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Project Title: How are leading art galleries inspiring
young people and educators through their learning
programmes, interpretation and resources?
Countries Visited: France, USA.
I wanted to explore how leading galleries and
museums provide their visitors with an inspiring,
exciting and motivating experience. In 2010,
I spent 4 weeks researching learning and
engagement provision in Washington DC, New York
and Paris. I visited 20 museums and galleries,
attending sessions, observing visitors, talking to staff
and participants.
My research looked at how organisations were
approaching formal and informal learning. I was
interested in how they inspired and engaged visitors,
particularly adults, young people and those with
access needs. I explored the ways in which they
brought together a range of disciplines to illuminate
their collections. I also found out about their
interpretation, including digital provision and
collaborations. I looked at how they used and
designed their spaces, creating sociable, enjoyable
places for their visitors. There were so many
inspiring examples - huge, late-night events at the
Brooklyn Museum, teacher training at the Louvre,
interactive theatre at the Smithsonian American
History Museum, and the Metropolitan Museum’s
programme for visitors with dementia to name but a
few.
Learning & Engagement in Galleries & Museums Creating inspirational programmes, interpretation and resources
Mailhac, like ‘kayak’
What did I do on my Fellowship? What has been the impact?
The Fellowship was an amazing experience which continues to shape my practice, inform and inspire me.
Since my trip 5 years ago, I have worked as part of learning and curatorial teams at Museums Sheffield,
London Transport Museum, the National Portrait Gallery and Imperial War Museum North. I have also
become an Associate of the Museums Association.
In May 2014, I set up my own business as a freelance learning and engagement specialist, working across the
arts and heritage sector. I connect people to the world around them through creative events, learning projects
and interpretation. I offer mentoring and carry out research and evaluation to support work in these areas.
A few examples of the tangible impacts…
Brooklyn Museum deliver an inclusive, creative
learning programme, which they have been
developing for years. They gave me inspiration and
realistic expectations when I introduced Museum
Lates at Museum Sheffi eld and instigated the
first ever Museum at Night event at IWM North.
I also picked up ideas for programming the National
Portrait Gallery’s weekly Late Shift.
I saw many examples of interactive theatre, music
and partnerships, which inspired me to develop and
deliver similar work. I introduced programmes of
weekly lunchtime concerts by Music students,
and Applied Performance students gave dramatic
interpretations of exhibition themes at
Museums Sheffield. I worked with the English
National Ballet at IWM North, and with DJs and
musicians at the NPG. These events animated
the spaces, brought in new audiences and gave
people the chance to explore creative connections.
The simple, artist-led approach at the Museum of
Art and Design inspired my programming for
Drawing the Summer at Museums Sheffield. This
programme created simple, intergenerational
events, in which everyone could have a go together.
MOMA and Brooklyn Museum’s work guided me and
my colleagues as we developed Educator Previews,
assisting freelancers, tutors and teachers to
work with exhibitions and collections in Sheffield.
Since my Fellowship, thousands of people have
attended events which I have programmed and
managed. I am now evaluating learning
programmes, resources and exhibitions, and
mentoring, for organisations such as Children &
the Arts, the Imperial War Museum, Museum
Development Yorkshire and the Science Museums
Group. I have encouraged and supported others to
successfully apply to WCMT.
And some more subtle impacts…
With each new experience on my research trip, I
became more self-confident. I saw others taking
risks and trying new things. They told me how it took
time to build new audiences, that they had their
moments of doubt and tumbleweed, but that they
had kept at it… and it worked! I have reminded
myself of the things I learnt there so many times,
and have been able to reassure mentees and
colleagues too.
The trip gave me the headspace to think about the
things I believed in and reminded me of the reasons
why I do this work, in a way which had not been
possible since doing my MA in Museum Studies.
My time at the National United States Holocaust
Memorial Museum opened my eyes to the
importance of teaching the horrors of war. This
helped focus my thinking when developing the First
World War Centenary programme at IWM North.
I returned home full of energy and ideas, and
whenever I need a boost of inspiration for myself or
others, I can revisit my blog and photos, flick
through my sketchbook and reread the resources
which were shared with me.
Through my Fellowship, I became aware that I was
part of a global network of people working in the
museum sector with dedication and creativity. We
are faced with common issues, and there is much
value in pooling our approaches and solutions.
My Fellowship has shown me the importance of
simply visiting other places and talking to the people
there to share our experiences and enthusiasm.
Catherine Mailhac
Year of Fellowship: 2010
www.mailhac.org
Twitter: @MissyMailhac