PODCAST

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 when… 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...

I’m talking today about making space and time for slow looking. So if you’ve been listening to the podcast for a while, you’ll know that I’ve been practising the art of slow looking for a long time now the last 11/12 years. And it’s very much a personal practice and also something that I use… Read...

Today I’m sharing a variety of different ways to refresh your practice for 2023 so you don’t get stuck in a rut. Are you looking forward to designing and leading guided tours, art experiences, educational programmes in 2023? If, however, you’re not sure about your answers to those questions, or about how you feel about… Read...

Today I’m really happy to be chatting to Sarah Ciacci about her wonderful work as a family tour specialist. We’re exploring how to engage and inspire families on a guided tour. Sarah Ciacci has been a Professional Blue Badge Guide for London since 2008 and specialises in family tours and art tours.  She set up… Read...

Today I’m sharing 5 different thinking routines that you can use to compare, contrast and make connections. I’m exploring how you can use these thinking routines to create engaging discussions with art, objects and ideas.  I’ll look first at what comparing & contrasting is and why it’s important.  Then I’m sharing some ideas for things you… Read...

I’ve recently lost my voice so I’m taking some time to recover this week and sharing an episode from the back catalogue.  Today I’m revisiting an episode about to survive tumbleweed moments. This episode first aired in Oct 2021. It takes a deep dive into what a tumbleweed moment is and how to get over… Read...

Today I’m talking about how we can get ourselves into our best state – our most resourceful state – for when we show up to facilitate art discussions, tours, programmes or lessons. And sharing 8 different ways for you to turn up at your best! How you show up is important. Whether you’re leading a… Read...

I’m really happy to be talking to Dr Alex Woodall about her wonderful work with objects. We’re talking about how the joys of working with objects creatively. We’re exploring how you can use objects to spark all sorts of connections, associations and fun in the museum and beyond… Dr Alex Woodall is a museum professional… Read...

We’ve reached another milestone and in honour of 75 episodes, I’m releasing a new FREE resource today. How to Look at Art (Slowly) shares 30+ different ways that you can look at art or objects in museums. In today’s special episode I’m talking you through some of these different ways of looking slowly.  I’ll share why… Read...

Today I’m chatting to Ben Street about his new book ‘How to Enjoy Art: A Guide for Everyone’. We’re talking about how we can enjoy art without needing to know anything about it. Ben Street is an author, educator and art historian. He’s also been a school teacher and museum educator. He’s a writer of… Read...

Today’s episode follows on from a popular post I wrote on social media recently about how to talk about the recent climate activist protests in art museums with your participants.  I wanted to take the opportunity to explore the subject in a bit more detail here.  Art has been hitting the headlines recently with numerous… Read...

Today I’m talking to Rachel Ropeik about her work. We’re talking about how we can use our bodies to react to art & the many ways in which we can incorporate movement into museum learning. Rachel Ropeik is an educator, facilitator, adventurer, experience builder and pirate who brings thoughtful, playful, and progressive approaches to catalysing… Read...