Abstract
Between 2001 and 2004 I worked on an ARC-funded project researching controversial topics and museums, and what visitors thought the role museums should play in these, particularly when developing exhibitions and programs. Their answer? ‘We want museums to address these topics, we want them to be more challenging, and we want them to enable us to have a say in some way’. Many years later, the world has changed. A lot. But have visitors? As GLAM institutions continue dialogues around big, complex and challenging issues impacting our sector and our world, what do visitors think the role GLAM should play in these conversations? How are we acknowledging and including visitors’ voices within our institutional practices, exhibitions and programs? This paper presents research gathered over the past four years that unpacked audiences’ views around big issues, hot topics and how GLAM institutions could best portray these within their programs in ways that visitors want to engage. A wide range of people were included across five quantitative and qualitative projects – young adults, high-school students, teachers, parents/carers of children, older audiences.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Visitors, Evaluation, Visitor Research, Hot Topics, Wicked Problems
