Abstract
This study presents an empirical case study evaluating the Community Voice Labels (CVLs) initiative at the Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA), emphasizing visitor feedback and institutional impact. CVLs, an initiative by the museum’s Interpretation Department, invite people from the Cleveland community to share personal connections to specific artworks, displayed alongside traditional curatorial labels to amplify diverse voices in the space. Using two recent CVL projects installed in the special exhibition “Africa & Byzantium” and permanent galleries as case studies, this study presents data-driven insights gathered through 110 visitor observations and 42 interviews. The visitor evaluation was guided by four central questions: Who is engaging with the CVLs? How are visitors experiencing the CVLs in the spaces? How and to what extent are CVLs affecting participants’ sense of belonging with the museum? How do CVLs influence the perception of the museum’s role in the community? The findings reveal how visitors considered ideas of diversity and community as closely related, and how CVLs enhanced visitors’ learning about art, diverse perspectives, and Cleveland’s cultural landscape. This learning fostered deeper connections, prompting visitors to relate the artwork to their own experiences and sparking conversations around shared narratives. Ultimately, these interactions cultivated a sense of belonging as visitors felt recognized and included through the remembrance of personal stories, increased accessibility, and the visibility of diverse voices. This paper explores both the benefits and challenges of implementing CVLs, emphasizing their potential to position museums as civic spaces that support cultural engagement and social participation.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Visitor Studies, Belonging and Inclusion, Community Engagement, Social Participation
