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.

Nicky 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 England

Information about barriers to school attendance UK

Not Fine in School - School Refusal, School Attendance

Square 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 Ellie

Costello & Fran Morgan

'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/buytheartengager

The 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 Beth Clare McManus, a coaching psychologist, artist and researcher based in Manchester, UK.

Beth's work as a coach and supervisor aims to support people to be happy and well in their professional practice.

Listen in as Beth shares how museum and gallery spaces offer unique potential for coaching - creating softer, more reflective environments where the space itself becomes part of the coaching process.

If you're interested in exploring innovative ways of using museum spaces for arts-based coaching, or want to enhance your understanding of how public spaces can foster reflection and growth, listen to this episode.

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.

• Website: https://bethclaremc.com
• LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/bethclaremc
• Email: [email protected]
• Book chapter referenced in this episode (pre-order available from 2nd December 2024) Arts-based Coaching Book: https://www.routledge.com/Arts-Based-Coaching-Using-Creative-Tools-to-Promote-Better-Self-Expression/GiraldezHayes-Max/p/book/9781032591902
• Illustrated guide to working ethically with creativity: Available to download from https://bethclaremc.com/ethics
• Journal articles:
• Exploring music and mark-making in coaching supervision (inspired by MAG) https://philosophyofcoaching.org/v6i2/03.pdf
• Using arts-based approaches to support 'reflethical practice' https://philosophyofcoaching.org/v9i1/02.pdf

'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/buytheartengager

The 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 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.

Jessi's website: www.jessicahartshorn.com 

All about Jessi's work video: https://youtu.be/hRtQaETmPqE?si=HCXSGuH0MTUq9dI9

Other links for you  to explore:

Draw along for Sporting Heritage:

https://youtu.be/n503X14tRqE?si=Kf5W2q-yPpxK4ENO

Jubilee draw along:

https://youtu.be/RgXJijMdHvU?si=Zi7wCPxN-mAFjsk6

(800) Jessica Hartshorn - YouTube

'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/buytheartengager

The 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.

'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/buytheartengager

The 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 explores one of the key practices from her new book, "The Art Engager, Reimagining Guided Experiences in Museums" - Questioning Practices.

Questioning Practices (QP) are structured sets of questions or prompts designed to guide inquiry, stimulate critical thinking, and facilitate learning in museum and gallery environments. These practices are powerful structures for crafting deeper, more engaging experiences.

This episode explains what Questioning Practices (QPs) are, why they're important, and how they can be used to actively and intentionally support question use and foster participation and engagement during guided experiences.

If you've ever struggled with formulating questions or facilitating discussions in a museum setting, this episode is for you. Whether you're a museum educator, guide, or volunteer, you’ll discover how these flexible practices allow you to bring your unique style to every interaction, creating rich and engaging experiences for your audiences.

'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/buytheartengager

The 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 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/book

Episode Links

Anja Høegh on LinkedIn

https://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 Links

Sign up for my Curated newsletter - a fortnightly dose of cultural inspiration

Make a donation and contribute to the ongoing costs of running the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/clairebown

The Art Engager is written and presented by Claire Bown. Music by Richard Bown.

In today's episode host Claire Bown talks with museum consultant Rebecca Shulman.

Rebecca has a wealth of experience in museum education and leadership, and is passionate about how we can make museums better places to work through improving organisational culture.

Listen in to discover why museum educators are naturally suited for leadership roles through our skills in fostering inquiry, trust, and psychological safety. Rebecca also discusses the current challenges museums face, such as generational divides and the need for clear goals. This conversation is packed with practical advice and fresh ideas. Enjoy!

**My book 'The Art Engager: Reimagining Guided Experiences in Museums 'is out now as an e-book and a print edition too. https://www.theartengager.com/

The Art Engager is written and presented by Claire Bown. Music by Richard Bown.

Episode Links

• Museum Questions website - https://museumquestions.com/
• Information about SEED:Management and Culture Shift - https://museumquestions.com/museums-and-organizational-culture/
• DEI: Deconstructed https://www.amazon.com/DEI-Deconstructed-No-Nonsense-Guide-Doing/dp/1523002778/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1677818933&sr=1-1
• Power to the Middle: Why Managers Hold the Keys to the Future of Work https://www.amazon.com/Power-Middle-Managers-Hold-Future/dp/1647824850
• The museum values framework: a framework for understanding organisational culture in museums https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09647775.2013.831247

The Art Engager Links

Sign up for my Curated newsletter - a fortnightly dose of cultural inspiration

Make a one-off donation and contribute to the ongoing costs of running the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/clairebown

In this episode, host Claire Bown talks with Linda Norris, a Senior Specialist in Methodology and Practice at the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience. Linda is known for her work in museum capacity-building, leading training and workshops for major museums and historic sites like the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation and the War Childhood Museum.

Listen in to uncover practical frameworks (such as the 4 Truths and the Arc of Dialogue) for facilitating productive dialogues and handling conflicts effectively. Linda discusses essential skills for leading conversations that foster understanding and address contentious issues.

Links

https://www.sitesofconscience.org/

Library of videos on our YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/SitesofConscience/videos but particularly the short intro to the Arc of Dialogue https://youtu.be/IhiPUh_l49k?si=nUCgXR8u3RPtoZPh

Article: Life-long Anti-Oppression for Museum Professionals by Braden Paynter and Linda Norris;  https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10598650.2022.2140555

Book recommendation: Clint Smith - How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America

Today, I'm talking to Sasha Igdalova about the exciting research she’s been conducting over the past few years around aesthetic experience, slow looking and social interaction in museums.

Aleksandra (Sasha) Igdalova is an interdisciplinary researcher in the final year of her Psychology PhD at Goldsmiths, University of London conducting large-scale, experimental studies on slow looking within exhibition spaces at Manchester Art Gallery. 

Her work investigates how popular engagement strategies may be used to increase aesthetic experience and well-being

Listeners to this podcast will know that slow looking has gained in popularity in museums worldwide over the last decade or so. But there hasn’t been much research on its effectiveness, until now.

In today's chat, we explore two studies -  the first study to look at the impact of slow looking in an online environment. This study explores how different audio contexts and types of art affect people's moods and engagement levels in online viewing.

The second study is the first large-scale experiment to investigate how social interaction impacts the art museum experience. This study took place in Manchester Art Museum’s fabulous dedicated slow looking space known as Room to Breathe. 

We discuss the implications of both studies for educators..and so much more!

This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in slow looking, aesthetic experiences in museums, and the benefits of group interactions for overall well-being in museum environments.

Episode 24 Using art and objects to learn wellbeing skills and improve mental health with Louise Thompson

Aleksandra (Sasha) Igdalova Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aleksandra-sasha-igdalova-a66770106/

Website: www.aleksandraigdalova.com 

Researchgate profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Aleksandra-Igdalova 

Articles on slow looking:

First ever study examining how social interaction impacts art viewing: https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/x9wrt

First ever study looking at slow looking in an experimental manner (online study): https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2023-59333-001 

Free access to it here: https://research.gold.ac.uk/id/eprint/33048/9/Igdalova%20&%20Chamberlain%20(2023)%20Slow%20looking%20at%20still%20art.pdf

CREA interdisciplinary workshop: www.crea-workshop.com 

The Art Engager: Reimagining Guided Experiences in Museums - sign up for the waitlist to hear when my book will be published!

Sign up for my Curated newsletter - a fortnightly dose of cultural inspiration

Join the Slow Looking Club Community

Support the show here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/clairebown

Download my free resources: 

How to look at art (slowly)- 30+ different ways to look at art or objects in the museum

Slow Art Guide - six simple steps to guide you through the process of slow looking

Ultimate Thinking Routine List - 120 thinking routines in one place

If you have any suggestions, questions or feedback, get in touch with the show by emailing [email protected]

How can we use our sense of smell to engage visitors? My guest today, Sofia Collette Ehrich is an art historian and curator of multisensory experiences. She was a key researcher on Odeuropa - a European funded Horizon 2020 project that advocated for smell as an important part of Europe’s cultural heritage.

We discuss when she first realised her passion for working with scents and how smell can make museum experiences more engaging.

We cover her creation of a scent-based tour for Museum Ulm in Germany and a 'Scratch and Sniff' self-guided tour for the Amsterdam Museum.

We also look at the Olfactory Storytelling Toolkit, 'smell walks,' and the idea of a 'sniffer in residence.' Sofia shares lots of practical tips for adding olfactory elements to your programmes.

If you want to infuse the sense of smell into your practice or incorporate more multisensory approaches into your programmes, you'll learn a lot from this episode.

Sofia Collette Ehrich

https://sofiaehrich.wordpress.com/

https://thesensesationalexplorer.substack.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sofia-collette-ehrich/

https://www.instagram.com/thesensesationalexplorer/

Museum Ulm Links:

https://odeuropa.eu/2022/04/now-open-follow-your-nose-at-museum-ulm/

https://museumulm.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/SELECTION-OF-WORKS-NEW-GUIDED-TOUR-CONCEPT-FOLLOW-YOUR-NOSE-MUSEUM-ULM-1.pdf

https://odeuropa.eu/2023/01/update-follow-your-nose/

City Sniffers Links:

https://odeuropa.eu/2022/08/launch-of-city-sniffers-a-smell-tour-of-amsterdams-ecohistory/

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7utP_pAx_E

Odeuropa Impact:

This is an interesting report about the interviews Cecilia Bembibre conducted with museum professionals who have used smells in GLAMs: https://odeuropa.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/D6_1_Guidelines_on_the_Use_of_Smells_in_GLAMs.pdf

Olfactory Storytelling Toolkit:

Download it here: https://zenodo.org/records/10254737

Guidelines for conducting an olfactory guided tour here: https://zenodo.org/records/10102080

Guidelines for conducting a smell walk here: https://zenodo.org/records/10101016

A talk Sofia gave for the Swedish Heritage Commission which included many practical examples:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YByb-wbXw6E

Sign up for my Curated newsletter - a fortnightly dose of cultural inspiration

Join the Slow Looking Club Community

Support the show here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/clairebown

Download my free resources: 

How to look at art (slowly)- 30+ different ways to look at art or objects in the museum

Slow Art Guide - six simple steps to guide you through the process of slow looking

Ultimate Thinking Routine List - 120 thinking routines in one place

If you have any suggestions, questions or feedback, get in touch with the show by emailing [email protected]