What might you discover if you spent 5 minutes with this artwork?
Hello. I’m Claire Bown.
I believe every museum visit has the potential to spark wonder and create lasting connections.
I help museums, galleries, and cultural organisations create participatory experiences that invite visitors to look closely, think deeply, and connect meaningfully with art and objects.
Contact me for TRAINING | CONSULTING | SPEAKING requests.
THE THINKING MUSEUM® APPROACH
Over the past 15 years I have developed an approach with engagement at its core, for educators, guides, docents and teachers 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.
The Art Engager: Reimagining Guided Experiences in Museums
In my book The Art Engager, I share proven strategies and practical tools for transforming guided experiences.
The Art Engager is your comprehensive guide for designing meaningful, interactive museum experiences. You’ll discover how to create inquiry-led discussions using tools like the 10 Questioning Practices, the CHOOSE framework, and the Discussion Cycle.
Full of well-researched insights and practical strategies, this book is valuable for both newcomers and seasoned professionals in museums, galleries, cultural organisations, and historic sites.
Available worldwide through your favourite online platforms and retailers!
WORK WITH ME
I partner with museums, galleries, and cultural organisations worldwide to help them create more meaningful, participatory experiences for visitors.
I bring fresh perspectives and practical strategies to help you engage audiences in new ways. Book me to consult on a project or exhibition, design and facilitate workshops and training for your team, or speak at your conference or event.
- Training & Workshops – The Thinking Museum® Approach, slow looking techniques, The Art of Engagement, facilitation skills
- Consulting – Programme development, exhibition interpretation, educational content creation
- Speaking – Interactive keynotes, workshops, and slow looking interludes at conferences, professional gatherings, and staff development events.
Available online, in-person, or hybrid formats.
Designing & Facilitating Slow Looking (ONLINE)
This two-part online course explores how to design and facilitate slow looking experiences that work in real settings. Across two sessions, we’ll look at the choices that shape a successful slow looking experience, and you’ll take part in one as a participant.
Whether you’re building a programme or exhibition around slow looking, or bringing more of it into the work you do every day, you’ll come away with adaptable approaches you can use straight away.
Registration has now closed for participation in the live class. If you missed out and would like to participate asynchronously via the recordings, please get in touch directly]
THE ART ENGAGER PODCAST
The Art Engager Podcast explores how we can create more meaningful and engaging experiences in museums and cultural spaces. Across solo episodes and conversations with inspiring guests, I explore ideas and approaches for engaging people with art, objects, ideas and each other — from slow looking and curiosity to conversation, participation and wonder.
The podcast ended in April 2026, but the complete archive remains available as a rich resource for museum professionals, educators and anyone interested in creating more engaging museum experiences.
Find out more about The Art Engager podcast in this interview for AAM.
And here’s a link to every single episode of the podcast in the archive.
Listen to The Art Engager on your podcast player of choice.
