The Art Engager

In today's solo episode, host Claire Bown explores why museums are as much about people as they are about objects, and shares six powerful ways to create meaningful connections in your guided experiences.How can museums provide spaces for genuine human interaction in our increasingly disconnected world? What might happen when we put 'connection before content' in our museum practice? In this episode, we're exploring the unique role museums play in bringing people together. Claire introduces the principle of 'connection before content' and explores the 5 layers of connection that create the conditions for engagement to flourish. Claire shares six essential strategies for creating powerful connections in guided experiences and reminds us that while visitors may forget the facts and figures, they'll remember how they felt and the connections they made.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.Show notesWhen You Connect, You Protect: The Impact of Social Connection on Mental Health, Ep. 172An interview with Jessica Gifford, LICSW, explaining the link between social connectedness and mental health.https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=1437668161&i=1000604514535‘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/TheArtEngager

In this episode host Claire Bown talks with Maggie Jackson, an award-winning author, former Boston Globe columnist and independent scholar, about the power of uncertainty and how embracing not-knowing might transform our work in museums.Maggie Jackson's latest book "Uncertain: The Wisdom and Wonder of Being Unsure" has been making waves - named on four top books of 2024 lists and recently awarded Nonfiction Book of the Year by the Independent Publishers of New England. Drawing from cutting-edge neuroscience research, Jackson explores how uncertainty affects how we think, learn, and work together.Listen to discover what her research might mean for museum educators and how understanding uncertainty better could transform our practice. Learn about to build your 'uncertainty tolerance', how hedge words like "maybe" can create space for multiple perspectives and interpretations, explore why productive disagreement leads to better group outcomes, and discover the difference between routine and adaptive expertise.This episode will change how you think about uncertainty. Discover how embracing not-knowing can enhance attention, deepen learning and create more meaningful connections with art and visitors alike.Want to learn more? Visit maggie-jackson.comThe 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.comSHOW NOTESUncertain: The Wisdom and Wonder of Being Unsure is available nowwebsite -- https://www.maggie-jackson.com/uncertainNew York Times op-ed on uncertainty and resilience: https://www.maggie-jackson.com/the-gift-of-being-unsure-what-to-do-1Maggie Jackson on LinkedIn -- https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggiejackson/‘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/TheArtEngager

In today's solo episode, host Claire Bown discusses the importance of trust and psychological safety in guided museum experiences.In this episode, we're looking at how to create the conditions that allow people to really engage with art and objects. We're going to explore why trust matters in museum facilitation, what psychological safety looks like in practice, and how to create environments where people feel able to share, question, and discover.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.Links‘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/TheArtEngager

In this episode host Claire Bown talks with Nicole Cromartie, Director of Learning and Engagement, and Paris Baker, Family, Early Childhood and Community Engagement Manager at the Clyfford Still Museum in Denver.Inspired by Nicole's experience with her baby niece 13 years ago, the Clyfford Still Museum has pioneered innovative ways to engage infants with art, including their groundbreaking 2022 exhibition 'Clyfford Still Art and the Young Mind' and Art Crawl, a monthly programme for infants and caregivers to explore art together through multi-sensory experiences.Listen in as Nicole and Paris share insights about their Reggio Emilia-inspired approach, the impact on families and caregivers, and how the program is now expanding beyond museum walls into community spaces. Learn about their successful strategies for creating welcoming environments for the youngest visitors, from professional development across departments to thoughtful program design.If you're interested in early childhood engagement in museums, creating inclusive spaces for young families, or exploring innovative approaches to art education, this episode offers valuable insights and practical recommendations for implementing similar programs.Want to learn more? Visit clyffordstillmuseum.org or email learning@clyffordstillmuseum.orgThe 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.Episode LinksInstagram: @still_museumEmail: learning@clyffordstillmuseum.orgCSM's website and Art Crawl's pageAAM article Here are some of the videos that we referenced in our conversationArt Crawl videoArt Crawl "Know Before You Go" video Infant Curation videoNew York Times article featuring Art Crawl https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-cromartie-31b19024/https://www.linkedin.com/in/paris-baker-74b71620a/Links‘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/TheArtEngager

In this episode host Claire Bown talks with Nicky McIntosh, a museum consultant with over 25 years of experience in the UK museum sector.Inspired by her own family's experiences, Nicky specialises in making museums more accessible for children who struggle to attend school and is currently developing a toolkit to support museums and galleries in their work with home educators.Listen in as Nicky shares insights from her Arts Council funded research exploring how museums can better serve the estimated 1.5 million children in England who face barriers to education, and learn about successful case studies from institutions making their spaces more inclusive.If you're interested in making museums more accessible, supporting diverse learning needs, or exploring ways to engage children facing barriers to education, this episode offers valuable insights and practical recommendations.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.Episode LinksNicky McIntosh on LinkedIn Website: Museum Learning Works – supporting education outside of school - includes links to the reports and survey results from my Developing Your Creative Practice grant funded by Arts Council EnglandInformation about barriers to school attendance UKNot Fine in School - School Refusal, School AttendanceSquare Peg (teamsquarepeg.co.uk)Recommended Publications‘Can't Not Won't: A Story About A Child Who Couldn't Go To School’ by Eliza Fricker‘A Different Way to Learn: Neurodiversity and Self-Directed Education’ by Dr Naomi Fisher‘Square Pegs: Inclusivity, compassion and fitting in – a guide for schools’ by EllieCostello & Fran MorganLinks'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/TheArtEngager

Beth Clare McManus, a coaching psychologist and artist from Manchester, discusses the transformative potential of museum and gallery spaces for coaching. She emphasizes how these environments foster reflection and well-being, allowing creativity to flourish beyond traditional settings. Beth shares insights on how the ambience of galleries supports client exploration while addressing ethical considerations in public coaching. With her background in arts-based approaches, she reveals how the space itself can enhance the coaching process, making it a unique experience for clients.

In today's episode, host Claire Bown talks with illustrator and educator Jessica Hartshorn.Based in the UK, Jessi specialises in creating engaging artwork for the cultural and heritage sector, blending her background as a museum educator with her artistic skills. Her work includes family trails, maps, and educational resources designed to foster deeper connections with museum collections—even the overlooked pieces!We explore Jessi’s journey from museum educator to illustrator, her process for creating family trails, and her popular 'Draw Along' sessions, which help people to overcome drawing hesitations and to observe artworks more closely. Tune in for practical insights on using creative activities to enhance visitor engagement in museums.Episode LinksJessi's website: www.jessicahartshorn.com All about Jessi's work video: https://youtu.be/hRtQaETmPqE?si=HCXSGuH0MTUq9dI9Other links for you  to explore:Draw along for Sporting Heritage:https://youtu.be/n503X14tRqE?si=Kf5W2q-yPpxK4ENOJubilee draw along:https://youtu.be/RgXJijMdHvU?si=Zi7wCPxN-mAFjsk6(800) Jessica Hartshorn - YouTubeLinks'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/TheArtEngager

In today's solo episode, host Claire Bown focusing on one of the key Questioning Practices from her book, The Art Engager: Reimagining Guided Experiences in Museums. In this episode, we’ll be exploring The Universal Questioning Practice in detail, how it came about and how you can use it with art and objects. The Universal is an all-purpose and versatile Questioning Practice that can be applied to all types of art and objects, across any museum setting. The Universal's 4 stages provide a logical structure to guide conversations around artworks and objects. This episode explores takes an in-depth look at how to use the Universal Questioning Practice to support your guided experiences.Links'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/TheArtEngager

Discover the power of structured questioning practices that enhance engagement in museums. The discussion highlights ten innovative approaches that promote critical thinking and participation. Learn how flexible inquiry methods can foster deeper connections and curiosity among visitors. Ideal for museum educators and guides, these practices help craft memorable experiences and enrich discussions. Tune in to unlock the secrets of making every museum visit more engaging!

In today's episode, host Claire Bown talks with museum educator and project manager Anja Høegh. Anja shares her passion for creating engaging experiences in museums and cultural spaces, emphasising the importance of building trust and making meaningful connections with visitors.Anja reveals practical techniques to enhance visitor engagement, including the use of "chatterboxes" to spark conversations, sensory experiences to deepen artwork connections, and slow looking practices to encourage thoughtful observation. She also discusses innovative methods like drawing yoga and role-playing exercises to make museum visits more interactive and memorable.Throughout the conversation, Anja highlights the challenges of limited time frames and the need for coordination among museum staff. She stresses the importance of allowing visitors to feel seen and heard, adapting approaches for different age groups, and effectively wrapping up visits to solidify memories and encourage return trips. Listen to this episode to gain practical, innovative strategies to transform museum visits into engaging, interactive experiences that foster deeper connections between visitors, artworks, and museums.**My book 'The Art Engager: Reimagining Guided Experiences in Museums 'will be published soon as an e-book and a print edition too. If you want to hear more about it and be one of the first to get your own copy, sign up here: https://mailchi.mp/thinkingmuseum/bookEpisode LinksAnja Høegh on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/anja-h%C3%B8egh-92032389/Museum Salling@oplevkulturensammen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/oplevkulturensammen/https://vardemuseerne.dk/museum/nymindegab/https://www.museumsalling.dk/laering/kunst-og-kulturlaboratorium/The Art Engager LinksSign up for my Curated newsletter - a fortnightly dose of cultural inspirationMake a donation and contribute to the ongoing costs of running the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/clairebownThe Art Engager is written and presented by Claire Bown. Music by Richard Bown.