Hidden in Plain Sight: Increasing Museum Sustainability Through Reimagining Trails and Landmarks

• In Event: AERA Poster Session Thursday 4:15pm
  In Poster Session: Hidden in Plain Sight: Increasing Museum Sustainability Through Reimagining Trails and Landmarks

Abstract

This ethnographic study explores how museum directors and docents work together to co-construct exhibits and activities to create a more “visitor-centered” experience despite limited financial support and resources. It examines two initial planning meetings and museum walkthroughs in which the museum director, two veteran docents, and one student docent collectively seek to respond to their limited budget through the development of new museum experiences for visitors. Through data collected from video walks, semi-structured interviews, and participant observation, we aim to investigate how the participants seek to revitalize the museum experience. Data was analyzed iteratively using the constant comparative method, to identify recurring patterns, refine emergent themes, and trace connections between spatial practices and future possibilities for visitor engagement.

Authors

• Julie Henry, Pennsylvania State University

• Ty Hollett, Pennsylvania State University