The Art Engager

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 her museum practice with her art practice. This has led to the development of the Memory Bank Project, a collection of stories and memories connected to everyday objects. In our chat today, Hannah and I discuss how inclusivity, curiosity, and the opportunity to collaborate with people and to create meaningful connections with objects and between people are really important values in her practice.Museum labels tell us one story but what if the objects themselves could talk? How do we encourage people to include their own stories and experiences when we talk about objects? As this project develops Hannah is exploring how she can adapt her skills as a facilitator to her role as a story collector.We talk about what the Memory Bank Project is, how it works and how Hannah encourages participants to share their personal connections, stories, experiences and memories around an object. And we tell you how you can take part too!So here it is, enjoy!LinksEpisode Web Pagehttps://www.hannahcushion.com/the-memory-bankInstagram: @hannahcushionartist @thememorybankprojectDownload the NEW resource - how to look at art (slowly)Download the Ultimate Thinking Routine ListSupport the ShowJoin the Slow Looking Club Community on FacebookCurated newsletter by Claire Bown

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 to slow looking when we’re out and about. This led me to thinking about how we can be more playful in our programmes when we are with visitors (of all ages, not just children) and incorporate more meaningful opportunities for play? Today I'm sharing 9 ways that you can incorporate play into your guided tours and programmes.LinksEpisode Web PageDownload the NEW resource - how to look at art (slowly)Episode 56 Learning to Love ‘Boring’ Objects through slow looking Episode 45 - What we can learn from improv with Samantha BoffinEpisode 59 - 9 Thinking Routines to Improve your Powers of ObservationEpisode 72 - Reacting to art with our bodies with Rachel RopeikEpisode 25 - 3 Thinking Routines for Slow Looking and DrawingEpisode 61 - How mindfulness and drawing can help us to connect with art with Karly AllenDownload the Ultimate Thinking Routine ListSupport the ShowJoin the Slow Looking Club Community on FacebookCurated newsletter by Claire Bown

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 conversation flowing in an open and engaging way.LinksEPISODE WEB PAGE The Art of Questioning Class with Claire BownDownload the 2023 Ultimate Thinking Routine ListSupport the ShowJoin the Slow Looking Club Community on FacebookDownload my free guide - how to look at art (slowly)Curated newsletter by Claire Bown

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 definition of a generic facilitator you will often see the word ‘neutral’ or ‘impartial’ used. What do these words actually mean? And what should we be neutral about? Is it even possible to be neutral as a museum facilitator?Neutrality is a tricky concept and this subject is always quite a thorny one in my classes and trainings. Listen to today's new episode to find out what I recommend. LinksEPISODE WEB PAGE Download the Ultimate Thinking Routine ListSupport the ShowJoin the Slow Looking Club Community on FacebookCurated newsletter by Claire BownEpisode 5 - The Art of FacilitationEpisode 44 - The 4 Elements of a Great IntroductionEpisode 84 - Why Inclusive Language Matters with Margaret Middleton

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 with audiences in the museum.Thinking routines have wonderful benefits for the participants in your guided tours and educational programmes. But I also believe thinking routines are incredibly useful and beneficial tools for you too - as a museum educator, guide, docent or teacher.  And so today I’m going to focus on you - and I’m going to share some 6 key  benefits you’ll get  from working with these magical structures with art and objects. I going to talk about why routines are beneficial, the importance of structure, the flexibility of routines, how they help you to master sharing information and improve your questioning technique. And finally I’m ending with probably the biggest benefit of all - so stay tuned for that one! LinksEpisode Web PageDownload The Ultimate Thinking Routine ListSupport the ShowJoin the Slow Looking Club Community on FacebookDownload my free guide - how to look at art (slowly)Curated newsletter by Claire BownEpisode 3 - The Magic of Thinking RoutinesEpisode 62 - 7 Ways to be creative with thinking routinesEpisode 12 - 6 Best Practices for Sharing InformationEpisode 36 - Quick Ways to Improve your Questioning TechniqueUsing Thinking Routines To Formulate Better Questions

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 can unintentionally exclude and alienate visitors.Likewise, when we’re working as museum teachers, guides and educators the words we choose when we communicate can hide unconscious biases and assumptions, especially about subjects like “family.”10 years ago, Margaret created a tool called the Family Inclusive Language chart which helps us to choose words that avoid labelling and making assumptions about the identities and relationships between museum visitors. We discuss:the ways you might use the Family Inclusive Language chart in the museumhow certain words, phrases and tenses can have a positive or negative effect on a group.why choosing the right words is just as important as avoiding the wrong ones.how we can be more intentional about the language we use and can train ourselves to not automatically default to words that may not be inclusive. This chat will make you more aware of the language and the words you use when you’re with visitors in the museum. And you’ll gain useful insight into how thoughtful word choices have the power to create connections and include everyone. LinksSupport the ShowJoin the Slow Looking Club Community on FacebookDownload the NEW resource - how to look at art (slowly)Curated newsletter by Claire BownEpisode webpage (+ transcript)margaretmiddleton.com for Family Inclusive Language chart, helpful articles, and other free resourcesMargaret Middleton on TwitterWelcoming Young Children into the Museum: A Practical Guide - Sarah Erdman, Nhi Nguyen, Margaret Middleton

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:Why our thoughts shape our attitude towards teensSeeing teenage behaviour through a developmental lensPositive reasons for working with teensCreating an inclusive, warm and friendly atmosphereThe importance of shared ownershipThe role of open-ended questions and careful listeningReading the group and avoiding false cluesWhy less is moreAnd why teens like to discuss themes of global significanceLinksSupport the ShowJoin the Slow Looking Club Community on FacebookDownload the NEW resource - how to look at art (slowly)Curated newsletter by Claire Bown5 harmful myths and 5 inspiring truths about teenagers - Big ThinkEpisode 44 - The 4 elements of a great introduction

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?In today's episode you'll hear:who inspired my love of slow looking when I first got started in 2011myth-busting: about what slow looking is and how it works. how slow looking is the key to engagement3 main reasons why it's important to make space and time for slow lookinghow you can incorporate it into your guided tours, your educational programmes your online session, even if you think you don't have the time or the spacethe key benefits to including slow looking onto your programmes - whatever format they takeIf you're not making space and time for slow looking, then you're really missing a trick - listen to today's episode about making the space and time for slow looking and embed it as a fundamental part of all your programmes. LinksEpisode 2 - What is slow looking (and how can I get started?)Episode 7 - How to Develop a Daily Slow Looking PracticeFree resource - Thinking Routines for ObservationFree guide - how to look at art (slowly)Support the ShowJoin the Slow Looking Club Community on FacebookCurated newsletter by Claire Bown

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 wonderful thing to do at any time of year, but especially at the start of a new year. If you continue to do things exactly as you've always done them, then you might end up feeling like you’re on auto-pilot, or start feeling a bit restless or even bored. It’s tempting to stick to the tried and tested formula - especially if it worked well last year - but making a few simple changes to your practice and the way you do things might help you to rediscover a passion and enthusiasm for your work. And this renewed enthusiasm will of course come across to your participants and might even be contagious. This episode is for you even if you’re not feeling stuck, perhaps you’re  more than happy with the way you do things. But you may hear something here that you’d like to try out at some point this year. And your audience will thank you for it!So here are 7 different ways you can refresh your practice for the coming year. This episode is not about sweeping changes, this is about small changes that will have a big effect. Enjoy!LinksThe Art of Questioning - A 45 minute self-paced masterclass taking you step-by-step through the process of improving your questioning technique. Full of takeaway tools and exercises to help you consistently create, sort & evaluate your own questions.Other episodes to help you refresh your practice:Episode 29 - How to Develop a Reflective PracticeEpisode 52 - From Good to Great: How to Develop and Grow as an EducatorEpisode 53 - How to Define your Personal Facilitator StyleEpisode 60 Learn, Unlearn, Relearn Episode 77 - How to Show up in a Resourceful StateEpisode 64 - 4 Powerful Questions to Supercharge your Art Experiences Support the ShowJoin the Slow Looking Club Community on FacebookDownload the NEW resource - how to look at art (slowly)Curated newsletter by Claire Bown

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 and Tate Britain. She is an accredited lecturer of the Arts Society, a university lecturer, a gallery educator and runs regular courses and independent lectures on a variety of art historical periods.In our chat today, we talk about the values and principles that guide and shape her work and What made her decide to focus on working with familiesWe explore what families actually want from museums and heritage (and what they quite often get instead)We talk about how she engages children and their parents with art and history and the techniques she uses. How she designs AND facilitates for engagement using variety and pace. We talk about whether it’s all about the kids or whether the parents get involved too. And how you might design intergenerational tours. I’ve led  many many family tours in the past too and we have a good chat about what works and what doesn’t with family tours. Sarah and I seem to be on the same wavelength about so many things!This is a lovely chat about creating engaging family experiences with art, objects and even buildings.  Enjoy! LinksSupport the ShowJoin the Slow Looking Club Community on FacebookDownload the NEW resource - how to look at art (slowly)Curated newsletter by Claire BownTours for My Kids Website: www.toursformykids.comSocial Mediawww.instagram.com/toursformykidshttps://twitter.com/toursformykidshttps://www.facebook.com/toursformykids/