Creating the visitor-centered museum

Abstract

"What does the transformation to a visitor-centered approach do for a museum? How are museums made relevant to a broad range of visitors of varying ages, identities, and social classes? Does appealing to a larger audience force museums to "dumb down" their work? What internal changes are required? Based on a multi-year Kress Foundation-sponsored study of 20 innovative American and European collections-based museums recognized by their peers to be visitor-centered, Peter Samis and Mimi Michaelson answer these key questions for the field. The book describes key institutions that have opened the doors to a wider range of visitors; addresses the internal struggles to reorganize and democratize these institutions; uses case studies, interviews of key personnel, Key Takeaways, and additional resources to help museum professionals implement a visitor-centered approach in collections-based institutions."--Provided by publisher.

Contents

Considering the visitor -- Change takes leadership -- Contours of change -- Case studies -- Charting history -- Denver Art Museum: building a sustainable visitor-centered practice -- Engaging through audience immersion -- City Museum: the power of play -- Ruhr Museum: connecting through adaptive reuse and design -- Minnesota History Center: lessons from a learning team -- Re-invigorating traditional museums -- Detroit Institute of Arts: reinventing a landmark museum with and for visitors -- Oakland Museum of California: including a diverse public -- Columbus Museum of Art: museum as community living room -- Creating social change -- Kelvingrove: museum as cultural commons -- Taking a critical stance on museum practice -- Van Abbe Museum: radicality meets hospitality -- MCA Denver: experience over objects -- Conclusion: varieties of visitor-centeredness and change.