simple steps to guide you through the process of slow looking

Ultimate Thinking Routine List - 120 thinking routines in one place

If you have any suggestions, questions or feedback, get in touch with the show!

Bianca immersed herself for 5 years into the New York art scene as a gallery assistant, artist assistant, curator, museum security guard and more as part of a journey to understand why art matters and how we can engage with it more deeply. 

In this chat, Bianca shares what she discovered about the art world, how her relationship with art has evolved, and how her experiences with various artworks have changed the way she sees the world.

Links for Bianca Bosker and Get the Picture:

Bianca Bosker Instagram, Twitter, Facebook

Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Get-Picture-Mind-Bending-Inspired-Obsessive/dp/1911630466

Bookshop: https://www.waterstones.com/book/get-the-picture/bianca-bosker/9781911630463

The Art Engager Links:

1. Sign up for my Curated newsletter - a fortnightly dose of cultural inspiration
2. Join the Slow Looking Club Community
3. Support the show here
4. Download my free resources: 

• How to look at art (slowly)- 30+ different ways to look at art or objects in the museum.
• Slow Art Guide - six simple steps to guide you through the process of slow looking
• Ultimate Thinking Routine List - 120 thinking routines in one place
• Other resources

If you have any suggestions, questions or feedback, get in touch with the show!

Episode links

Episode webpage + transcript

Sofie Vermeiren on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sofie-v-172093167/

More info about the Art Bridge:

https://www.mleuven.be/en/about-m/m-community/art-bridge

https://www.mleuven.be/sites/default/files/2023-04/Publication_MaterDei_TheArtBridge.pdf

Blog (in Dutch):

https://kunstzone.nl/author/sofie-vermeiren/

The Art Engager Links:

1. Sign up for my Curated newsletter - a fortnightly dose of cultural inspiration
2. Join the Slow Looking Club Community
3. Support the show here
4. Download my free resources:

• How to look at art (slowly)- 30+ different ways to look at art or objects in the museum.
• Slow Art Guide - six simple steps to guide you through the process of slow looking
• Ultimate Thinking Routine List - 120 thinking routines in one place
• Other resources

If you have any suggestions, questions or feedback, get in touch with the show!

They delve into the ways museums are becoming active participants in community health, sharing examples and practical tips for cultural institutions. The conversation also covers the practical application of the Arts on Prescription field guide and the importance of inclusive access, diversity training, and self-care for educators and creatives in the arts.

(0:00:13) - Dr. Tasha Golden's journey from musician to public health scientist and the success of the CultureRx pilot program.

(0:12:15) - An in-depth look at social prescribing and arts on prescription's potential impact on social isolation.

(0:18:14) - Museums promoting health and well-being through innovative programming and partnerships.

(0:27:42) - The importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion training, trauma-informed practice, and self-care for creatives and educators.

(0:38:11) - Wrap-up and resources.

Links

Arts on Prescription Field Guide https://www.tashagolden.com/fieldguide

https://www.tashagolden.com/

https://www.instagram.com/tasha.golden/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tashagolden/

“How We Human,” Mental Health and Trauma-Informed Practice training — designed specifically for artists and arts organizations: http://www.tashagolden.com/training

Episode transcript

Get in touch with the show!

Support the Show

Curated newsletter by Claire Bown

Join the Slow Looking Club Community on Facebook

Download the free guide - how to look at art (slowly)

Download the Ultimate Thinking Routine List

See Listen Talk is a 15-week long programme with weekly meetings taking place outside of the museum's visiting hours. Participants were young psychiatric users aged 18 to 29. Some were still hospitalised during the course but were able to attend the museum sessions. The project had a co-therapist attached, who was both the participants' contact person and motivator.

Listen to today's episode to hear:

• insights into the programme's framework and philosophy, discussing why slow looking was chosen as an approach and how it works in practice.
• what a typical session might involve and the methods and approaches that are used. 
• how the programme creates connections within the group and how they create a ‘safe space and brave space’ for the participants through a broad trauma-sensitive framework. 
• about the feedback the project has received so far and the positive impacts that the programme has had on the participants both inside and outside of the museum.
• the potential application and expansion of See, Listen, Talk, and  the recent recognition of Cecilie's work in the intersection of health and culture, including a recent visit to the Parliament for an open hearing.

This research by Kasper Levin at Roskilde University is ongoing and results are anticipated in March 2024. 

Links:

https://frederiksbergmuseerne.dk/en/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cecilie-monrad-b43729269/

https://journals.uio.no/museolog/article/view/6662  - in Danish [The museum as a catalyst for loneliness prevention in the elderly]

Upcoming article (in Danish) in https://www.magasinetmuseum.dk/ ”Museer som trivselsrum: Slow Looking og Visible Thinking / ”Museums as spaces for wellbeing: Slow Looking and Visible Thinking

Episode 24 Using art and objects to learn wellbeing skills and improve mental health with Louise Thompson

Suggest a guest or ask a question for the show - get in touch here

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Andrew Westover leads the learning team at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, focusing on connecting people with art and ideas to inspire civic life. In this role, Andrew develops initiatives, partnerships, and diverse programming to engage Atlanta's communities. 

Andrew previously served as the Keith Haring Director of Education at the New Museum in New York, shaping the vision for the education department. Their diverse experience includes roles at the J. Paul Getty Museum, the National Museum of Wildlife Art, the Smithsonian's Hirshhorn Museum, and the Phoenix Art Museum. 

In this chat we’re exploring:

• what values-engaged teaching is in a gallery setting and how it can be applied.
• the importance of self-knowledge and understanding your own values as essential foundations for effective teaching in a gallery setting. 
• the 5 values that underpin the work of High Museum of Art’s education department and how their work is rooted in listening, engaging in dialogue, building consensus, and designing spaces for various communities. 
• how four key words—experiences, identities, affinities, and beliefs—serve as a bridge in connecting the museum's collections and exhibitions with its visitors. 
• the importance of genuine connection in the museum, and how connection is essential for experiences to be meaningful and not merely a superficial interaction. 
• practical strategies and examples of how to navigate conflict during gallery discussions, including a detailed example of addressing emotional responses. 

Andrew concludes by sharing tips for listeners  looking to adopt similar strategies for values-engaged teaching in their practice or organisation. 

There is so much in this conversation - you might want to have a pen and paper handy!

Links

Andrew Westover - High Museum of Art

• High Museum of Art’s Educational Values and Methodologies
• Museum Magazine article: Transcending Dogma
• Edmonia Lewis’s sculpture Columbus: Columbus - High Museum of Art
• Teaching in the Art Museum by Elliott Kai-Kee and Rika Burnham
• Forum for Leadership in Art Museum Education (professional network for heads of education at art museums): Forum for Leadership in Art Museum Education - My FLAME (gatherlearning.com)
• High Museum of Art LinkedIn and Instagram
• Andrew Westover LinkedIn and Instagram

Ask a question or suggest a guest for the show

Download my free Slow Art Guide

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Support the Show

Join the Slow Looking Club Community on Facebook

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Curated newsletter by Claire Bown

We explore Magic Lantern's unique cross-curricular approach, incorporating art history into various subjects like science, geography, history, English, maths, and more.

We discuss a variety of specific strategies used in sessions, such as inviting students to step into artworks, creating soundscapes, exploring colours and patterns, and engaging students in the making process through dry painting.

Briony also details a session involving Henri Rousseau's painting "Surprised" and shares how information is shared in the sessions.

Briony concludes with tips for engaging children with art, emphasising the importance of cultivating a culture of looking, letting paintings speak for themselves initially, and gradually introducing historical and narrative context.

Hope you enjoy our chat!

Links

Henri Rousseau Surprised (1891)

Hans Holbein The Ambassadors (1533)

The Townley Discobolus statue

Magic Lantern is an award winning charity that has been turning primary school classrooms into pop-up art galleries for nearly 30 years. Children are given the opportunity to explore, discuss and bring to life famous artworks, and discover the world of art from cave paintings to Cubism, Gothic to Graffiti, and Turner to the Turner Prize. These unique art history workshops are designed to support classroom topics across the whole curriculum and incorporate elements of drama, soundscape, writing and dialogue.

Magic Lantern website

Follow Magic Lantern on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook

Steph talks about MoAD's educational programmes, focusing on their inquiry-based approach and how they encourage an 'inquiry mindset' through active student participation.

We also explore the team's teaching methods and how they use intentional and scaffolded open-ended questions to spark student curiosity and participation. We discuss the importance of making students feel heard, encouraging them to share thoughts, and creating a positive, participatory learning environment.

We also talk about MoAD's unique professional development model, built on collaboration, continuous learning, and reflective practices. We explore 'slow looking pd' where the team think and learn together by reflecting on various provocations and questions (including episodes of The Art Engager!). 'Slow Looking PD' is a deliberate practice that helps the team at MoAD to improve how they teach and support students.

Throughout the episode, Steph shares lots of strategies for student engagement and reflective growth. Whether you're interested in engaging with students, innovative teaching methods, or a facilitation-focused approach to team PD, there are so many takeaways from this episode.

Links

https://www.moadoph.gov.au/

Museum Educators Facebook group

Instagram @stephi_smith_inquirer

Leonie come from a rich background in socio-cultural studies and Cultural Management. She currently serves as a Practice Assistant for the Master in Cultural Management program at the University of Antwerp.

This year, Leonie completed her master's thesis, centring around the theme of youth engagement in museums. In today’s conversation:

• We delve into the challenges museums face in effectively engaging and connecting with younger audiences.
• We explore existing initiatives with young people, such as Antwerp’s Photography Museum or FOMU's Nightwatch Youth Program, and discuss how these programs aim to involve and empower young individuals.
• We talk about her research and the 9 building blocks she’s identified to help museums set up and work with youth advisory boards. These blocks provide a comprehensive guide for museums to reflect on their strategies, address challenges, and enhance the effectiveness of their youth engagement initiatives.

Listen in to explore the challenges, strategies, and potential solutions around the subject of youth engagement in museums.

Links

Download my free Slow Art Guide

Download the Ultimate Thinking Routine List

Support the Show

Join the Slow Looking Club Community on Facebook

Download the free guide - how to look at art (slowly)

Curated newsletter by Claire Bown

Get in touch with Leonie Delaey to discuss her research on LinkedIn

In today's conversation, Kate shares insights into the Radical Rest Network's research, which revealed widespread exhaustion and burnout within the sector.

She discusses how the passion and commitment of museum educators, combined with unending demands, limited resources, and unrealistic expectations, contributes to our field's sense of fatigue.

Kate emphasises the importance of collective, systemic change, highlighting strategies for organisations and individuals to prioritise rest.

She also introduces the concept of "radical" rest, signalling the need for significant, collaborative changes to address the burnout crisis.

Listen to our conversation to discover practical tips for rest and how the Radical Rest Network is fostering a cultural shift towards a more balanced and sustainable approach to work and well-being in museum education.

Links

Article summarising the Radical Rest project & research: https://www.anewdirection.org.uk/blog/radical-rest-for-the-cultural-sector

Sign up for the Radical Rest Network: https://forms.gle/kaLvPzRRQmgbyQaS7

Connect with Kate Oliver on LinkedIn

Email Kate Oliver

Other great places to learn more:

The fabulous Nap Ministry's "Rest as Resistance": https://www.instagram.com/thenapministry/ 

GLAM Cares - wellbeing support for museum community engagement professionals:  

https://glamcaresnetwork.wordpress.com/

Four-day-week global trial results & how to advocate for: https://www.4dayweek.com/

How to unionise to improve working conditions: https://www.vice.com/en/article/v7gm4j/how-to-unionise-your-workplace

Low-cost counselling service for individuals who work in the Arts: https://www.wellbeinginthearts.org.uk/how-we-help-individuals/ 

Journal of Museum Education 2023 Special Virtual Issue: I QUIT!: ACKNOWLEDGING BURNOUT AND THE NEED FOR EMPATHY AND SELF-CARE IN MUSEUM EDUCATION

https://www.museumedu.org/vsi/i-quit-acknowledging-burnout-and-the-need-for-empathy-and-self-care-in-museum-education/

In today’s conversation Rob shares how he got into this work around noticing and paying attention to things. We discuss what’s wrong with our attention these days and debate whether noticing is a habit, a mindset or a skill.

We talk about some of the 131 different ideas for noticing in The Art of Noticing and discuss specific contexts where noticing can be particularly rewarding

We also talk about museums, about how we can get more out of museum visits by noticing the ‘wrong’ things, following our curiosity, and spending more time with less objects.

We wind up talking about his most recent project  and book “Lost Objects’ which explores the personal significance of objects, especially those that are lost, stolen, or discarded. We talk about the value of noticing and appreciating objects that often go unnoticed, highlighting how these objects serve as tools for connecting with people and the world around us.

I really enjoyed talking to Rob - hope you enjoy it too!

Links

Join the Slow Looking Club Community on Facebook

Download the free guide - how to look at art (slowly)

Curated newsletter by Claire Bown

Rob Walker website

Rob's newsletter is at robwalker.substack.com. 

Rob's books: The Art of Noticing and his latest book, co-edited with Joshua Glenn, Lost Objects: 50 Stories About The Things We Miss and Why They Matter

How can we work with these expectations while delivering an engaging and educational museum experience?

In this episode, I'm exploring some of the reasons behind resistance to participation and offering some solutions.

From setting clear expectations and creating an inclusive atmosphere to gradual introductions, building trust, and using gentle questions, you'll find lots of ideas here.

Learn how adaptability is the key to fostering participation and why understanding, patience, and responsiveness are crucial in bridging the gap between traditional and interactive museum experiences.

Listen in to find out more! And if you have a question that you'd like me to answer, get in touch!

Links

Episode 44 The 4 Elements of a Great Introduction

Episode 42 How to Read a Group

Episode 69 How to Use Body Language to Create Engagement

Support the Show

Download the Ultimate Thinking Routine List

Join the Slow Looking Club Community on Facebook

Download the free guide - how to look at art (slowly)

Curated newsletter by Claire Bown

In this conversation Ruth, Corinne, and Ray delve into their motivations for writing the book, even amid the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.

We explore why art museums are a natural fit for supporting healthcare, how critical thinking about art can enhance medicine, and the practical methods and frameworks they provide, like Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS).

We'll also learn how art fosters empathy, improves teamwork, and addresses bias in healthcare.

Plus, discover the calming influence of art museums, the advantages of mindfulness in healthcare, and how these experiences benefit everyone involved, from healthcare workers to patients and the healthcare field as a whole.

Links

VTMO Intermediate

VTMO Advanced

Ruth Slavin LinkedIn

Ray Williams LinkedIn

Corinne Zimmerman LinkedIn

Short description of book

Activating the Art Museum: Designing Experiences for the Health Professions is the first book to address theory and practice connecting art museums and healthcare. Chapters address key topics including tolerating ambiguity; empathy; interprofessional teamwork; confronting bias; the power of story; caring for the spirit; wellbeing and mindfulness.

Link to publishers website

Activating the Art Museum: Designing Experiences for the Health Professions

Discount flyer link for those interested in purchasing

Additional links for learning opportunities

• Harvard Macy Institute’s Art Museum-based Health Professions Education Fellowship: https://harvardmacy.org/courses/museum
• Training our Eyes, Minds and Hearts: Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) for Healthcare Professionals: https://cmecatalog.hms.harvard.edu/course/training-our-eyes-minds-and-hearts-visual-thinking-strategies-health-care-professionals
• VTS@Work: https://www.haileygroup.com/vtsatworkprogram

Bios

Ruth Slavin has thirty years of leadership experience in art museums, most recently as deputy director for education at the University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA) where she initiated partnerships with faculty in medicine, nursing and social work. Since 2009, she has designed gallery experiences, workshops, and elective courses with and for physicians, residents, and medical students on topics including empathy, complexity and ambiguity in medicine, personal narratives in medical education, and mindfulness. Since 2014, she has served as a core member of the faculty team for the POE in Medical Humanities at the U-M Medical School. 

Ray Williams has established robust partnerships with medical educators and clinicians as the director of education at both the Harvard Art Museums and, since 2012, the Blanton Museum of Art at The University of Texas at Austin. He participated in the American Academy of Medical College’s committee on integrating the arts and humanities in medical education and has consulted to the Kern National Network for Caring and Character in Medicine. His work with health professionals in museum settings has focused on interprofessional teamwork, empathic communication, religion and spirituality, and wellbeing. He has a particular commitment to supporting clinicians dealing with grief and loss.

Corinne Zimmermann has been a museum educator for thirty years. Through Corinne Zimmermann Consultancy, she custom designs training and workshops for the health professions and business organizations focused on improving communication and team dynamics; cultivating leadership skills and empathic capacities; mitigating biases; and promoting well-being. She is a founding co-director of the Harvard Macy Institute’s Art Museum-based Health Professions Education Fellowship and co-founder of VTS@Work, which offers interprofessional training and certification in the Visual Thinking Strategies. In Fall 2023, she is co-teaching Training our Eyes, Minds, and Hearts: Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) for Healthcare Professionals, a CME course offered through Harvard Medical School.

Sam shares her extensive experience in the museum sector and explains how her role as a mother to a child with SEND has fuelled her advocacy work.

Highlights:

• Personal Journey: Sam discusses her background in museums and how her personal experience as a parent of a child with SEND shaped her into an inclusion advocate.
• Inclusive Spaces: the crucial need for museums to create inclusive spaces and programmes that cater to the diverse needs of all visitors, irrespective of their abilities.
• Practical Advice: how museums can become more SEND-friendly, including consulting with SEND families and organisations to better understand their unique requirements.
• Sensory-Friendly Initiatives: The importance of sensory-friendly spaces and resources within museums to enhance the comfort and engagement of SEND visitors.
• Proactive Approach: Why museums need to take a proactive stance on inclusion and collaborate closely with SEND families and organisations to remove any access and participation barriers.

About Sam Bowen:

Sam delivers training globally to the museum and cultural sector on all aspects of welcoming children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). She also speaks at conferences, write articles and mentor museums on organisational change in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).

Sam has worked in the Museum sector for 25 years during which time she's been a Curator, Education Manager and Museum Development Officer. She brings this knowledge, combined with her lived experience as a SEND parent, to support museums as a freelance consultant.

She is the founder of the SEND in Museums campaign, author of the Special Schools and Museums toolkit and creator of www.sendinmuseums.org, a sector advocacy and guidance resource.

In 2021 Sam was named the Radical Change Maker in the (UK) Museum Association’s Museums Change Lives awards. Her commitment to museums is to help them become accessible to the 9% of the UK child population who are SEND and who deserve equity in cultural engagement.

Links

www.sendinmuseums.org: a sector advocacy and guidance resource.

Sam Bowen website: www.sambowen.co.uk

Sam Bowen on Twitter: @makedoand SEND & @SENDinMuseums

Whether you're just starting out with inquiry-based learning in the museum or looking to enhance your existing approach, this episode is for you. It’s packed with actionable tips and strategies to guide you. 

I'm going to share practical insights that will help you overcome common fears, embrace the unknown, and confidently step into the realm of discussion-based inquiry-based programs. Here are my top 3 tips to get you started.

Links

VTMO Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced Courses

Download the Ultimate Thinking Routine List

Support the Show

Download the free guide - how to look at art (slowly)

Curated newsletter by Claire Bown

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art has collaborated with Art Processors to bring to life "A Beautiful Disruption: Experiencing the Bloch Galleries," a sensorial digital journey that forges personal connections with Impressionist masterpieces and their creators.

This innovative encounter leverages existing gallery technology to lead visitors through a hands-free, 'eyes-up' experience, guided by dynamic lighting and immersive audio cues.

It blends technology, storytelling, and sensory elements, creating deeper engagement with Impressionist art and, at the same time, disrupting the conventional museum experience.

This immersive experience encourages visitors to actively explore and engage with the art, allowing them to choose their own path and connect with paintings that resonate with them personally. This innovative approach creates a communal and social experience, transforming the way visitors interact with and appreciate art within the gallery setting.

Links

Nelson-Atkins website page

Rachel Nicholson LinkedIn

Art Processors 

Christine Murray Linked In

Rediscovering joy and human connection with the Impressionists

Christine’s recent documentary “Feelings Are Facts”

We’re exploring trauma-informed practice in museums, what it is, what it looks like and how museums can implement it into their culture and into their programming. 

We discuss MoMA's Artful Practices for Well-Being initiative, which offers trauma-informed programming and experiences.

Jackie also shares insights on MoMA's slow looking programme and provides advice on adopting trauma-informed practices in your work.

Content warning: please note that this episode contains brief references to sensitive topics. Please take care when listening.

Links

Support the Show

Curated newsletter by Claire Bown

Download my free slow looking resources: how to look at art (slowly) and my simple Slow Art Guide

Jackie Armstrong's website: https://www.jackie-armstrong.com/

Jackie Armstrong on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jackie_Armstron

Articles on museums and trauma-informed practice:

Museums Must Become More Trauma-Informed

3 Trauma-Informed Practices for Museums to Follow

How Explorations of Art, Trauma-Informed Principles, and Contemplative Practices Can Come Together to Support Well-Being and Nervous System Regulation

Mentioned in this episode:

Dr Peter Levine Somatic Experiencing

Dr. Karen Treisman’s book “A Treasure Box for Creating Trauma-informed Organizations: A Ready-to-Use Resource for Trauma, Adversity, and Culturally Informed, Infused and Responsive Systems" for trauma-informed principles and values

Artful Practices for Well-Being

Dr Glenn Patrick Doyle on Twitter

When was the last time you were facilitating a programme and something unexpected came up?

Maybe it was a spontaneous discussion sparked by an unexpected object or a group with unique accessibility needs. These moments remind us of the value of being ready for anything.

As museum educators, we operate in a dynamic and ever-changing environment, interacting with diverse audiences and different groups, each with their own perspectives and interests. Unexpected situations can arise at any moment, making our roles both rewarding and challenging.

In this episode, I'll take you through a variety of strategies that will help you equip yourself with the right tools and mindset to handle unforeseen situations effectively.

We'll delve into everything from making quick adjustments to adopting a proactive approach.

Tune in to discover practical ways to be prepared for whatever comes your way. Let's embrace the unexpected together!

Links

Episode 44 - The 4 Elements of a Great Introduction

Download the free guide - how to look at art (slowly)

Support the Show

Join the Slow Looking Club Community on Facebook

Curated newsletter by Claire Bown

With over 20 years of experience in museum, art, and cultural education, Gundy is well-known for her expertise in connecting people and organisations. Gundy is dedicated to inspiring individuals, bridging the gap between audiences and stories, and promoting interaction and participation in the field of art education.

Heart for Art, a programme developed by the Van Gogh Museum and DHL, aims to inspire thousands of children, with limited access to art education. Using Vincent van Gogh's work and life story, the program stimulates creative development and encourages discussions on important themes. Participating schools receive tailor-made teaching materials and a Van Gogh Museum Edition: a high-quality 3D reproduction of one of Van Gogh's artworks.

I first met Gundy back in 2011 at the Tropenmuseum and we’ve been great friends and collaborators ever since. We had a great chat and I hope you enjoy it too!

Links

Support the Show

Download the free guide - how to look at art (slowly)

Curated newsletter by Claire Bown

Join the Slow Looking Club Community on Facebook

Episode Links

Heart for Art https://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en/about/news-and-press/press-releases/van-gogh-museum-and-dhl-launch-heart-for-art-educational-programme

Van Gogh Museum https://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en

Etel Adnan http://www.eteladnan.com/

Heart for Art video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzFoSNChEWE

Van Gogh at School https://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en/visit/school-groups/van-gogh-at-school

The Harvest Meditation: https://www.lessonup.com/app/search/teach/2Krq7YeurGxwev4fs/mjya2ioLJBjRKqzhR/#mjya2ioLJBjRKqzhR-index=0

Gundy van Dijk on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/gundyvandijk/

Immersive art experiences are driven by technology, engage multiple senses and transport you into a living artwork or a different world.

Imagine stepping into a space surrounded by larger-than-life visuals, captivating sounds, and interactive elements. From sophisticated new-media installations to animated retrospectives of renowned painters, the range of immersive art projects is vast.

There are countless unique immersive art experiences worldwide that offer innovative and engaging ways to interact with art.

But they are not without criticism. Love them or hate them, these experiences provide valuable lessons that we, as museum educators, can learn from and apply in our own environments.

Listen in to find out more!

Links

Support the Show

How to Look at Art (Slowly)

Join the Slow Looking Club Community on Facebook

Curated newsletter by Claire Bown

New Yorker article https://www.newyorker.com/news/letter-from-silicon-valley/the-rise-and-rise-of-immersive-art

In September I’m going to start teaching my Visible Thinking in the Museum Online Beginners course or VTMO Beginners as it’s affectionately known. Around the same time, I'll also be publishing my book about the VTM approach - Slow Looking at Art: The Visible Thinking in the Museum Approach

I know from experience that when I teach this first VTM course, there is always a buzz when we get going and an enthusiasm to learn as much as you can as quickly as possible.

There are so many thinking routines to choose from, and it can be tempting to try them all at once.

But in this episode, I'll explain why it's important to take a step back and slow down.

Enjoy the process and avoid the temptation to do everything at once.

I'm sharing 13 tips I've learned from using thinking routines with art and objects for over 12 years. If you're new to thinking routines or the VTM approach, this episode is perfect for you!

PS This is the final episode in my favourites series. Next week I'll be back with a brand new episode - I can't wait!

Links

Join our FREE community The Slow Looking Club

Support the Show

VTMO Beginners course - starting in September 2023

Find out more about my book - Slow Looking at Art: The Visible Thinking in the Museum Approach

This week we're exploring the art of how to read the room.

When it comes to working with groups in a museum or any other setting, being able to "read the room" is a valuable skill.

Understanding the mood in the room and how receptive people are can make a significant difference in your interactions.

In this rebroadcast episode, I'm exploring the art of reading a room and providing practical tips to help you enhance your ability to understand and connect with your audience.

LINKS

Join our FREE community The Slow Looking Club

Support the Show

This is a classic episode exploring the benefits of slow looking.

Slow looking is simply the art of learning through observation.

I’ve been immersed in slow looking for the last 12+ years and can wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone.

But don’t just take my word for it. Why would you want to slow down and spend time with an artwork or object? Why is it important to practise paying attention and noticing more details?

Looking at something slowly and carefully is in itself a rewarding process – the object or art work becomes more interesting the longer you look at it. But more than this, slow looking is good for you.

Today, I’m going to take you through the 12 benefits of slow looking.

Links

Support the Show

My book is out in September - Slow Looking at Art: The Visible Thinking in the Museum Approach

Download my free Slow Art Guide

Download the Ultimate Thinking Routine List

Download the free guide - how to look at art (slowly)

Slow Looking Club

Sign up for my Curated newsletter

The Art of Slow Looking in the Classroom

The Distracted Mind: Ancient Brains in a High Tech World, authors Adam Gazzaley and Larry D. Rosen

Why Looking at Art Makes you Smarter

Peter Clothier

This week I’m sharing one of my absolute favourite episodes.

I’m sharing 4 game changing questions that will really transform your museum and gallery programmes.  I’ve chosen questions that work for me time after time with all sorts of different groups, different artworks or objects, different types of museums and environments.

These are all worth remembering (and carrying around in your educator 'back pocket').

Links

Support the Show

Slow Looking Club

The 5 Golden Rules for Asking Brilliant Questions⁠ (Episode 4)

10 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Asking Questions (Episode 10)

How to use artworks to improve your questioning skills (Episode 15)

Quick ways to improve your questioning technique (Episode 36)

3 Key Ways to Foster Curiosity in your Programme (Episode 38)

How to Stay Curious in your Practice (Episode 39)

‘Bad’ questions - questions to avoid in your art experiences (Episode 48) 

Autumn Effect at Argenteuil (1873), Claude Monet, Courtauld Gallery, London, UK, Public Domain https://courtauld.ac.uk/highlights/autumn-effect-at-argenteuil/

Reyhan Hassanzadeh (2004) from the series: Terrorist, Tropenmuseum, Amsterdam, NL

https://khosrow-hassanzadeh.com/project/terrorist-paintings-03/

Today's choice is all about curiosity. This was a really popular episode back in February 2022 when it was first published and was the first of two episodes about the subject. In this episode I’m talking about how you can cultivate curiosity with your groups.

This episode talks about what curiosity is and why it matters. Then I'm sharing 3 key ways you can cultivate curiosity in your museum and gallery programmes. How can we really ensure that we are doing all we can to provoke curiosity and wonder amongst the participants on our tours and programmes?

Links

Episode Web Page

Support the Show 

Episode 39 - How to Stay Curious in your Practice

Ian Leslie's book Curious

My book is out in September - Slow Looking at Art: The Visible Thinking in the Museum Approach

Download my free Slow Art Guide

Download the Ultimate Thinking Routine List

Download the free guide - how to look at art (slowly)

Join the Slow Looking Club Community on Facebook

Curated newsletter by Claire Bown

Ron Ritchhart is an award-winning educational researcher, retired Senior Research Associate at Harvard's Project Zero and current Fellow at the University of Melbourne, Australia.

His research is focused on developing intellectual character, making thinking visible, and enhancing school and classroom culture to promote deep learning. He is the author of the bestselling books Making Thinking Visible, The Power of Making Thinking Visible, and Creating Cultures of Thinking.

Ron's research and writings have informed the work of schools, teachers, museum and museum educators throughout the world. Making Thinking Visible, from 2011, with Karin Morrison and Mark Church popularised the use of thinking routines to facilitate deep learning and high engagement. 

The follow up book The Power of Making Thinking Visible, introduced a new set of routines and shared what has been learned so far about successfully integrating thinking routines as a powerful teaching tool. 

I’ve written and spoken about the first time I heard the words Visible Thinking and making thinking visible on the very first episode of this podcast so it seemed fitting to interview Ron for the 100th episode. I’ve also talked about how Ron’s article ‘Cultivating a Culture of Thinking in the Museum in the Journal of Museum Education had a huge impact on me and on my first educational programme to use thinking routines in 2011. So to speak to Ron today was a bit of a ‘pinch-me’ moment.

In this interview, we discuss:

• what making thinking visible is and the difference between 'visible' and 'visual' thinking.
• what strategies we might use to make thinking visible and the transformative impact it has on learning and engagement
• how we can cultivate a culture of thinking in museums through the eight cultural forces that shape group culture and how they can create an environment where thinking is valued, visible, and actively promoted in museum settings.
• The power of thinking routines as structures to support and guide thinking in museums, and how they work in synergy with other practices
• the importance of finding your "why" in teaching and facilitating

Thank you to Ron Ritchhart for being a guest on the podcast. Ron’s new book, "Cultures of Thinking in Action," is out in June 2023.

Links

EPISODE WEB PAGE (TRANSCRIPT)

Support the Show

My book is out in September - Slow Looking at Art: The Visible Thinking in the Museum Approach

Download my free Slow Art Guide

Download the Ultimate Thinking Routine List

Download the free guide - how to look at art (slowly)

Join the Slow Looking Club Community on Facebook

Curated newsletter by Claire Bown

Dr Ron Ritchhart links:

Ron's website

Ron on Twitter

Making Thinking Visible Facebook page

Cultivating a Culture of Thinking in Museums Journal of Museum Education Vol. 32, No. 2, Critical-Thinking Skills in the Museum (Summer, 2007), pp. 137-153 (17 pages)

Cultures of Thinking website

Ron's new book - Cultures of Thinking in Action - out early June!

Project Zero - https://pz.harvard.edu/

Pacing directly influences the participant experience. A well-paced programme ensures that your participants stay engaged, attentive and receptive throughout their journey. 

By carefully managing the rhythm and flow of stops, activities and information, we can create a balance that keeps our participants engaged without overwhelming or exhausting them.

"Less is more" is a guiding principle that encourages us to intentionally selecting and presenting a smaller quantity of content, activities, or object, so that we can create more impactful and meaningful experiences for visitors. In this episode, I'll share how this can be achieved by:

• Streamlining content with a carefully curated selection of objects or artworks.
• Being selective, intentional, and thoughtful in programme design
• Incorporating different paces
• Allowing time for participants to engage
• Customizing and adjusting pacing in the spur of the moment
• Emphasizing quality over quantity

Find out why pacing matters and how you can apply the principle of "less is more" in your own programmes to create a more focused and engaged experience for your participants.

Links

Support the Show

My book is out in September - Slow Looking at Art: The Visible Thinking in the Museum Approach

Download my free Slow Art Guide

Download the Ultimate Thinking Routine List

Download the free guide - how to look at art (slowly)

Join the Slow Looking Club Community on Facebook

Curated newsletter by Claire Bown

Episodes mentioned in today's episode:

Episode 98 Radio Bart: Exploring Art with Blind Mediators

Episode 42 How to Read a Group

Episode 69 How to use body language to create engagement

Episode 95 How silence is a superpower in museum and gallery programmes

Episode 96 7 Ways to Make Time and Space for Silence

Episode 29 How to Develop a Reflective Practice

Joining me are two guests from the museum's Audience Engagement team: An van Hertum and Bart van Peer.

What is Radio Bart?

Radio Bart is a groundbreaking programme where visitors engage in conversations about art with blind mediators. A mobile studio moves through the museum, inviting anyone to join the hosts for a chat in front of selected paintings. Through these dialogues, participants observe, describe, and reflect on the artwork, uncovering deeper meaning and fostering a unique experience.

An and Bart share how Radio Bart started, how it works, and the profound effects it has on participants. They also discuss the training and skills provided to the mediators, ensuring meaningful interactions.

Don't miss this episode as we delve into the transformative power of Radio Bart. Tune in and discover a whole new way to experience and connect with art. Enjoy!

Links

Download the Ultimate Thinking Routine List

Support the Show

Join the Slow Looking Club Community on Facebook

Curated newsletter by Claire Bown

VTMO Course - VTMO Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced Courses start in September, October and November 2023 respectively.

Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp (KMSKA) https://kmska.be/en

Radio Bart https://kmska.be/en/event/radio-bart

Radio Bart email radiobart@kmska.be

The visual literacy Collect Connect Create project was developed to raise self-esteem, self-efficacy and motivation for year 10 pupils (14-15 year olds)  who had struggled with disrupted learning during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The longer-term aim was that young people would develop the skills, knowledge and experience to raise their attainment in their English exams, having the confidence to write a “convincing and compelling” piece of fiction, using extensive and ambitious vocabulary and demonstrating the use of different language techniques.

Denise explores the key features of the programme, how it worked for students and the collaboration they had with writer-in-residence, Ioney Smallhorne.. 

Then we focus on the thinking routines that they used in the programme and specifically the thinking routines that they created for it, such as Look List Lose and Shapescape. They also creatively adapted thinking routines that they had learned with me on my VTMO course.

We talk about how the thinking routines offered tools to the students to assist them with their writing, how they helped them learn how to look as well as write, how they gave them a framework for organising their thinking and were a launchpad to writing. 

If you’re interested or curious about incorporating thinking routines into an educational programme at your museum or using art as a prompt for creative writing, then this episode is for you. If you’re interested in creating your own thinking routines, listen in too!

Links

Download the Ultimate Thinking Routine List

Support the Show

Join the Slow Looking Club Community on Facebook

Curated newsletter by Claire Bown

Collect Connect Create Project Resources https://www.maxliteracy.org/case-studies/newark-museum/ Pocket Prompts PDF can be found in the Lesson 1 folder.

Denise Greany on LinkedIn

Sarah Clarke on LinkedIn

Ioney Smallhorne website

A little bit of silence in your programmes can benefit both you as the facilitator and the audience by promoting reflection, active listening, observation, engagement, and flexibility.

It contributes to a more meaningful and effective experience for all involved. So how can we create more opportunities for silence in our museum and gallery programmes?

Here are 7 easy ways to make time and space for silence.

Links

30+ ways to look at art slowly

Download my free Slow Art Guide

Download the Ultimate Thinking Routine List

Support the Show

Join the Slow Looking Club Community on Facebook

Curated newsletter by Claire Bown

Episodes mentioned in today's show:

Episode 25 3 Thinking Routines for Slow Looking and Drawing

Episode 29 How to Develop a Reflective Practice

Episode 42 How to Read A Group

Episode 44 The 4 Elements of a Great Introduction

Episode 49 Inspiring Creative Writing Through Art with Mary Hall Surface

Episode 61 How mindfulness and drawing can help us to connect with art

Episode 66 7 Ways to Improve your Active Listening Skills

How is silence a superpower that we can leverage to our advantage in the design and facilitation of our museum and gallery programmes?

Today I’m talking about why silence matters and I'm going to share some insights into why we should be harnessing this superpower to enhance our programmes.

But I’m also going to explore the flip-side - why some people feel uncomfortable around silence and how you can overcome this discomfort. 

Then I’m exploring 8 reasons why silence is beneficial for both you as a facilitator and for your participants. 

PS This is part 1 of a two-part series on silence. Next week I'll be exploring how you can add more silence into your programmes.

Links

Download my free Slow Art Guide

Download the Ultimate Thinking Routine List

Support the Show

Join the Slow Looking Club Community on Facebook

Download the NEW resource - how to look at art (slowly)

Curated newsletter by Claire Bown

Episode 93 Slow Art and the Power of Slowing Down with Carl Honoré

Episode 94 Exploring Slow Art Day and Slow Looking with Phyl Terry

Episode 29 How to Develop a Reflective Practice

Slow Art Day is an annual event that encourages participants worldwide to look at and discuss art slowly. To date, over 1,500 museums and galleries on every continent, including Antarctica's McMurdo Station, have participated in Slow Art Day.

I first got in touch with Phyl back in 2013 when I heard about Slow Art Day. Today, we resume our conversation 10 years later about the importance of slowing down and spending more time with art.

• Phyl talks about how Slow Art Day originated and the hour long experience he had with a painting that started it all.
• We explore about how Slow Art Day has evolved over the years and some of the unique and memorable events that have taken place over that time.
• Phyl also talks about how organisations can participate in hosting their own Slow Art Day events or how individuals can participate even when there are no events near them.
• Phyl discusses the concept of "radical inclusivity" in Slow Art Day, which promotes the idea that anyone can engage with art without the need for prior artistic knowledge, through the act of looking slowly and reflecting.
• Finally, Phyl shares their thoughts on the future of Slow Art Day and how it might evolve as a movement in the coming years.

The conversation is filled with insights and reflections on the importance of slowing down and spending more time with art. Don't miss this one!

Links

Episode Web Page (with transcript)

Support the Show

Download my free Slow Art Guide

Slow Looking Club

SlowArtDay.com

https://www.instagram.com/slowartday/

https://www.facebook.com/SlowArtDay

Slow Art Day 2022 Annual Report 

Episode 46 What is Slow Art Day

In this episode, Carl Honoré, author of "In Praise of Slow," shares his insights on the benefits of slowing down in every aspect of life.

Our conversation centres around the slow movement, and how slowness can 'rehumanise' us in a culture that values speed above everything else.

We also discuss the slow art movement and how museums and other cultural institutions can be more welcoming for visitors who want to take a slower approach to art.

Main talking points:

• Carl Honoré's book "In Praise of Slow" and the impact it had on society and the slow movement
• How the slow movement is not just about slowing down for its own sake, but about reclaiming our humanity in a culture that treats us like machines.
• How the slow movement fits into the larger cultural conversation about resisting the pressures of a culture that values speed and productivity above all else
• How the pandemic has affected our relationship with time and speed, and whether it has led to a greater appreciation for slowness.
• How slow art can be an antidote to the fast-paced culture we live in
• How museums are finding ways to create slow environments and programmes to invite people to engage deeply with art.
• How blockbuster exhibitions (such as the Vermeer exhibition in the Rijksmuseum)and wall labels can help or hinder us in the experience we might have in a museum.
• The importance of building the muscle to observe, contemplate, and look deeply at art, especially in children
• Four ways we can all incorporate the principles of slow more fully into our own lives

Links

Episode Web Page

Download my new Slow Art Guide

Download the resource - how to look at art (slowly)

Support the Show

Join the Slow Looking Club Community on Facebook

Carl Honoré's website:

Useful links www.carlhonore.info

Carl Honoré on Social Media:

YouTube Channel

Instagram

Twitter

LinkedIn

TED Talk 'In Praise of Slow'

Heather talks about how their Art and Wellbeing programme of creative and therapeutic workshops provides opportunities for those that would otherwise not be able to access arts and heritage services.

We discuss the guiding principles behind the Lightbox Museum and Gallery's work in learning and engagement, which has always included helping people with mental health issues or those who are isolated.

We also discuss what the Open Mind project is and how it provides a safe space for individuals to come and learn something new, chat with others and engage with art.

We talk about how Open Mind tours prioritise connection over content and are wholly participant-led, open conversations that take their cues directly from the participants, not the facilitator.

Finally, we talk about the positive outcomes of the programme and the Lightbox's plans for the future.

Links

Lightbox website: www.thelightbox.org.uk  

Museums Journal (Museums Association UK) article: https://www.museumsassociation.org/museums-journal/analysis/2022/11/its-time-for-museums-to-address-mental-health/

Baring report: https://baringfoundation.org.uk/resource/creatively-minded-at-the-museum/

Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk/

Catalyst: https://www.catalystsupport.org.uk/

If you are struggling, please contact Samaritans https://www.samaritans.org/

Young Minds website for children and young people: https://www.youngminds.org.uk/

These routines will help you engage your audience and encourage them to think creatively about art and objects.

• Start with the basics: building a repertoire of thinking routines.
• Experiment and try new thinking routines to stay curious and inspired.
• Three new thinking routines to try out: Imagine If, Take Note, and Creating Space for Learning
• Imagine If: a thinking routine for looking closely, finding opportunity, and pursuing new ideas.
• Take Note: a thinking routine for distilling ideas in response to a piece of art or an object.
• Creating Space for Learning: a thinking routine that is essentially a grounding exercise that helps us to prepare for any programme, class or task.

Three new thinking routines for you to try out. I hope you find them helpful in engaging your audience with art and objects in a new and exciting way.

Links

EPISODE WEB PAGE 

Episode 6 - 6 Essential Thinking Routines You Need in your Repertoire

Episode 16 - How to use See Think Wonder in your Art Discussions

Episode 57 - How to End Well

Episode 59 - 9 Thinking Routines to Improve your Powers of Observation

Download the Ultimate Thinking Routine List

Support the Show

Join the Slow Looking Club Community on Facebook

Download the NEW resource - how to look at art (slowly)

Curated newsletter by Claire Bown

In my (forthcoming) book Slow Looking at Art: The Visible Thinking in the Museum Approach I have a chapter dedicated to creating a collaborative culture in your museum and gallery programmes. As part of this chapter, I talk about how important it is to make participants feel not only psychologically safe, but also intellectually safe. 

Museums can be intimidating spaces. And this is particularly prevalent in art museums and around art in general. So many people feel that museums are not places for them, that there is a prerequisite amount of information required before you can enjoy being in a museum.

Your job as a facilitator is to ensure that everyone feels confident and able to participate fully in your programme, whatever their motivation or knowledge level upon arriving. This is what it means to create intellectual comfort on a museum or gallery programme. 

In today's episode, I'm exploring what intellectual comfort is, why it's important and 8 ways you can foster it in your programmes.

Links

EPISODE WEB PAGE 

Episode 74 - How to Enjoy Art (without knowing anything about it)

Episode 44 - The 4 elements of a great introduction

Episode 48 - 10 types of questions you should never ask

Download the Ultimate Thinking Routine List

Support the Show

Join the Slow Looking Club Community on Facebook

Download the NEW resource - how to look at art (slowly)

Curated newsletter by Claire Bown

Articles quoted on Intellectual Safety:

Critical Communities: Intellectual Safety and the Power of Disagreement - Ashby Butnor

https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1005647.pdf

The Importance of Intellectually Safe Classrooms for Our Keiki - Trevor Baba https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1237572.pdf

Hannah is an artist and museum educator working in London and Oxfordshire in the UK. Her work is interested in themes around archiving and preservation. She’s interested in why we keep the things we keep and who we're keeping them for. 

Since receiving a creative practice grant from Arts Council England in 2021, Hannah has been looking at ways to directly connect her museum practice with her art practice. 

This has led to the development of the Memory Bank Project, a collection of stories and memories connected to everyday objects. 

In our chat today, Hannah and I discuss how inclusivity, curiosity, and the opportunity to collaborate with people and to create meaningful connections with objects and between people are really important values in her practice.

Museum labels tell us one story but what if the objects themselves could talk? How do we encourage people to include their own stories and experiences when we talk about objects? 

As this project develops Hannah is exploring how she can adapt her skills as a facilitator to her role as a story collector.

We talk about what the Memory Bank Project is, how it works and how Hannah encourages participants to share their personal connections, stories, experiences and memories around an object. And we tell you how you can take part too!

So here it is, enjoy!

Links

Episode Web Page

https://www.hannahcushion.com/the-memory-bank

Instagram: @hannahcushionartist @thememorybankproject

Download the NEW resource - how to look at art (slowly)

Download the Ultimate Thinking Routine List

Support the Show

Join the Slow Looking Club Community on Facebook

Curated newsletter by Claire Bown

I was inspired for today's post by our new theme in the Slow Looking Club. Every two weeks we have a new theme and right now we’re exploring play as the focus for our slow looking. We’re looking for depictions of play and playful approaches in art, but also how we can adopt a playful attitude to slow looking when we’re out and about.

This led me to thinking about how we can be more playful in our programmes when we are with visitors (of all ages, not just children) and incorporate more meaningful opportunities for play? 

Today I'm sharing 9 ways that you can incorporate play into your guided tours and programmes.

Links

Episode Web Page

Download the NEW resource - how to look at art (slowly)

Episode 56 Learning to Love ‘Boring’ Objects through slow looking

Episode 45 - What we can learn from improv with Samantha Boffin

Episode 59 - 9 Thinking Routines to Improve your Powers of Observation

Episode 72 - Reacting to art with our bodies with Rachel Ropeik

Episode 25 - 3 Thinking Routines for Slow Looking and Drawing

Episode 61 - How mindfulness and drawing can help us to connect with art with Karly Allen

Download the Ultimate Thinking Routine List

Support the Show

Join the Slow Looking Club Community on Facebook

Curated newsletter by Claire Bown

I’m going to explore open-ended questions in detail - not just what they are, but why they are important and when you can use them for the best engagement.

Plus, how can you get better at asking open ended questions and ask more of them in your programmes? How can you make sure that you don’t default to closed questions or recall questions? 

I'm sharing 4 ideas that will help you to ask more open-ended questions & keep the conversation flowing in an open and engaging way.

Links

EPISODE WEB PAGE 

The Art of Questioning Class with Claire Bown

Download the 2023 Ultimate Thinking Routine List

Support the Show

Join the Slow Looking Club Community on Facebook

Download my free guide - how to look at art (slowly)

Curated newsletter by Claire Bown

Facilitation is a key part of creating engaging and interactive discussions around art and museum objects.

As a facilitator, you are guiding the process, creating participation and activating the learning and engagement. 

But do you have to be neutral too? 

If you look at the general definition of a generic facilitator you will often see the word ‘neutral’ or ‘impartial’ used.

What do these words actually mean? And what should we be neutral about? Is it even possible to be neutral as a museum facilitator?

Neutrality is a tricky concept and this subject is always quite a thorny one in my classes and trainings. Listen to today's new episode to find out what I recommend.

Links

EPISODE WEB PAGE 

Download the Ultimate Thinking Routine List

Support the Show

Join the Slow Looking Club Community on Facebook

Curated newsletter by Claire Bown

Episode 5 - The Art of Facilitation

Episode 44 - The 4 Elements of a Great Introduction

Episode 84 - Why Inclusive Language Matters with Margaret Middleton

I’m their biggest fan too - they have fundamentally changed the way I lead discussions around art and objects.

Used in combination with the other 7  practices of the VTM approach such as  good questions, a range of facilitation skills, slow looking  and more, you can create wonderfully engaging discussions in the museum about art and objects.

Used as part of a holistic approach, thinking routines will transform the way you work with objects and with audiences in the museum.

Thinking routines have wonderful benefits for the participants in your guided tours and educational programmes.

But I also believe thinking routines are incredibly useful and beneficial tools for you too - as a museum educator, guide, docent or teacher.  

And so today I’m going to focus on you - and I’m going to share some 6 key  benefits you’ll get  from working with these magical structures with art and objects. 

I going to talk about why routines are beneficial, the importance of structure, the flexibility of routines, how they help you to master sharing information and improve your questioning technique. And finally I’m ending with probably the biggest benefit of all - so stay tuned for that one!

Links

Episode Web Page

Download The Ultimate Thinking Routine List

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Curated newsletter by Claire Bown

Episode 3 - The Magic of Thinking Routines

Episode 62 - 7 Ways to be creative with thinking routines

Episode 12 - 6 Best Practices for Sharing Information

Episode 36 - Quick Ways to Improve your Questioning Technique

Using Thinking Routines To Formulate Better Questions

Margaret Middleton is an American independent exhibit designer and museum consultant currently based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. 

With a degree in industrial design from the Rhode Island School of Design and over 15 years of experience in the museum field, they work at the intersection of design and social justice.

We know museums aim to be welcoming places for everyone, but the ways museums communicate can unintentionally exclude and alienate visitors.

Likewise, when we’re working as museum teachers, guides and educators the words we choose when we communicate can hide unconscious biases and assumptions, especially about subjects like “family.”

10 years ago, Margaret created a tool called the Family Inclusive Language chart which helps us to choose words that avoid labelling and making assumptions about the identities and relationships between museum visitors. 

We discuss:

• the ways you might use the Family Inclusive Language chart in the museum
• how certain words, phrases and tenses can have a positive or negative effect on a group.
• why choosing the right words is just as important as avoiding the wrong ones.
• how we can be more intentional about the language we use and can train ourselves to not automatically default to words that may not be inclusive.

This chat will make you more aware of the language and the words you use when you’re with visitors in the museum. And you’ll gain useful insight into how thoughtful word choices have the power to create connections and include everyone. 

Links

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Curated newsletter by Claire Bown

Episode webpage (+ transcript)

margaretmiddleton.com for Family Inclusive Language chart, helpful articles, and other free resources

Margaret Middleton on Twitter

Welcoming Young Children into the Museum: A Practical Guide - Sarah Erdman, Nhi Nguyen, Margaret Middleton

Do you love working with teens or feel a little apprehensive? 

I’ve recently been facilitating some team trainings in museums about how to engage with teenagers and so I’ve been thinking a lot about the best ways to work with teens. It's also a subject I get asked about a lot. 

Here are some tips and ideas for better ways to engage with teenagers in the museum on your guided tours and programmes.

I'm exploring:

• Why our thoughts shape our attitude towards teens
• Seeing teenage behaviour through a developmental lens
• Positive reasons for working with teens
• Creating an inclusive, warm and friendly atmosphere
• The importance of shared ownership
• The role of open-ended questions and careful listening
• Reading the group and avoiding false clues
• Why less is more
• And why teens like to discuss themes of global significance

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5 harmful myths and 5 inspiring truths about teenagers - Big Think

Episode 44 - The 4 elements of a great introduction

So if you've been listening to the podcast for a while, you'll know that I've been practising the art of slow looking for a long time now the last 11/12 years. And it's very much a personal practice and also something that I use with groups of all ages with a variety of objects, artworks, situations and places.

But why is it so important to incorporate slow looking into your guided tours, educational programmes and art experiences?

In today's episode you'll hear:

• who inspired my love of slow looking when I first got started in 2011
• myth-busting: about what slow looking is and how it works. 
• how slow looking is the key to engagement
• 3 main reasons why it's important to make space and time for slow looking
• how you can incorporate it into your guided tours, your educational programmes your online session, even if you think you don't have the time or the space
• the key benefits to including slow looking onto your programmes - whatever format they take

If you're not making space and time for slow looking, then you're really missing a trick - listen to today's episode about making the space and time for slow looking and embed it as a fundamental part of all your programmes.

Links

Episode 2 - What is slow looking (and how can I get started?)

Episode 7 - How to Develop a Daily Slow Looking Practice

Free resource - Thinking Routines for Observation

Free guide - how to look at art (slowly)

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Join the Slow Looking Club Community on Facebook

Curated newsletter by Claire Bown

Are you looking forward to designing and leading guided tours, art experiences, educational programmes in 2023?

If, however, you’re not sure about your answers to those questions, or about how you feel about the coming year, then it’s definitely time to shake things up a little.

If you’re feeling tired, jaded or uninspired, then it’s definitely time to make some changes. 

It’s a wonderful thing to do at any time of year, but especially at the start of a new year. 

If you continue to do things exactly as you've always done them, then you might end up feeling like you’re on auto-pilot, or start feeling a bit restless or even bored. 

It’s tempting to stick to the tried and tested formula - especially if it worked well last year - but making a few simple changes to your practice and the way you do things might help you to rediscover a passion and enthusiasm for your work. 

And this renewed enthusiasm will of course come across to your participants and might even be contagious. 

This episode is for you even if you’re not feeling stuck, perhaps you’re  more than happy with the way you do things. But you may hear something here that you’d like to try out at some point this year. And your audience will thank you for it!

So here are 7 different ways you can refresh your practice for the coming year. This episode is not about sweeping changes, this is about small changes that will have a big effect. Enjoy!

Links

The Art of Questioning - A 45 minute self-paced masterclass taking you step-by-step through the process of improving your questioning technique. Full of takeaway tools and exercises to help you consistently create, sort & evaluate your own questions.

Other episodes to help you refresh your practice:

Episode 29 - How to Develop a Reflective Practice

Episode 52 - From Good to Great: How to Develop and Grow as an Educator

Episode 53 - How to Define your Personal Facilitator Style

Episode 60 Learn, Unlearn, Relearn 

Episode 77 - How to Show up in a Resourceful State

Episode 64 - 4 Powerful Questions to Supercharge your Art Experiences 

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Curated newsletter by Claire Bown

Sarah Ciacci has been a Professional Blue Badge Guide for London since 2008 and specialises in family tours and art tours. 

She set up Tours For My Kids to provide inspiring and engaging tours to families in London and Rome 

She is also a Blue Badge art tutor for trainee guides training in the National Gallery, Tate Modern and Tate Britain. She is an accredited lecturer of the Arts Society, a university lecturer, a gallery educator and runs regular courses and independent lectures on a variety of art historical periods.

In our chat today, we talk about the values and principles that guide and shape her work and What made her decide to focus on working with families

We explore what families actually want from museums and heritage (and what they quite often get instead)

We talk about how she engages children and their parents with art and history and the techniques she uses. How she designs AND facilitates for engagement using variety and pace. 

We talk about whether it’s all about the kids or whether the parents get involved too. And how you might design intergenerational tours. 

I’ve led  many many family tours in the past too and we have a good chat about what works and what doesn’t with family tours. Sarah and I seem to be on the same wavelength about so many things!

This is a lovely chat about creating engaging family experiences with art, objects and even buildings.  Enjoy! 

Links

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Curated newsletter by Claire Bown

Tours for My Kids Website: www.toursformykids.com

Social Media

www.instagram.com/toursformykids

https://twitter.com/toursformykids

https://www.facebook.com/toursformykids/

I'll look first at what comparing & contrasting is and why it’s important.  Then I'm sharing some ideas for things you might want to compare and contrast, before sharing different ways to look at similarities and differences.

Then I'm sharing 5 thinking routines help us to make thoughtful and purposeful comparisons. 

Links

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Curated newsletter by Claire Bown

Episode 8 How to use ‘See Think Me We’ thinking routine to create personal and community connections with artworks

Today I'm revisiting an episode about to survive tumbleweed moments. This episode first aired in Oct 2021.

It takes a deep dive into what a tumbleweed moment is and how to get over one when it happens.

I'm also exploring 7 ways to avoid one in the first place. 

A tumbleweed moment is a moment of silence or dead air. It can happen when you ask a question and you don’t get a response. 

Tumbleweed moments happen to all of us - whether we are seasoned pros or just starting out.

Everyone gets them. 

This is also something that comes up time and time again when I do trainings. I always get asked the question, ‘But what if no-one says anything?’

So this is the ultimate guide. First I'm sharing some handy steps to work though to help you get over any tumbleweed moments you face. And at the end as I’ll share 7 ways to avoid one in the first place. 

LINKS

Original Episode: Episode 23 How to Get Over a Tumbleweed Moment (And Avoid One in the Future)

Episode 44 The 4 Elements of a Great Introduction

Episode 10 10 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Asking Questions

Episode 36 Quick ways to improve your questioning technique

Episode 42 How to Read a Group

Episode 69 How to Use Body Language to Create Engagement

How you show up is important.

Whether you’re leading a tour, teaching an educational programme, teaching a lesson in a classroom or facilitating a training.

You want to make sure that when you arrive, you’re in the best state possible. 

This is something that we can all strive for in whatever people-facing commitments we may have - that we are calm, ready and clear to do our work in the best way we can.

In the coaching certification that I’ve been studying for over the past year we’ve been talking about how to show up in a resourceful state.

In today's episode, I'll explain what this means and suggest 8 different ways to get yourself into a resourceful state before every tour, programme or session that you lead.

Links

Support the Show

Join the Slow Looking Club Community on Facebook

Download the NEW resource - How to Look at Art (Slowly)

Curated newsletter by Claire Bown

Episode 69 How to Use Body Language to Create Engagement

Episode 52 From Good to Great: How to Develop and Grow Personally as an Educator

'Everyday NLP' written by Florence Madden & Eleni Sarantinou - a really good read if you'd like an accessible introduction to NLP https://florencemadden.co.uk/the-story-of-everyday-nlp/

Stephen Gilligan and Robert Dilts Generative Coaching: Coach vs Crash state

Dr Alex Woodall is a museum professional and academic, inspired by the creative use of objects and rummaging in stores. 

She has 20 years’ experience working in learning, interpretation and exhibition management and leadership roles, including at Sheffield Museums, Manchester Art Gallery, the Royal Armouries in Leeds and the Sainsbury Centre at the University of East Anglia. 

She is currently Programme Director for the Postgraduate Creative and Cultural Industries Management degree at the University of Sheffield, where she teaches a large international cohort about museum management. 

In our chat today, we talk about the joys of working with objects creatively. Alex shares how her love for objects started when she was very small rummaging through her dad’s ‘museum’ full of amazing finds that he’d dug up in the garden - rocks and fossils and clay pipes and so on. And how that developed into a career-long fascination with all kinds of objects.

We talk about what objects do, ​​ how we can use them and what we can get out of working with objects.

Alex tells us what an object dialogue box is and how you can use objects to spark all sorts of connections, associations and fun in the museum. She takes us through a wonderful activity that I did with her at the ICOM CECA conference in Denmark recently that helps us to notice more details and find stuff in museums that we would normally overlook. 

We also talk about how we can use objects to inspire more creativity and imagination organisations in for example meetings, in teams, programming, brainstorming etc. And she shares two wonderful books to read if you’re as fascinated by objects as we both are. 

This is a delightful chat about creating joyful engaging experiences with objects -Enjoy!

LINKS 

HOW TO LOOK AT ART (SLOWLY) - a free guide for looking with 30+ activities!

Support the Show

Join the Slow Looking Club Community on Facebook

www.alexwoodall.co.uk

Alex Woodall on Twitter

https://www.kettlesyard.co.uk/

Karl and Kimberley Foster - Object Dialogue Boxes https://www.sorhed.com/

http://www.marymaryquitecontrary.org.uk/

Books mentioned:

Sandra Dudley (2010) Museum Materialities: https://www.routledge.com/Museum-Materialities-Objects-Engagements-Interpretations/Dudley/p/book/9780415492188

Pablo Neruda (1994) Odes to Common Things: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Common-Things-First-Pablo-Neruda/dp/B0058WGC84

Written by Alex Woodall: 

• Woodall A (2020) 'Storehouses of Unimagined Treasures': Delightful Rummaging and Artists' Responses to 'Unloved' Collections In Woodham A, Hess A & Smith R (Ed.), Emotion, Care, and Engagement in Museums: Interventions in Unloved Collections Arc Humanities Press View this article in WRRO
• Woodall A (2015) Rummaging as a Strategy for Creative Thinking and Imaginative Engagement in Higher Education In Chatterjee H & Hannan L (Ed.), Engaging the Senses: Object-Based Learning in Higher Education (pp. 133-155). Surrey: Ashgate. View this article in WRRO
• Woodall A (2015) Object Dialogue Boxes and Unknowing In Farnell G (Ed.), Interpreting the Art Museum (pp. 366-377). MuseumsEtc 

How to Look at Art (Slowly) shares 30+ different ways that you can look at art or objects in museums.

In today’s special episode I’m talking you through some of these different ways of looking slowly. 

I'll share why it's important to slow down and look carefully, before explaining the 4 sections of the guide: Static Looking, Movement, Observation by Drawing, Observation by Writing and Viewfinders.

How to Look at Art (Slowly) is a resource that can be used by anyone.

Whether you’re going to a museum alone and would like some strategies for looking, or if you’re visiting with a friend and are on the lookout for some new ways to engage with what you’re seeing.

Likewise, if you’re an educator or guide, you can use these activities with your groups. All of the activities are coded as either solo or group activities.

These simple activities offer a framework and tools for looking at art and objects for longer.

Choose a variety of different ways to look as you move around the museum. You may want to choose activities that appeal to you or you might want to step out of your comfort zone and try something new. All of the activities will help you to see more. 

Download this free guide via the link below and then listen to the episode!

LINKS

HOW TO LOOK AT ART (SLOWLY) - a free guide for looking with 30+ activities!

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Join the Slow Looking Club Community on Facebook

Ben Street is an author, educator and art historian. He’s also been a school teacher and museum educator. He’s a writer of interpretation for museums and exhibitions and a writer of art criticism. He’s an academic and he writes books - “How to Enjoy Art: A Guide for Everyone” (Yale) and “How to be an Art Rebel” (Thames and Hudson) are out now.

In our chat today, we talk about the values that guide Ben’s work and how he’s passionate about us all being able to enjoy art without needing any specialist knowledge. 

We talk about slow looking and open questioning and how we can approach art with the tools we already have within us. 

We focus on why looking is so important to the art experience, we explore ways in which we can look for longer and we talk about how scale and space affects how we relate to art. 

We discuss why we rarely feel we need to read about a piece of music before we listen to it, but with art, we feel we need to know something about it to look at it. And that artworks come ‘wrapped in text’ before we can even get to them. Why is this? How has this come about?

This chat is jam-packed with ideas and inspiration for you. Here’s my chat with Ben. Enjoy!

LINKS

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Ben Street -

Website

Twitter

Instagram

LinkedIn

Books - How to Enjoy Art; How to be an Art Rebel

Art has been hitting the headlines recently with numerous climate activist protests targeting famous paintings in museums - from Van Gogh’s 'Sunflowers' in the National Gallery in London, to Monet’s 'Grainstacks' in Potsdam and Vermeer's 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' in the Mauritshuis in The Hague.

Now, whatever your views about these attacks - and I’m acknowledging here that there are very passionate views on all sides - as educators, how we respond is equally important. 

Whether you’re working with groups in the museum or with students in a classroom, people will mention recent events and will want to talk about it. They may even ask you for your opinions

So, in today's episode we'll explore how these events are an opportunity to engage in perspective-taking and discussion with visitors, rather than voicing our own opinions.

It means listening to a range of perspectives and keeping an open mind, creating discussion with visitors and inviting them to explore and even understand the different perspectives involved. 

But, importantly, you have to feel comfortable creating conversations about contentious issues such as these and know that you will be able to facilitate objectively. 

So, first I’ll talk about the kinds of discussions you could facilitate around this subject and will share a range of thinking routines and questions that you can use to create conversations.

And secondly, I’ll take you through a super-useful exercise that will help you to get to know yourself and your feelings better - this is an exercise that will ultimately help you to facilitate subjects around all kinds of sensitive and contentious topics.

There are lots of resources associated with today's episode too, including a free PDF summary sheet - and I've shared all the helpful links below.

LINKS

Download the summary sheet of today's episode - Resources for talking about contentious issues (free PDF)

6 thinking routines for perspective-taking (free PDF)

Episode 11 Step Inside: Thinking Routines to Foster Perspective-Taking

Episode 43 Tips for facilitating meaningful discussions around sensitive subjects

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Join the Slow Looking Club Community on Facebook

My Friday newsletter

Rachel Ropeik is an educator, facilitator, adventurer, experience builder and pirate who brings thoughtful, playful, and progressive approaches to catalysing change in arts and culture. 

She currently works independently, sharing her skills with various clients. Before going independent, Rachel’s arts education career spanned many a major art museum and travel company in New York, London, Paris, and the internet. 

I first heard of Rachel’s work more than 10 years ago as part of a small group of educators that I admired and followed for their innovation and experimentation in the art museum education space. 

In our chat today, we talk about Rachel's work past and present and the values and principles that guide her practice. 

We focus on why movement has been and still is such an important part of her work and how we can incorporate more movement into our programmes. Rachel shares many examples of the different ways in which she has used movement in different programmes, with different groups and artworks over the years.

We talk about how we can create physical comfort and put people at ease so that we can use movement without any fear or feelings of uncomfortableness.

Rachel shares tools and techniques that we use to incorporate a range of movement into the way we lead our museum programmes. And also how we can use movement ourselves as a way to become more present, aware and reflective.

Finally, Rachel shares 3 amazing books that you all must read immediately. Do stay tuned for her recommendations!

LINKS 

Support the Show

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Rachel Ropeik on LinkedIn

Rachel Ropeik on Instagram

rachelropeik.com

https://rachelropeik.com/connect#subscribe

Books recommended by Rachel:

The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker

Be More Pirate by Sam Conniff

Wintering by Katherine May

BBC Radio 4 abridged version of Wintering by Katherine May: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00127f5

Why did I go and develop a new teaching method when there were plenty of methods already out there?

So, today I’m sharing exactly what prompted this 11 year mission into creating a method for engaging discussions in museums around art and objects.

Over the years, I have done a lot of research into other methods or strategies for discussing art and objects. So I know a lot about what other methods are out there for educators to use. 

From my research and experience, I've drawn key conclusions about what works well and what was lacking in existing approaches such as Visual Thinking Strategies and more.

And these conclusions led me to designing my own method that contained all the elements I wanted in a teaching method

I'm sharing the two basic needs that the new method arose out of, followed by 10 reasons why I created a new approach. And some of the reasons may surprise you!

Links

VTMO Beginners Course -starts 1 November

Episode 62 - 7 ways to be creative with thinking routines

Episode 1 - The moment when I first heard the words Visible Thinking...

Episode 51 - What is Visible Thinking in the Museum?

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My Friday newsletter The ™ Weekly

Slow Looking Club

Hanna Piksen is the Head of Co-learning at Het Nieuwe Instituut in Rotterdam. This is the national museum for digital culture, design and architecture in the Netherlands. 

Hanna has a background in art history, art education and in collaborating with artists. 

She believes that the most valuable and unexpected things happen when museum education is content based, visitor focused and experiment driven. 

In today’s episode Hanna talks to me about the Detour Experiences that she has developed in Het Nieuwe Instituut. Detours are unlike any other guided tour you have been on.

Detours are deconstructed museum tours that give their guides the flexibility to present information in a way of their choosing. Each one is specially designed from the Detour guide’s unique perspective as a musician, dancer, art teacher or designer. 

In this episode we talk about the innovative hiring process for their unique team, the qualities that they are looking for in a Detour guide & the unlearning that the department had to do in order to co-construct these new experiences.

We explore how a Detour Experience works and the ways in which it differs from a traditional guided tour. 

We also chat about what benefits the guides and the audience get from these experiences and Hanna shares feedback on how they have been received. 

This one will open your eyes to new ways of looking at, thinking about and designing guided tours.

Links

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Hanna Piksen

Het Nieuwe Instituut

More info about Detours and Detour Guides at Het Nieuwe Instituut

MuseumNext article about Detour guides https://www.museumnext.com/article/overcoming-museum-fatigue-with-detour-guides/

When we talk about body language we’re talking about a wide range of human expression - such as posture, eye contact, use of space, voice, gesture, and so on.

And these are signals that communicate with us nonverbally, they are ‘wordless signals’ that can be indicators of engagement.

These signals are quite often done instinctively, rather than consciously too.

Being both aware of and able to read these signals helps us to create connections and build rapport with our groups and thus to create engaged groups.

So during this episode think about what signals you are sending to your group through your body language. Are you putting people at ease, building trust and connecting people to you by your body language? Or does your body language undermine what you’re saying or doing in the museum?

And also, how can you use what I’m talking about here to better read your group and build more engagement?

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Listen Like You Mean It by Ximena Vengoechea

Amy Cuddy's Ted Talk

Marina Gross Hoy is a museum studies PhD candidate and a writer. Her doctoral research at the University of Quebec in Montreal focusing on how museums develop digital projects to create engaging experiences for visitors.

She has a Master's in Museology from the École du Louvre, and she has previously worked on the education team at Agence France-Museums, the French agency that supported the creation of the Louvre Abu Dhabi.

Marina's writing, which is wonderful, explores how looking at daily life with the same gaze we use with art in a museum can open us up to wonder, wholehearted living, and empowerment.

In today's episode, Marina shares how one evening in 2020, she realised that she would look more closely into a painting of a sunset than looking at the one right in front of her.

And this led her to experimenting with what it would mean to look at her life like a work of art, using what she started calling 'the museum gaze'.

In today's episode, Marina shares the main characteristics of 'the museum gaze' and how it works in practice. We discuss how observing life with the same gaze we use with art in a museum works in practice and the numerous benefits we can glean from a regular practice of looking at life in this way.

Links

Support the Show

Join the Slow Looking Club Community on Facebook

Episode 7 How to Develop a Daily Slow Looking Practice

Marina Gross-Hoy's website

Marina's newsletter The Museum Gaze

Marina's Instagram