HI, I’M CLAIRE BOWN
I teach people techniques to help them connect with art.
I love helping people make connections with artworks and with each other through conversation with art and objects.
I’m a huge fan of slow looking and have developed an approach to help people engage with art and objects in museums called Visible Thinking in the Museum or VTM.
I believe art and museums are there for everyone. My mission is to share tools and techniques to help everyone to enjoy the world of art more fully, without necessarily needing recourse to any specialist, in-depth knowledge or skills.
THE VISIBLE THINKING IN THE MUSEUM (VTM) APPROACH
VTM is an easy-to-follow framework that allows museum educators, guides, teachers and docents to confidently design and lead engaging inquiry-led, discussion-based sessions with art, objects and ideas with any audience.
The Visible Thinking in the Museum (VTM) approach is grounded in and indebted to the pioneering work and ideas of Project Zero .
VTM combines thinking routines from a variety of Project Zero initiatives and frameworks with museum education practices, facilitation techniques, questioning strategies and coaching tools.
VTM is a way to engage museum and heritage audiences with what they are looking at, who they’re with and where they are.
The VTM approach fosters meaningful connections: between you and your participants, amongst the participants themselves, and with the artwork or object being explored
SLOW LOOKING AT ART: THE VISIBLE THINKING IN THE MUSEUM APPROACH
Over the past 12 years I’ve developed an easy-to-follow approach that allows museum and heritage educators, guides and teachers to confidently design and facilitate inquiry-led sessions with art, objects and ideas for any audience.
Visible Thinking in the Museum (VTM) is a flexible structure around which to explore museum and heritage collections and their stories.
Slow Looking at Art: The Visible Thinking in the Museum Approach covers the 3 foundational elements of the method, plus the 8 practices in detail.
This book is both a tribute to the invaluable work of Project Zero , and a contribution to the further development of these ideas, blended with my own experience, knowledge and insights as a museum educator.
VTM combines thinking routines from a variety of Project Zero initiatives and frameworks with museum education practices, facilitation techniques, questioning strategies and coaching tools.
Full of practical steps & helpful advice, this book provides you with everything you need to create engaging discussions with art and objects.
OUT IN AUTUMN/FALL 2023!
FREE GUIDE – HOW TO LOOK AT ART SLOWLY
Sign up with your email address to receive my new 17-page guide sharing 30+ different ways that you can look at art or objects in museums.
It can be used by anyone looking for new ways to engage with what they’re seeing.
WORK WITH ME
Ever wondered what makes the perfect art or museum-guided experience? Or what it takes to be a good facilitator of discussions about art and ideas? Perhaps you’d like to make your programmes and online sessions more interactive, participative or engaging for your audiences?
I offer a variety of courses, classes and resources for teams and individuals.
TEAMS
Choose from a selection of in-person, online, VTMO or hybrid team training options focusing on method, skills and/or coaching.
INDIVIDUALS
Choose how to work with me from VTMO Beginners, Intermediate or Advanced, to self-paced classes and one-to-one sessions.
LATEST PODCAST EPISODES
I publish a new podcast episode and blog every week on all aspects of engaging your audience with art and ideas – from Visible Thinking in the Museum techniques and ideas, to helping you to develop your questioning or facilitation skills and new tools to experiment with.
Testimonials
Elisa Mosele, English Language Teacher & Art Facilitator
“VTM and thinking routines have really changed both the way I teach and the way I help people approach a work of art. The results are outstanding “
Gabrielle Grime Heritage Education Officer
“Visible Thinking in the Museum is a game changer in museum education. It provides a wonderful basis from which to present programs.”
Bjorg Stefansdottir, Director International Office, Iceland University of the Arts
“The course was in my opinion perfect – super well-organised and much more personal than I would have expected. Claire, you are a master of making things interesting!”