Navigating the Shifting Landscape of Museum Education
Written by Sophia Plancich
Published on September 4, 2024
During my initial weeks as a Museum Education Intern, I took the initiative to immerse myself in understanding the Lowe Art Museum as a cultural hub for informal education. I define "informal educational spaces" as environments outside traditional classroom or university settings, which profoundly engage visitors with history and culture, often leaving a lasting impact.
The Lowe, with its extensive collection of artifacts, paintings, glassworks, and more, serves as a remarkable example. As an interdisciplinary art student, I find this collection endlessly fascinating. However, my focus on education compels me to explore how museums, as informal educational spaces, can effectively engage, entertain, and educate diverse groups, including those with interests beyond art.
The research paper, "Museums: Challenges for the 21st Century," by Christine Burton and Carol Scott, published in the International Journal of Arts Management, WINTER 2003, addresses a concerning global trend—a decline in museum attendance. The study, which surveyed Australian populations, attributes this shift in part to a growing preference for entertainment-based home activities over museum visits as a form of leisure. While various factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic, contribute to this trend, the study offers insights into strategies for increasing visitor engagement: creating innovative experiences, adapting to technological advancements, and understanding visitor motivation.
This research prompts deeper reflection. Despite the seeming permanence of institutions, subtle shifts reveal the reality of our time—thus, our immunity to change is an illusion. As I embark on my professional journey in museum education, I am eager to learn how to adapt, becoming a versatile and valuable team member, educator, and resource for visitors and colleagues.
As museum educators, curators, and staff, we must ask ourselves: How will we redefine our relationships with the museum-going public? How will this vary among different audiences—families, students, members, and others? In our educational pursuits, how can I ensure that I remain responsive to the varying needs and expectations of my tour groups? These questions highlight the importance of continuing to evolve into a democratic, reflective space where collaboration and responsiveness to audience needs are necessary.
References:
Burton, C., & Scott, C. (2007). Museums: Challenges for the 21st century. In Museum management and marketing (pp. 49-66). Routledge.
