The Responsive Museum: Working With Audiences in the Twenty-first Century

Sending patrons through static displays when they have just come in from the world of video games may already be a lost cause. In this collection of articles designed to help administrators and curators think of museums as learning spaces responsive to their audiences, contributors work from experience to describe understanding and developing audiences at the theoretical, policy and practical levels. Topics include influences on museum practice, government policy, the public access debate, prioritizing audience groups, building capacity for sustainable audience development through networks and partnerships, developing web resources, evaluation, funding, applied research, audience advocacy, creating environments for learning, museum professions, and a hint of where museums will go from here. Topics include responses on such issues as developing the inclusive model, digital technologies, and taking collective responsibility for making museums accessible. Annotation c2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Caroline Lang is Learning Centre Project Manager at the Victoria and Albert Museum, UK, and also works as a museum consultant. She was Senior Policy Adviser for Access and Audience Development at The Museums Libraries and Archives Council (formerly Resource) from 1999 to 2003 managing their first cross-domain disability, cultural diversity and social inclusion programmes. John Reeve was Head of Education at the British Museum 1982-2003. He is a Visiting Fellow at the Institute of Education, London University, UK, where he teaches on the MA in Museums, Galleries and Education. John is also vice-chair of the Group for Education in Museums. He has published on Japanese art and world religions, as well as on many aspects of museology and education. He also works as a museum consultant and trainer in the UK and abroad. Vicky Woollard is Senior Lecturer in the Department of Cultural Policy and Management at City University, London, UK. She is Programme director for the MA Museum and Gallery Management, with particular interest in Education in the Cultural Sector. Vicky has had 18 years experience as an Education Officer in 3 London Museums before becoming a consultant.