The Art Engager

In this episode Claire Bown is joined by Dr Beth Daley, novelist, creative writing tutor and editorial advisor at Europeana, to explore how digital cultural heritage collections can become starting points for storytelling, exploration and creative engagement.Europeana brings together millions of artworks, objects, photographs, films, texts and archival materials from museums, libraries and archives across Europe. But access alone is not enough. Beth shares how the platform invites people to move from browsing to creating through prompts, activities, and collaborative spaces.This episode will resonate with anyone working in museums, galleries or cultural institutions who is interested in using digital collections as a starting point for storytelling, creative engagement and new ways of working with cultural heritage.The Art Engager is written and presented by Claire Bown. Editing is by Matt Jacobs and Claire Bown. Music by Richard Bown. Support on PatreonEpisode Links:Dr Beth Daley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-daley-a032b537/https://www.europeana.eu/https://pro.europeana.eu/post/join-our-events-for-writers-and-get-creative-with-cultural-heritage - this one covers all our activities including the following:https://pro.europeana.eu/event/europeana-writers-room-monthly-creative-writing-workshops - Europeana Writers' Room registrationhttps://www.europeana.eu/en/stories/six-ways-to-play-with-europeana-story-dice - Europeana story dicehttps://pro.europeana.eu/page/seven-tips-for-digital-storytelling - in 16 languageshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-daley-a032b537/ - my LinkedIn profilehttps://bethdaley.substack.com/ - my Substack pageEuropeana's social media:https://www.facebook.com/Europeanahttps://bsky.app/profile/europeana.bsky.socialhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/europeanahttps://www.instagram.com/europeana_eu/Show Links:✨ If you've enjoyed this episode, please consider supporting The Art Engager on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArtEngagerOr pick up a copy of my book, The Art Engager, for step-by-step guidance on creating meaningful, interactive guided experiences https://www.theartengager.com/Buy it here on Amazon.com: https://tinyurl.com/buytheartengager

In this episode Claire Bown is joined by Georgia Close and Harriet Body from the National Gallery of Australia, alongside Naomi Zouwer from the University of Canberra, to explore how the gallery co-designed its Creative Learning approach.The conversation traces an 18-month process of articulating a shared pedagogical framework shaped by national context, cultural responsibility, and First Nations-led principles. Rather than adopting an existing model, the team worked through workshops, observation, interviews and iterative “campaigns” to develop a cohesive, values-led approach.A key commitment was centring the artist’s voice, placing artist intention in conversation with students’ existing knowledge. From this, the team developed a Creative Learning strategy planning tool that supports inquiry-led, multimodal, embodied and reflective practice.Across the episode, they explore:How to develop a context-specific learning approach rather than importing a modelWhat it means in practice to centre the artist’s voiceHow small, iterative “campaigns” can embed reflective practice in a teamHow multimodality and embodiment deepen engagement beyond discussionWhy joy is understood as a serious pedagogical commitmentWhat co-design and participatory action research look like inside a museum settingThis episode will resonate with anyone working in museums, galleries or cultural institutions who is thinking carefully about pedagogy, reflective practice, and how to articulate an approach that genuinely reflects their context and values.The Art Engager is written and presented by Claire Bown. Editing is by Matt Jacobs and Claire Bown. Music by Richard Bown. Support on PatreonEpisode Links:https://nga.gov.au/learn/our-creative-learning-approach/ The Creative Learning Project Digital Publication: https://nga.gov.au/media/dd/documents/NGA_The_Creative_Learning_Project_Digital_Publication.pdfZouwer, N. & Hamilton, O. (2026). The Creative Learning Project: Defining the National Gallery of Australia’s Creative Learning Approach. 10.13140/RG.2.2.35063.28324Zouwer, N., Hamilton, O., Menser Hearn, N., & Ali, I. (2026). Using Practice-Based Methods to Co-create, Define, and Articulate a New Approach to Art Education in the National Gallery of Australia. Australian Journal of Education, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/00049441261421257Georgia Close, Head of Learning, National Gallery of AustraliaHarriet Body, Creative Learning Convenor, National Gallery of AustraliaHarriet Body on LinkedInNaomi Zouwer, artist, teacher, and researcher. Lecturer of Creative Arts Teacher Education and a researcher in the Centre of Advanced Education Studies (CASE) in the Faculty of Education at the University of Canberra.Naomi Zouwer on LinkedInNaomi’s website https://www.zouwer.com/The Centre for Advanced Studies in Education (CASE)https://www.canberra.edu.au/research/centres/caseShow Links:✨ If you've enjoyed this episode, please consider supporting The Art Engager on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArtEngagerOr pick up a copy of my book, The Art Engager, for step-by-step guidance on creating meaningful, interactive guided experiences https://www.theartengager.com/Buy it here on Amazon.com: https://tinyurl.com/buytheartengager

In this episode Claire Bown is joined by Clare Murray to explore how early encounters with art and museums shape the way people learn to participate, belong, and engage over time.Our conversation focuses on how what Clare describes as museum habits of mind begin forming early in life, shaped by access, culture, and experience, and what can be at risk when early encounters with art and museums are uneven, delayed, or absent.Clare’s perspective is shaped by her work as co-founder and executive director of cARTie, Connecticut’s first nonprofit art museum bus for young children, alongside her doctoral research into how people come to understand what museums are and who they are for. She describes research and practice as running in parallel, rather than as separate phases.The conversation looks at why early childhood matters as a time when confidence, hesitation, and ways of taking part in museum-like spaces begin to take shape. Clare shares what she notices when children encounter art and museum environments for the first time, and what they appear to be learning beyond information about the artworks themselves.Across the episode, they reflect on:how early encounters with art begin to shape museum habits of mindhow confidence and hesitation show up and evolve through repeated encounterswhat children seem to pick up about how to take part in museum-like spaceswhat can be missed when access to art and museum experiences is uneven or delayedhow research and practice can run in parallel, with each informing the otherThis episode will be of interest to anyone working with children, art, or learning spaces, and to museum educators, guides, and facilitators interested in how early experiences shape longer-term relationships with museums.The Art Engager is written and presented by Claire Bown. Editing is by Matt Jacobs and Claire Bown. Music by Richard Bown. Support on PatreonEpisode Links:Clare Murray on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/murrayclareMuseum Design with, by and for Children: Innovative, International Approaches https://www.routledge.com/Museum-Design-with-by-and-for-Children-Innovative-International-Approaches/Murray/p/book/9781032774404cARTie https://www.cartie.org/cARTie on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ctcartie/Show Links✨ If you've enjoyed this episode, please consider supporting The Art Engager on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArtEngagerOr pick up a copy of my book, The Art Engager, for step-by-step guidance on creating meaningful, interactive guided experiences https://www.theartengager.com/Buy it here on Amazon.com: https://tinyurl.com/buytheartengager

In this episode, Claire Bown is joined by Laurie Kilgour Walsh, Head of Programs and Learning at the Art Gallery of Hamilton, to explore what it takes to create meaningful, person-centred museum experiences with and for people living with dementia.Our conversation centres on Artful Moments, a gallery-based, small-group programme for people living with dementia and their care partners. Based at the Art Gallery of Hamilton, the programme supports shared experiences, connection, and wellbeing through guided engagement with artworks.In this episode, we talk about:What Artful Moments is and how the programme was developed in collaboration with healthcare partnersHow assumptions shifted as the work developed, and what has helped sustain the work over time.What person-centred practice looks like in programme design and in the moment as a facilitatorPlanning with care while staying responsive to participants during each sessionWhy success in this work is understood through connection and wellbeing rather than traditional learning outcomesWhat an Artful Moments session looks like in practice, from first communication and arrival to gallery conversations, making activities, and leaving the museumWhy attention to the whole visit experience really mattersA great listen if you are developing or evolving programmes for people living with dementia, or are interested in how dementia-inclusive practice can inform everyday museum engagement and deepen your approach to inclusion, pacing, and person-centred facilitation.Laurie is also the co-author of Artful Moments: Building Meaningful Museum Experiences for People Living with Dementia, which is discussed throughout the episode.The Art Engager is written and presented by Claire Bown. Editing is by Matt Jacobs and Claire Bown. Music by Richard Bown. Support on PatreonEpisode LinksArt Gallery of Hamilton website: www.artgalleryofhamilton.comArtful Moments eLearning site: www.artfulmoments.caA link to the book - Artful Moments: Building Meaningful Museum Experiences for People Living with Dementia : https://www.bloomsbury.com/ca/artful-moments-9781538195420/Laurie's two favourite videos from the website:Janis’s Story https://vimeo.com/801998446/77939bc3d0Rosemary's story: https://vimeo.com/809930852/fb94d13a5dAlso:An article about virtual programs (2022) https://www.artgalleryofhamilton.com/artful-moments-fostering/A lovely review of the website by Dementia Trust (2024): https://dementiatrust.org/news-and-views/25/2/2025/review-artful-momentsArtful Moments also included in Chapter 4 of this book (2024): https://www.intellectbooks.com/art-education-in-canadian-museumsAn article on our early work: Artful Moments: A framework for successful engagement in an arts-based programme for persons in the middle to late stages of dementia (2019) by Janis Humphrey, Maureen Montemuro, Esther Coker, Laurie Kilgour-Walsh, Katherine Moros, Carmen Murray, Shannon Stanners DOI: 10.1177/1471301217744025Show Links✨ If you've enjoyed this episode, please consider supporting The Art Engager on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArtEngagerOr pick up a copy of my book, The Art Engager, for step-by-step guidance on creating meaningful, interactive guided experiences https://www.theartengager.com/Buy it here on Amazon.com: https://tinyurl.com/buytheartengager

Menka Sanghvi, a researcher and the founder of Just Looking, dives deep into the art of attention. She explores the importance of ordinary moments and how our attentional filters shape perception. Menka discusses the striking contrast between algorithmic seeing and intentional looking, encouraging listeners to reclaim their focus. With insights on nurturing curiosity and kindness in our observations, she offers practical advice for engaging with the world more meaningfully. Menka's vision aims to transform the way we notice, reflect, and connect.

In this special episode created in collaboration with NEMO – the Network of European Museum Organisations, I’m sharing voices and ideas from the 2025 NEMO European Museum Conference ‘Who Cares? Museums, Wellbeing and Resilience’ in Horsens, Denmark.Recorded during the conference itself in the unique setting of the FÆNGSLET Prison Museum, this episode features eight speakers from across Europe and beyond. Together, we explore how museums are engaging with wellbeing and care – for their communities, their staff, and the wider world.You’ll hear from museum professionals, researchers and cultural leaders reflecting on what care looks like in practice – from building organisational resilience to creating spaces for recovery, reflection and connection. The episode weaves together their experiences to to show how museums are finding new ways to care for people and communities.In this episodeHow museums are rethinking their roles in wellbeing and resiliencePractical examples of care-centred work in actionThe emotional and organisational challenges of supporting wellbeingThe importance of caring for the people who care for othersFeaturingJulia Pagel (Germany) • Vera Carasso (Netherlands) • Elizabeth Merritt (USA) • Inga Surgunte (Latvia) • Sinéad Rice (Ireland) • Yurii Horpynych (Ukraine) • Roberto Casarotto (Italy) • Dr Nuala Morse (UK)The Art Engager is written and presented by Claire Bown. Editing is by Matt Jacobs and Claire Bown. Music by Richard Bown. Support on PatreonLinksNEMO – Network of European Museum OrganisationsNEMO 2025 Statement on Museums and WellbeingConference webpage with recordings✨ If you've enjoyed this episode, please consider supporting The Art Engager on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArtEngagerOr pick up a copy of my book, The Art Engager, for step-by-step guidance on creating meaningful, interactive guided experiences https://www.theartengager.com/Buy it here on Amazon.com: https://tinyurl.com/buytheartengager

Dr. Elizabeth (Zab) Johnson, Executive Director of the Wharton Neuroscience Initiative, explores how visual perception impacts leadership and decision-making. She discusses her innovative museum-based sessions for executives that combine slow looking with perspective-taking, enhancing empathy and communication. Zab reveals the neuroscience behind these practices and how group dialogues transform art into shared learning experiences. Plus, learn why rules like 'no pointing' matter and how spending an hour with a single artwork fosters deeper connections.

In today's solo episode, host Claire Bown celebrates the one-year anniversary of The Art Engager book with our first-ever Ask Me Anything format. She answers 10 practical questions from listeners about facilitating guided experiences in museums.From how long to let people look at artworks to building psychological safety with established groups, Claire tackles the real challenges educators and guides face every day. Does everyone have to talk to be actively engaged? How do you pull a group back when disengaged? What's a good way to redirect someone who's going on too long? When should you share the artist's perspective if the group's discussion is quite different? Resources mentioned in this episode:Book anniversary quick survey The Art Engager: Reimagining Guided Experiences in Museums (Claire's book)Episode 148: How to create active engagement on guided experiencesEpisode 142: Building Trust and Psychological Safety on guided experiencesThe 10 Questioning Practices (QPs) from The Art EngagerThe Thinking Museum® ApproachThe Art Engager is written and presented by Claire Bown. Editing is by Matt Jacobs and Claire Bown. Music by Richard Bown. Support the show on Patreon.As mentioned in the episode, share what's been most helpful from The Art Engager book and what you'd like to see next: Share your input here. https://clebown.typeform.com/to/l9e6mzN9

In this episode of The Art Engager Claire Bown talks with Tina Demirdjian, a poet and educator who has spent over 30 years transforming how people connect with poetry and visual art.Tina is someone who in her own words 'changes people's minds' about poetry, about themselves and about their capacity for creative expression. Working primarily with second language learners and immigrant communities in Los Angeles she has developed unique approaches that use visual art as a gateway into poetry writing.The conversation explores why museums are 'sacred spaces' that support creativity, practical techniques for facilitating poetry writing in galleries and how to help people overcome their intimidation about writing. Listen to this episode if you want to:Learn practical techniques for poetry programming in museums, including spine poetry and found poetry using curator and wall textsDiscover why the museum environment uniquely supports creative confidence and expressionExplore how visual art can serve as a bridge to poetry for diverse audiencesUnderstand how to help visitors overcome intimidation about poetry and writingThis episode offers practical insights into poetry programming and how to create the 'ease' that helps everyone discover they have at least one powerful poem in them.The Art Engager is written and presented by Claire Bown. Editing is by Matt Jacobs and Claire Bown. Music by Richard Bown. Support the show on Patreon and find more resources at thinkingmuseum.com‘The Art Engager: Reimagining Guided Experiences in Museums‘ is now available worldwide through your favourite online platforms and retailers. Buy it here on Amazon.com: https://tinyurl.com/buytheartengagerThe Art Engager book website: https://www.theartengager.com/Support the show with a simple monthly subscription on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArtEngagerEpisode Links: Art inspires youth poetry at MOCA  ARTful Conversations https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-demirdjian-a102488/https://www.instagram.com/poetinastudio/https://www.poetryconsults.com/museums-libraries

In this episode of The Art Engager, Claire Bown talks with Ciaron Wilkinson, Head of Partnerships and Engagement at Manchester Museum — one of the UK’s largest university museums and recent winner of European Museum of the Year.After a values-led redevelopment, Manchester Museum has reimagined how a museum can engage with its community. Its mission is to be the most caring, imaginative, and inclusive museum people will ever visit - a place where everyone belongs. Ciaron shares how this vision has reshaped the museum’s spaces and ways of working: co-curating the South Asia Gallery with 30 community members over five years, celebrating faith and culture through the Manchester Museum Celebrates series, and opening the Top Floor hub, shared with 25 local organisations dedicated to social justice and climate action.This conversation offers practical insights into co-curation, community engagement, and the values-led decisions behind creating cultural spaces where everyone feels welcome.The Art Engager is written and presented by Claire Bown. Editing is by Matt Jacobs and Claire Bown. Music by Richard Bown. Support the show on Patreon and find more resources at thinkingmuseum.com‘The Art Engager: Reimagining Guided Experiences in Museums‘ is now available worldwide through your favourite online platforms and retailers. Buy it here on Amazon.com: https://tinyurl.com/buytheartengagerThe Art Engager book website: https://www.theartengager.com/Support the show with a simple monthly subscription on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArtEngagerEpisode Links:Manchester Museum website Manchester Museum Instagram Article on European Museum of the Year Article on decolonisationNew York Times article following reopening