Episodes
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In today's episode, host Claire Bown talks with illustrator and educator Jessica Hartshorn.
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 LinksJessi'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
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In today's solo episode, host Claire Bown focusing on one of the key Questioning Practices from her book, The Art Engager: Reimagining Guided Experiences in Museums.
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
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Missing episodes?
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In today's solo episode, host Claire Bown explores one of the key practices from her new book, "The Art Engager, Reimagining Guided Experiences in Museums" - Questioning Practices.
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
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In today's episode, host Claire Bown talks with museum educator and project manager Anja Høegh.
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.
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In today's episode host Claire Bown talks with museum consultant Rebecca Shulman.
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=1-1Power to the Middle: Why Managers Hold the Keys to the Future of Work https://www.amazon.com/Power-Middle-Managers-Hold-Future/dp/1647824850The museum values framework: a framework for understanding organisational culture in museums https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09647775.2013.831247The 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
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In this episode, host Claire Bown talks with Linda Norris, a Senior Specialist in Methodology and Practice at the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience. Linda is known for her work in museum capacity-building, leading training and workshops for major museums and historic sites like the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation and the War Childhood Museum.
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
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Today, I'm talking to Sasha Igdalova about the exciting research she’s been conducting over the past few years around aesthetic experience, slow looking and social interaction in museums.
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
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How can we use our sense of smell to engage visitors? My guest today, Sofia Collette Ehrich is an art historian and curator of multisensory experiences. She was a key researcher on Odeuropa - a European funded Horizon 2020 project that advocated for smell as an important part of Europe’s cultural heritage.
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:
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My guest today, Trevor MacKenzie is an experienced teacher, author, keynote speaker and inquiry consultant who has worked in schools throughout North America, Asia, Australia, South Africa and Europe.
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 stancethe 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 questionsthe 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
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How can we engage children with classical music in the museum environment?
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:
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Today, I'm excited to chat with Kylie Neagle about fostering curiosity and critical thinking on self-guided field trips for teachers and students.
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!
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In this episode, we take a closer look at museum visitor teams with Dickon Moore, Visitor Experience Manager at Wellcome Collection in London. Discover how these teams master the art of informal engagement, creating meaningful interactions that enhance visitors' museum experiences.
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 visitorsHow 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 LinksWellcome 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!
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Today, in a special BONUS episode for Slow Art Day, I’m talking to Harma van Uffelen.
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 exhibitionTechniques for engaging participants, including a deep dive into one of Wong's artworksConsiderations in programme design: ensuring comfort, choosing artworks, and managing durationDesigning a slow looking programme in a busy museum (hint: it can be done!)"In Silence with Matthew Wong": silent slow looking experience with one artworkReflections on the pilot programme and future plansIf 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/
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!
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In today's episode: what is rapport, why is it important and how can we build it in our museum and gallery programmes?
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!
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Today, Bianca Boska, an award-winning journalist and author of 'Get The Picture: A Mind-Bending Journey among the Inspired Artists and Obsessive Art Fiends Who Taught Me How to See' discusses her new book and her journey into the art world with Claire Bown, host of The Art Engager podcast.
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:
Sign up for my Curated newsletter - a fortnightly dose of cultural inspirationJoin the Slow Looking Club CommunitySupport the show hereDownload 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 lookingUltimate Thinking Routine List - 120 thinking routines in one placeOther resourcesIf you have any suggestions, questions or feedback, get in touch with the show!
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Host Claire Bown chats with Sofie Vermeiren, about The Art Bridge, a long-term collaboration between Museum Leuven and a local school, exploring how art can boost children's self-confidence and visual literacy.
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:
Sign up for my Curated newsletter - a fortnightly dose of cultural inspirationJoin the Slow Looking Club CommunitySupport the show hereDownload 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 lookingUltimate Thinking Routine List - 120 thinking routines in one placeOther resourcesIf you have any suggestions, questions or feedback, get in touch with the show!
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In this episode of the Art Engager podcast, host Claire Bown talks with Dr. Tasha Golden about the role arts and culture can play in public health, discussing Tasha's journey from singer-songwriter to public health scientist and the impact of social prescribing on healthcare.
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
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Today I’m talking to Cecilie Monrad, Art Health Manager at Frederiksberg Museums in Copenhagen. We’re talking about See Listen Talk, a unique slow looking programme that helps young psychiatric service users in their recovery.
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
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Today I’m talking to Andrew Westover, Eleanor McDonald Storza Director of Education at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, about how values-engaged teaching can transform gallery experiences and foster deep connections.
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 MethodologiesMuseum Magazine article: Transcending DogmaEdmonia Lewis’s sculpture Columbus: Columbus - High Museum of ArtTeaching in the Art Museum by Elliott Kai-Kee and Rika BurnhamForum 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 InstagramAndrew Westover LinkedIn and Instagram -
Today I'm talking to Briony Brickell, the director of Magic Lantern, an educational charity delivering interactive art history workshops in schools across the UK. We chat about the organisation's work, its values, and the interactive art history sessions they conduct in primary schools for children aged 4 to 11.
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
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