PODCAST

This week we’re exploring engagement for all with Sam Bowen, a passionate advocate for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) inclusion in museums. Sam shares her extensive experience in the museum sector and explains how her role as a mother to a child with SEND has fuelled her advocacy work.Highlights:Personal Journey: Sam discusses her background… Read...

Museum education is evolving, and so are the ways we engage our audiences. The days of traditional lecture-style tours are numbered, as more and more museums want to offer more  dynamic, participant-driven experiences.  Whether you’re just starting out with inquiry-based learning in the museum or looking to enhance your existing approach, this episode is for… Read...

Today, I’m joined by Rachel Nicholson (Director, Visitor Engagement & Research at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art) and Christine Murray (Head of Content at Art Processors) to discuss an art experience that revolutionises the way visitors interact with Impressionist art. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art has collaborated with Art Processors to bring to life “A… Read...

Today I’m talking to Jackie Armstrong, Associate Educator Visitor Research and Experience at MoMA in New York, about trauma-informed practice in museums. We’re exploring trauma-informed practice in museums, what it is, what it looks like and how museums can implement it into their culture and into their programming.  We discuss MoMA’s Artful Practices for Well-Being… Read...

In today’s episode I’ll be exploring a topic that every museum educator can relate to: being prepared for the unexpected. When was the last time you were facilitating a programme and something unexpected came up? Maybe it was a spontaneous discussion sparked by an unexpected object or a group with unique accessibility needs. These moments… Read...

Today I’m exploring Heart for Art with Gundy van Dijk, Head of Education and Interpretation at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. Discover how this impactful outreach programme use Vincent van Gogh’s life and art to engage children, foster their personal development, and ignite their passion for art. With over 20 years of experience in… Read...

Immersive art experiences have become quite the sensation in recent years. You’ve probably heard of them or even had the chance to attend one yourself. Immersive art experiences are driven by technology, engage multiple senses and transport you into a living artwork or a different world. Imagine stepping into a space surrounded by larger-than-life visuals,… Read...

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been picking my favourite episodes from the podcast’s archive. Today, I want to share some helpful advice about starting to use thinking routines in your art or object discussions. In September I’m going to start teaching my Visible Thinking in the Museum Online Beginners course or VTMO Beginners as… Read...

For the next few weeks I’m choosing my favourite episodes from the back catalogue of the podcast. With over 100 episodes to now choose from, I’m taking this opportunity to revisit some of the episodes I’ve most enjoyed putting together.  This is a classic episode exploring the benefits of slow looking. Slow looking is simply… Read...

For the next few weeks I’m choosing my favourite episodes from the back catalogue of the podcast. With over 100 episodes to now choose from, I’m taking this opportunity to revisit some of the episodes I’ve most enjoyed putting together.  This week we’re exploring the art of how to read the room. When it comes… Read...

For the next few weeks I’m choosing my favourite episodes from the back catalogue of the podcast. With over 100 episodes to now choose from, I’m taking this opportunity to revisit some of the episodes I’ve most enjoyed putting together.  This week I’m sharing one of my absolute favourite episodes. I’m sharing 4 game changing… Read...

For the next few weeks I’m choosing my favourite episodes from the back catalogue of the podcast. With 100 episodes to now choose from, I’m taking this opportunity to revisit some of the episodes I’ve most enjoyed putting together.  Today’s choice is all about curiosity. This was a really popular episode back in February 2022… Read...

In this special 100th episode of The Art Engager podcast, I’m chatting to educator, researcher, author, and speaker Dr Ron Ritchhart. Ron Ritchhart is an award-winning educational researcher, retired Senior Research Associate at Harvard Project Zero and current Fellow at the University of Melbourne, Australia. His research is focused on developing intellectual character, making thinking visible,… Read...

Welcome to episode 99, where I’m diving into the concept of pacing in museum and gallery programmes, with a particular focus on the idea that “less is more.” Pacing directly influences the participant experience. A well-paced programme ensures that your participants stay engaged, attentive and receptive throughout their journey.  By carefully managing the rhythm and… Read...

Welcome to a new episode of The Art Engager podcast, hosted by Claire Bown. In this week’s edition, we dive into the extraordinary world of Radio Bart, a unique audience engagement programme at the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp. Joining me are two guests from the museum’s Audience Engagement team: An van Hertum… Read...

In this week’s episode we’re exploring an innovative project at the National Civil War Centre in Newark developing creative writing skills through art and using thinking routines in really innovative ways. The visual literacy Collect Connect Create project was developed to raise self-esteem, self-efficacy and motivation for year 10 pupils (14-15 year olds)  who had… Read...

So following on from last week’s episode, talking about the benefits of some silence in your museum and gallery programmes. This week I’m sharing how to do it. A little bit of silence in your programmes can benefit both you as the facilitator and the audience by promoting reflection, active listening, observation, engagement, and flexibility.… Read...

You’ve probably heard the phrase ‘silence is golden’ before. This proverb suggests that staying quiet or not speaking can be beneficial in certain situations. How is silence a superpower that we can leverage to our advantage in the design and facilitation of our museum and gallery programmes? Today I’m talking about why silence matters and… Read...

Episode 94 of the Art Engager podcast features another special guest, Phyl Terry, Founder of Slow Art Day. Slow Art Day is an annual event that encourages participants worldwide to look at and discuss art slowly. Currently, over 1,500 museums and galleries on every continent, including Antarctica’s McMurdo Station, have participated in Slow Art Day.… Read...

Today on the podcast, I’m delighted to be talking to bestselling author, broadcaster, two-time TED speaker and voice of the Slow Movement, Carl Honoré. In this episode, Carl Honoré, author of “In Praise of Slow,” shares his insights on the benefits of slowing down in every aspect of life. Our conversation centres around the slow… Read...

In Episode 92, I’m chatting to Heather Thomas, the Head of Learning and Engagement at the Lightbox Museum and Gallery in Woking, UK. Heather talks about how their Art and Wellbeing programme of creative and therapeutic workshops provides opportunities for those that would otherwise not be able to access arts and heritage services. We discuss… Read...

Are you tired of using the same old thinking routines in your museum and gallery programmes? Maybe it’s time to try something new? In this week’s episode, I’m sharing three exciting thinking routines that you can add to your repertoire. These routines will help you engage your audience and encourage them to think creatively about… Read...

Today I’m exploring the concept of creating intellectual comfort in your museum and gallery programmes.  In my (forthcoming) book Slow Looking at Art: The Visible Thinking in the Museum Approach I have a chapter dedicated to creating a collaborative culture in your museum and gallery programmes. As part of this chapter, I talk about how… Read...

I have a guest for you today on the show. I’m really happy to be talking to Hannah Cushion about her work as an artist and educator.  Hannah is an artist and museum educator working in London and Oxfordshire in the UK. Her work is interested in themes around archiving and preservation. She’s interested in… Read...

Today I’m exploring play in museum education practice. How can we create and lead playful museum programmes? How can we bring more opportunities for play into our guided tours and educational programmes? I was inspired for today’s post by our new theme in the Slow Looking Club. Every two weeks we have a new theme… Read...

Today I’m returning to one of my favourite subjects – questions.  I’m going to explore open-ended questions in detail – not just what they are, but why they are important and when you can use them for the best engagement. Plus, how can you get better at asking open ended questions and ask more of… Read...

I often get asked about neutrality as a ‘stance’ for museum facilitators of discussions around art and objects. So today I’m addressing the question: How neutral do we need to be as a facilitator in the museum?   Facilitation is a key part of creating engaging and interactive discussions around art and museum objects. As a… Read...

I know thinking routines are a huge crowd pleaser. I’m their biggest fan too – they have fundamentally changed the way I lead discussions around art and objects. Used in combination with the other 7  practices of the VTM approach such as  good questions, a range of facilitation skills, slow looking  and more, you can… Read...

I’m talking to Margaret Middleton today about what inclusive language is and why it matters.  Margaret Middleton is an American independent exhibit designer and museum consultant currently based in Belfast, Northern Ireland.  With a degree in industrial design from the Rhode Island School of Design and over 15 years of experience in the museum field,… Read...

What words come to mind when you hear the word ‘teenager’? Or the word ‘adolescence’? Do you love working with teens or feel a little apprehensive?  I’ve recently been facilitating some team trainings in museums about how to engage with teenagers and so I’ve been thinking a lot about the best ways to work with… Read...