Immersive art experiences have become quite the sensation in recent years. You've probably heard of them or even had the chance to attend one yourself. Immersive art experiences are driven by technology, engage multiple senses and transport you into a living artwork or a different world. Imagine stepping into a space surrounded by larger-than-life visuals, captivating sounds, and interactive elements. From sophisticated new-media installations to animated retrospectives of renowned painters, the...
Jul 06, 2023•19 min•Ep. 106
Over the past few weeks, I've been picking my favourite episodes from the podcast's archive. Today, I want to share some helpful advice about starting to use thinking routines in your art or object discussions. In September I’m going to start teaching my Visible Thinking in the Museum Online Beginners course or VTMO Beginners as it’s affectionately known. Around the same time, I'll also be publishing my book about the VTM approach - Slow Looking at Art: The Visible Thinking in the Museum Approac...
Jun 29, 2023•23 min•Ep. 105
For the next few weeks I’m choosing my favourite episodes from the back catalogue of the podcast. With over 100 episodes to now choose from, I’m taking this opportunity to revisit some of the episodes I’ve most enjoyed putting together. This is a classic episode exploring the benefits of slow looking. Slow looking is simply the art of learning through observation. I’ve been immersed in slow looking for the last 12+ years and can wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone. But don’t just take my word ...
Jun 15, 2023•23 min•Ep. 103
For the next few weeks I’m choosing my favourite episodes from the back catalogue of the podcast. With over 100 episodes to now choose from, I’m taking this opportunity to revisit some of the episodes I’ve most enjoyed putting together. This week we're exploring the art of how to read the room. When it comes to working with groups in a museum or any other setting, being able to "read the room" is a valuable skill. Understanding the mood in the room and how receptive people are can make a signifi...
Jun 15, 2023•17 min•Ep. 104
For the next few weeks I’m choosing my favourite episodes from the back catalogue of the podcast. With over 100 episodes to now choose from, I’m taking this opportunity to revisit some of the episodes I’ve most enjoyed putting together. This week I’m sharing one of my absolute favourite episodes. I’m sharing 4 game changing questions that will really transform your museum and gallery programmes. I’ve chosen questions that work for me time after time with all sorts of different groups, different ...
Jun 08, 2023•23 min•Ep. 102
For the next few weeks I’m choosing my favourite episodes from the back catalogue of the podcast. With 100 episodes to now choose from, I’m taking this opportunity to revisit some of the episodes I’ve most enjoyed putting together. Today's choice is all about curiosity. This was a really popular episode back in February 2022 when it was first published and was the first of two episodes about the subject. In this episode I’m talking about how you can cultivate curiosity with your groups. This epi...
Jun 01, 2023•21 min•Ep. 101
In this special 100th episode of The Art Engager podcast, I'm chatting to educator, researcher, author, and speaker Dr Ron Ritchhart. Ron Ritchhart is an award-winning educational researcher, retired Senior Research Associate at Harvard's Project Zero and current Fellow at the University of Melbourne, Australia. His research is focused on developing intellectual character, making thinking visible, and enhancing school and classroom culture to promote deep learning. He is the author of the bestse...
May 25, 2023•47 min•Ep. 100
Welcome to episode 99, where I'm diving into the concept of pacing in museum and gallery programmes, with a particular focus on the idea that "less is more." Pacing directly influences the participant experience. A well-paced programme ensures that your participants stay engaged, attentive and receptive throughout their journey. By carefully managing the rhythm and flow of stops, activities and information , we can create a balance that keeps our participants engaged without overwhelming or exha...
May 18, 2023•23 min•Ep. 99
Welcome to a new episode of The Art Engager podcast, hosted by Claire Bown. In this week's edition, we dive into the extraordinary world of Radio Bart, a unique audience engagement programme at the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp. Joining me are two guests from the museum's Audience Engagement team: An van Hertum and Bart van Peer. What is Radio Bart? Radio Bart is a groundbreaking programme where visitors engage in conversations about art with blind mediators. A mobile studio moves through...
May 11, 2023•22 min•Ep. 98
In this week's episode we're exploring an innovative project at the National Civil War Centre in Newark developing creative writing skills through art and using thinking routines in really innovative ways. The visual literacy Collect Connect Create project was developed to raise self-esteem, self-efficacy and motivation for year 10 pupils (14-15 year olds) who had struggled with disrupted learning during the Covid-19 pandemic. The longer-term aim was that young people would develop the skills, k...
May 04, 2023•34 min•Ep. 97
So following on from last week's episode, talking about the benefits of some silence in your museum and gallery programmes. This week I'm sharing how to do it. A little bit of silence in your programmes can benefit both you as the facilitator and the audience by promoting reflection, active listening, observation, engagement, and flexibility. It contributes to a more meaningful and effective experience for all involved. So how can we create more opportunities for silence in our museum and galler...
Apr 27, 2023•16 min•Ep. 96
You’ve probably heard the phrase ‘silence is golden’ before. This proverb suggests that staying quiet or not speaking can be beneficial in certain situations. How is silence a superpower that we can leverage to our advantage in the design and facilitation of our museum and gallery programmes? Today I’m talking about why silence matters and I'm going to share some insights into why we should be harnessing this superpower to enhance our programmes. But I’m also going to explore the flip-side - why...
Apr 20, 2023•18 min•Ep. 95
Episode 94 of the Art Engager features another special guest, Phyl Terry, Founder of Slow Art Day. Slow Art Day is an annual event that encourages participants worldwide to look at and discuss art slowly. To date, over 1,500 museums and galleries on every continent, including Antarctica's McMurdo Station, have participated in Slow Art Day. I first got in touch with Phyl back in 2013 when I heard about Slow Art Day. Today, we resume our conversation 10 years later about the importance of slowing ...
Apr 13, 2023•43 min•Ep. 94
Today on the podcast, I'm delighted to be talking to bestselling author, broadcaster, two-time TED speaker and voice of the Slow Movement, Carl Honoré . In this episode, Carl Honoré, author of "In Praise of Slow," shares his insights on the benefits of slowing down in every aspect of life. Our conversation centres around the slow movement, and how slowness can 'rehumanise' us in a culture that values speed above everything else. We also discuss the slow art movement and how museums and other cul...
Apr 06, 2023•46 min•Ep. 93
In Episode 92, I'm chatting to Heather Thomas, the Head of Learning and Engagement at the Lightbox Museum and Gallery in Woking, UK. Heather talks about how their Art and Wellbeing programme of creative and therapeutic workshops provides opportunities for those that would otherwise not be able to access arts and heritage services. We discuss the guiding principles behind the Lightbox Museum and Gallery's work in learning and engagement, which has always included helping people with mental health...
Mar 30, 2023•30 min•Ep. 92
Are you tired of using the same old thinking routines in your museum and gallery programmes? Maybe it's time to try something new? In this week’s episode, I'm sharing three exciting thinking routines that you can add to your repertoire. These routines will help you engage your audience and encourage them to think creatively about art and objects. Start with the basics: building a repertoire of thinking routines. Experiment and try new thinking routines to stay curious and inspired. Three new thi...
Mar 23, 2023•22 min•Ep. 91
Today I’m exploring the concept of creating intellectual comfort in your museum and gallery programmes. In my (forthcoming) book Slow Looking at Art: The Visible Thinking in the Museum Approach I have a chapter dedicated to creating a collaborative culture in your museum and gallery programmes. As part of this chapter, I talk about how important it is to make participants feel not only psychologically safe, but also intellectually safe. Museums can be intimidating spaces. And this is particularl...
Mar 16, 2023•19 min•Ep. 90
I have a guest for you today on the show. I’m really happy to be talking to Hannah Cushion about her work as an artist and educator. Hannah is an artist and museum educator working in London and Oxfordshire in the UK. Her work is interested in themes around archiving and preservation. She’s interested in why we keep the things we keep and who we're keeping them for. Since receiving a creative practice grant from Arts Council England in 2021, Hannah has been looking at ways to directly connect he...
Mar 09, 2023•40 min•Ep. 89
Today I’m exploring play in museum education practice. How can we create and lead playful museum programmes? How can we bring more opportunities for play into our guided tours and educational programmes? I was inspired for today's post by our new theme in the Slow Looking Club . Every two weeks we have a new theme and right now we’re exploring play as the focus for our slow looking . We’re looking for depictions of play and playful approaches in art, but also how we can adopt a playful attitude ...
Mar 02, 2023•28 min•Ep. 88
Today I’m returning to one of my favourite subjects - questions. I’m going to explore open-ended questions in detail - not just what they are, but why they are important and when you can use them for the best engagement. Plus, how can you get better at asking open ended questions and ask more of them in your programmes? How can you make sure that you don’t default to closed questions or recall questions? I'm sharing 4 ideas that will help you to ask more open-ended questions & keep the conve...
Feb 23, 2023•18 min•Ep. 87
I often get asked about neutrality as a 'stance' for museum facilitators of discussions around art and objects. So today I'm addressing the question: How neutral do we need to be as a facilitator in the museum? Facilitation is a key part of creating engaging and interactive discussions around art and museum objects. As a facilitator, you are guiding the process, creating participation and activating the learning and engagement. But do you have to be neutral too? If you look at the general defini...
Feb 16, 2023•15 min•Ep. 86
I know thinking routines are a huge crowd pleaser. I’m their biggest fan too - they have fundamentally changed the way I lead discussions around art and objects. Used in combination with the other 7 practices of the VTM approach such as good questions , a range of facilitation skills , slow looking and more, you can create wonderfully engaging discussions in the museum about art and objects . Used as part of a holistic approach, thinking routines will transform the way you work with objects and ...
Feb 09, 2023•23 min•Ep. 85
I’m talking to Margaret Middleton today about what inclusive language is and why it matters. Margaret Middleton is an American independent exhibit designer and museum consultant currently based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. With a degree in industrial design from the Rhode Island School of Design and over 15 years of experience in the museum field, they work at the intersection of design and social justice. We know museums aim to be welcoming places for everyone, but the ways museums communicate...
Feb 02, 2023•29 min•Ep. 84
What words come to mind when you hear the word ‘teenager’? Or the word ‘adolescence’? Do you love working with teens or feel a little apprehensive? I’ve recently been facilitating some team trainings in museums about how to engage with teenagers and so I’ve been thinking a lot about the best ways to work with teens. It's also a subject I get asked about a lot. Here are some tips and ideas for better ways to engage with teenagers in the museum on your guided tours and programmes. I'm exploring: W...
Jan 26, 2023•20 min•Ep. 83
I’m talking today about making space and time for slow looking. So if you've been listening to the podcast for a while, you'll know that I've been practising the art of slow looking for a long time now the last 11/12 years. And it's very much a personal practice and also something that I use with groups of all ages with a variety of objects, artworks, situations and places. But why is it so important to incorporate slow looking into your guided tours, educational programmes and art experiences? ...
Jan 19, 2023•20 min•Ep. 82
Today I’m sharing a variety of different ways to refresh your practice for 2023 so you don’t get stuck in a rut. Are you looking forward to designing and leading guided tours, art experiences, educational programmes in 2023? If, however, you’re not sure about your answers to those questions, or about how you feel about the coming year, then it’s definitely time to shake things up a little. If you’re feeling tired, jaded or uninspired, then it’s definitely time to make some changes. It’s a wonder...
Jan 12, 2023•28 min•Ep. 81
Today I'm really happy to be chatting to Sarah Ciacci about her wonderful work as a family tour specialist. We’re exploring how to engage and inspire families on a guided tour. Sarah Ciacci has been a Professional Blue Badge Guide for London since 2008 and specialises in family tours and art tours. She set up Tours For My Kids to provide inspiring and engaging tours to families in London and Rome She is also a Blue Badge art tutor for trainee guides training in the National Gallery, Tate Modern ...
Jan 05, 2023•36 min•Ep. 80
Today I’m sharing 5 different thinking routines that you can use to compare, contrast and make connections. I’m exploring how you can use these thinking routines to create engaging discussions with art, objects and ideas. I'll look first at what comparing & contrasting is and why it’s important. Then I'm sharing some ideas for things you might want to compare and contrast, before sharing different ways to look at similarities and differences. Then I'm sharing 5 thinking routines help us to m...
Dec 15, 2022•19 min•Ep. 79
I’ve recently lost my voice so I’m taking some time to recover this week and sharing an episode from the back catalogue. Today I'm revisiting an episode about to survive tumbleweed moments. This episode first aired in Oct 2021. It takes a deep dive into what a tumbleweed moment is and how to get over one when it happens. I'm also exploring 7 ways to avoid one in the first place. A tumbleweed moment is a moment of silence or dead air. It can happen when you ask a question and you don’t get a resp...
Dec 08, 2022•22 min•Ep. 78
Today I’m talking about how we can get ourselves into our best state - our most resourceful state - for when we show up to facilitate art discussions, tours, programmes or lessons. And sharing 8 different ways for you to turn up at your best! How you show up is important. Whether you’re leading a tour, teaching an educational programme, teaching a lesson in a classroom or facilitating a training. You want to make sure that when you arrive, you’re in the best state possible. This is something tha...
Dec 01, 2022•19 min•Ep. 77
