The Art Engager: Reimagining Guided Experiences in Museums
The Art Engager is your comprehensive guide for designing and facilitating meaningful, interactive museum experiences. Through the Thinking Museum® Approach, you’ll discover how to create inquiry-led discussions that are both structured and flexible, using tools like the 10 Questioning Practices, the CHOOSE framework, and the Discussion Cycle.
Full of well-researched insights and easy-to-apply strategies, this book is an invaluable resource for educators working in a wide variety of museums and heritage settings.
Whether you’re new to the field or a seasoned professional looking to refine your approach, The Art Engager will empower you to foster deep engagement, share knowledge intentionally and build collaborative communities through effective facilitation techniques.
This go-to guidebook offers the tools to enhance your practice and transform your participants’ experience, bringing art and objects to life.
The Art Engager: Reimagining Guided Experiences in Museums is now available worldwide through your favourite online platforms, and retailers – wherever you prefer to buy your books!
HI, I’M CLAIRE BOWN
I teach people techniques to help them engage with art and museum objects.
I love helping people connect with each other through observation, shared visual inquiry and personal discovery.
Over the past 13 years I have developed an approach with engagement at its core, for educators to easily use on guided experiences.
The Thinking Museum® Approach is a way to engage audiences with what they are looking at, who they’re with and where they are. It fosters meaningful connections: between educators and participants, amongst the participants themselves, and with the artwork or object being explored.
WORK WITH ME
I work frequently with teams of museum, heritage and gallery educators all over the world. Every training course, workshop or online session is customised to suit the needs and requirements of your team, your collection and your audience
I can work with your team online, in-person and/or hybrid – all customised to the needs and requirements of your team
- Book a method- or approach-based training (such as the Thinking Museum® Approach or slow looking)
- Choose a skills-based session (such as questioning skills or facilitation techniques or how to share information in an engaging way)
- Plan a Coaching or an Inspiration session for your team. Or opt for a more customised approach.
- If you’re an individual, try one of my self-paced classes, or book a series of one-to-one intensive or coaching sessions.
LATEST PODCAST EPISODES
I publish a new podcast episode and blog every fortnight on all aspects of engaging your audience with art and ideas – from techniques, tools and ideas, to helping you to develop your skills or approach. Listen to the The Art Engager on your podcast player of choice.
Testimonials
Dr Stephanie Smith, Museum of Australian Democracy
“Claire’s sessions are highly interactive, engaging and practical. She worked with our entire Learning team over eight weeks online and has inspired our practice.
We appreciated Claire’s attention to detail, positive feedback and the way she tailored the sessions to our needs / interests.”
Lena Eriksson, Head of Education, National Museum, Sweden
“Claire Bown is a structured and sensitive art educator that listens to ideas and requests, but also has a clear view of how she wants to implement each training.
Since the beginning of our long collaboration I have known her to be highly professional and warm – all of which made me trust fully in the outcome.”
Femke Hameetman, Director, Dordrechts Museum
“…Claire is wonderful to work with a warm personality and extensive expertise in her subject matter. Her method and teaching style are an inspiration. Claire shares her knowledge in an engaging and interactive way, effortlessly dealing with questions along the way. She is very well organised and easy to work with. Thank you Claire!“