Museum 2.0

JUNE 12, 2012

It was exhilarating to see them inspired to create their own meanings in response: lovers whispering together in alcoves, people of all ages writing and drawing on walls and post-its, children painting, everyone sitting rapt before screens. This post focuses on one aspect of the exhibition: its participatory and interactive elements.

Participatory 51

Participatory Museum Blackboard Game 51

Museum 2.0

MAY 5, 2009

I led two sessions, one on visitor co-created museum experiences, and the other on design inspirations from outside museums. Visitor Co-Created Museum Experiences This session was a dream for me, one that brought together instigators of three participatory exhibit projects: MN150 (Kate Roberts), Click!

Slides 20

Slides Participatory Museum Children 20

Museum 2.0

APRIL 6, 2011

Let's say you spend a year working with a group of teens to co-create an exhibition, or you invite members and local artists to help redesign the lobby. In many cases, once the final project is launched, it's hard to detect the participatory touch. Not every participatory process has to scream "look at me!"

Participatory 48

Participatory Process Museum Children 48

Museum 2.0

AUGUST 25, 2009

There was a wonderful example at the Ontario Science Center in their Hot Zone area, which features several voting and commenting kiosks popular with teens. Unfortunately, most talk back walls don't support the grouping of visitor contributions or attempt to encourage conversational threads to develop.

Design 31

Design Goal Difference Platform 31

Museum 2.0

NOVEMBER 7, 2010

At the big one, I worked on a small project with teens to design science exhibits for community centers in their own neighborhoods. Six months in, the Museum committed to creating a highly interactive, separate ticket "you be the spy" experience (now open and named Operation Spy).

Museum 52

Museum Boston Participatory Job 52

Museum 2.0

AUGUST 18, 2008

Librarian Aaron Schmidt tells the great story of a game night of Dance, Dance, Revolution at his library in which a teen asked him: “Hey Aaron, can I go upstairs to grab a magazine and book to read?” Create custom elements for the event(s) that put your content at center stage. Projects participatory museum. Invite them back.

Museum 22

Museum Hosting Model Community 22

Museum 2.0

AUGUST 3, 2009

We're always happy for more bodies in the door, but if supporting teens means alienating seniors, there's a problem. Pick a group of people to whom you would like to be relevant, and work with them to deliver programs that meet their needs. Tags: participatory museum inclusion comfort. Pick a specific community (or two).

Community 22

Community Museum San Diego San Francisco 22

Museum 2.0

MAY 8, 2013

In the past, I''ve subscribed to the theory that an organization should target many different groups and types of people to serve a constellation of specific audiences across diverse affinities, needs, and interests. It''s still grouping. But ultimately, that''s still targeting. Why fight it?

Museum 55

Museum Social Arts History 55

Museum 2.0

JULY 23, 2013

School programs fall within this landscape, and our goal is not to see them as completely separate from the other work we do with youth—Kid Happy Hour, family festivals, teen program—but on a continuum. What kinds of programs should we consider providing for these groups? Most school tours are for intact groups—a single class or grade.

Program 39

Program Museum Work History 39

Museum 2.0

FEBRUARY 7, 2011

Museums and other venues are offering special programs for teens, for hipsters, for people who want a more active or spiritual or participatory experience. If you have a friend or group of friends who like to "go out"--whether that's brunch, hiking, movies, or museums--you're more likely to form a habit that involves external venues.

Arts 50

Arts Museum Music Calendar 50

Museum 2.0

NOVEMBER 18, 2008

In many museums, comment cards are currently the most "participatory" part of the visitor experience. The ideas can be tagged and grouped into categories, and can be browsed in time order, by most popular, or by category. It may be useful if you want to ask "What kind of teen programs should our museum offer?"

Comment 20

Comment Tools Museum Conversation 20

Museum 2.0

MARCH 30, 2016

Teens advocating for all-gender bathrooms. LOCAL INSTITUTION : Your community is a definable group of people connected by place. That means offering clear, visible, appealing participatory experiences that enhance the destination experience. Printmakers leading workshops. Volunteers restoring a historic cemetery.

Community 20

Community Museum Local Participatory 20