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

catherine@mailhac.org

Twitter: @MissyMailhac