Structuring Interpretation in Museums
January 2024
This article is related to a recently completed custom research project ABA conducted on behalf of a museum member. Our research team is always delighted to speak with members about tailoring research projects to your organization. To learn more or submit a custom research request, simply contact your member advisor or email us at info@advisoryarts.com.
How have museums structured their teams around interpretation and what are the best processes to establish and embed interpretation methods into existing workflows and practices?
These questions, from an ABA museum member, led to a qualitative research study consisting of 13 interviews with museums that have well established practices and teams dedicated to museum interpretation.
Findings from the research include:
Secure structural and leadership buy-in: For interpretation to be an accepted practice and process, it first needs director-level support. Creating a new interpretation process implies change, and the staff leading these transitions need the support and authority of the Director to do their work.
The introduction of visitor research and evaluations can help push for interpretation: Testing, prototyping and going out to communities to understand what audiences want to hear, supports the interpretation process and the democratization of knowledge ownership. Over time, evaluations should become part of interpretation processes alongside planning to inform design and experience outcomes.
Working with community advisors supports perspective diversity and inclusion: Many museums work with either ad-hoc project groups or standing community committees to support on specific exhibitions, especially where the expertise and lived experiences of curators may be lacking. These interactions can also take the form of community label-writing, which further promotes the vision of shared authority and diverse perspectives in the galleries.
Click below to download the full report.
