For Arts' Sake

Olivia and Paula like to challenge traditional interactions with cityscapes and reveal hidden histories through 'Uncomfortable' walking tours.

This project has transformed the traditional walking tour into a critical pedagogy of urban landscapes.

With extreme opinions on the rise, academics have an obligation to bring their research out into the public space to encourage dialogue, critical thinking, and empathy. Through Uncomfortable Oxford, Paula & Olivia have designed a method for deflating emotional tensions that surround uncomfortable histories, directing dialogue towards a productive middle ground.

Alex is passionate about making a change in the ways that cultural organisations speak and engage with their audiences.  As a freelancer, Alex works with many cultural institutions, including ArtUK where he explores how digital outreach and learning resources could help engage wider audiences. Prior to that, Alex led Digital Programmes at the Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A) and worked on digital learning programme at the Museum of London.

Claire Madge is a central figure in the promotion of accessible museums across the UK. She's the founder of Autism in Museums, an initiative working to create autism-friendly change in the cultural sector.

A tireless volunteer, Claire has worked with a number of big and small museums, including the V&A, British Museum, Jewish Museum, and Museum of London.

Claire has seen the difference autism early openings to museums have made for her family. Her goal - is to share her positive experience with others.

Hello. This is For Arts' Sake – a podcast that gives voice to museum people.

Here we share real-life stories of leading professionals in museums and the heritage sector across the UK.

Stay tuned for upcoming episodes!

Jenny wants to know how historical places retain people’s emotions.

She is a true cultural ambassador and has a great deal of experience having worked across many cultural organisations, including the V&A and Historic Royal Palaces.

Currently, Jenny Pistella is teaching at Queen Mary University, London, where she is also working towards her PhD.

Could historical places remain haunted by the emotions or feelings of people who had inhabited them? Could we, as visitors of historical sites and places, still experience those emotions today?

These are the questions Jenny is trying to find answers to.

This week we are talking to Caroline Marcus - a passionate museum learning expert.

Caroline is a university lecturer at UCL, a consultant and programme producer specialising in museum learning.

She will be sharing her insights on how to transform museums into magical and eye-opening places for kids and adults alike.

Listen until the end to hear about Caroline’s inspirational vision about the museum of ‘universal themes’ - an idea that resonates deeply with us.

This week we’re chatting to Aisling Serrant about her creative approach to museum festivals. Aisling works as a Community Engagement Manager at the Museum of London Docklands which tells the history of about London as a port. Aisling organises festivals bringing together families from all backgrounds to learn about different cultures and history. Her main goal is to make the museum a welcoming space for everyone.

Ed Lawless makes the British Museum more accessible to young visitors using technology within the Samsung Digital Discover Centre. He enjoys challenging the conventional models of what museum learning programmes for schools, families and young people look like. From live video links with classrooms to a growing programme of tablet guided experiences for school groups, Ed is making digital technology work for students. He has explored how familiar digital technology can be exploited in new ways to create learning experiences for whole families, not just children. Looking to the future, Ed is working with his team to develop a new strand of programming for teenagers and other young people in the Museum.

Our website: https://forartsake.co.uk