Episode 148
How to create active engagement on guided experiences
In this 4th birthday episode of The Art Engager, host Claire Bown explores what active engagement really means and why it matters so much for creating meaningful guided experiences. She addresses what many educators struggle with – we know visitors learn better when actively participating, but how do we consistently make this happen in our daily practice?
How can we move beyond knowing that active participation matters to actually implementing it day after day? What practical techniques make the difference between visitors following along and truly engaging?
In this episode, Claire explores:
- Why traditional approaches often lead to disengagement (despite focusing on collection highlights)
- The spectrum from passive to active
- The fundamental mindset change required to create active experiences
- How to make your introductions more active
- How to transform questioning from testing knowledge to sparking genuine connection, and meaning-making
- Ways to use movement and positioning as powerful tools for engagement rather than defaulting to "follow the leader"
- Simple strategies to move beyond the 'hub and spoke' model and foster direct participant-to-participant interaction
- How to share information in a responsive and adaptable way that offers multiple pathways into the core ideas.
- How to create active closings to help visitors reflect, connect, and carry something forward.
The Art Engager is written and presented by Claire Bown. Editing is by Matt Jacobs and Claire Bown. Music by Richard Bown. Support the show on Patreon.
Show notes
‘The Art Engager: Reimagining Guided Experiences in Museums‘ is now available worldwide through your favourite online platforms and retailers. Buy it here on Amazon.com: https://tinyurl.com/buytheartengager
The Art Engager book website: https://www.theartengager.com/
Support the show with a simple monthly subscription on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArtEngager
Transcript
Hello and welcome to the Art Engager podcast with me, Claire Bown.
Claire Bown:I'm here to share techniques and tools to help you engage with your audience
Claire Bown:and bring art objects and ideas to life.
Claire Bown:So let's dive into this week's show.
Claire Bown:Hello and welcome to a new episode of the Art Engager.
Claire Bown:I'm Claire Bown, and today I've got a solo episode for you focusing
Claire Bown:on how to transform your guided experiences from passive to active.
Claire Bown:But before that, in the last episode, I was speaking with Sita Sergeant,
Claire Bown:founder, and self-described.
Claire Bown:Chief Troublemaker at She Shapes History, an Australian tour company
Claire Bown:and social enterprise that's really changing how we experience women's
Claire Bown:history through engaging walking tours.
Claire Bown:So if you missed it, do go back and listen to episode 1, 4, 7.
Claire Bown:I am also excited to share that we are celebrating six months of my book, the
Claire Bown:Art Engager, being out in the World.
Claire Bown:Thank you to everyone who has supported the book so far.
Claire Bown:I'm really grateful for all your enthusiasm and feedback.
Claire Bown:And if you've enjoyed the book, please consider leaving a review on Amazon as
Claire Bown:this really helps others discover it.
Claire Bown:And I'd love for you to share what you'd like about the book on social media too.
Claire Bown:If you are reading as part of a book club, get in touch to request a
Claire Bown:free q and a with me for your group.
Claire Bown:You can now support the Art Engager with a monthly subscription on Patreon.
Claire Bown:If you enjoy this podcast, please consider supporting us to keep the content coming.
Claire Bown:All the details are in the show notes.
Claire Bown:Let's get on with today's show.
Claire Bown:So take a moment to think about the guided experiences or programs at your museum.
Claire Bown:You probably already know that active participation creates more
Claire Bown:meaningful visitor experiences than passive listening.
Claire Bown:Yet, consistently facilitating this, actually doing it day after day, tour
Claire Bown:after tour, program after program.
Claire Bown:That's where the real challenge lies.
Claire Bown:So today we're gonna explore some practical techniques for
Claire Bown:transforming experiences from passive to active, drawing both from my
Claire Bown:book and also from approaches I've gathered through years in the field.
Claire Bown:And these strategies will help you to consistently create
Claire Bown:more impactful and memorable experiences for your participants.
Claire Bown:So let's start at the beginning.
Claire Bown:Now, in order to consistently create active participation on our guided
Claire Bown:experiences, we need to be clear about what we're actually working towards.
Claire Bown:So what does an active, engaging visitor experience really look like in practice?
Claire Bown:So creating active experiences means shifting away from traditional approaches,
Claire Bown:and in the past museum programs often relied on this one way delivery of
Claire Bown:information -so facts, figures, stories, and anecdotes, these one size fits all
Claire Bown:experiences, rarely considered individual needs, preferences, or interests.
Claire Bown:Participants on these programs were passive observers, rather than active
Claire Bown:contributors, and this may have led to potential disengagement and
Claire Bown:even boredom despite these programs focusing on collection highlights.
Claire Bown:So instead of this traditional model, we want to create experiences where
Claire Bown:the educator facilitates discovery rather than just conveying information.
Claire Bown:Participants actively contribute to the experience rather than just receive it.
Claire Bown:Success is measured by engagement, connections made, and the meaning
Claire Bown:constructed and different perspectives enrich and enhance the experience
Claire Bown:rather than diluting the narrative.
Claire Bown:Now, none of this means we're setting aside expertise, knowledge, or content.
Claire Bown:In fact, it takes more knowledge to guide discovery, than to
Claire Bown:simply present information.
Claire Bown:You're still meeting any content goals you may have, but you're just
Claire Bown:doing it through engagement rather than one way information delivery.
Claire Bown:And I've got a quote here from an educator who told me after a workshop
Claire Bown:in their feedback, they said, "I used to think my job was to teach participants
Claire Bown:about the collection or the site.
Claire Bown:Now I think my job is to help participants discover meaningful
Claire Bown:connections between these places, objects, and their own lives."
Claire Bown:so if we think about this as a spectrum, what does moving from passive to active
Claire Bown:actually look like in practice in museums?
Claire Bown:So if we start at the passive end of the spectrum, we often see approaches
Claire Bown:like maybe longer presentations, uh, leading with information about
Claire Bown:artworks, objects, historic rooms, and with limited space for dialogue.
Claire Bown:We might see predetermined routes through the galleries or historic buildings
Claire Bown:with few opportunities for choice by either the guide or the participants.
Claire Bown:There may be questions that mainly check for listening or retention of
Claire Bown:information, rather than encouraging curiosity, observation, or thinking.
Claire Bown:And maybe content that doesn't actively connect to or build upon participants'
Claire Bown:existing knowledge and experiences, it might be the same content that's
Claire Bown:repeated for every guided experience.
Claire Bown:And even, uh, physical positioning that resembles a sort of, uh, follow
Claire Bown:the leader approach with the group moving and stopping as one unit, maybe
Claire Bown:standing in similar formations at each location, gathered around the guide
Claire Bown:and their attention directed mainly to specific features that are highlighted.
Claire Bown:So that's the passive end of the spectrum.
Claire Bown:But what about as we move towards the more active end?
Claire Bown:So we might incorporate elements like: discussion-based approaches
Claire Bown:with multiple perspectives contributing to the understanding.
Claire Bown:We might have some choice points where participants can influence
Claire Bown:which objects, artworks, rooms, or stories, we can explore more deeply.
Claire Bown:We'll definitely have questions, questions that invite personal
Claire Bown:connections and multiple interpretations, and also tailored content, content
Claire Bown:that builds on and connects to existing knowledge and experiences.
Claire Bown:And there might be physical arrangements that facilitate engagement with the site
Claire Bown:and interaction amongst the group members.
Claire Bown:Now it's important to also say at this point that active doesn't necessarily mean
Claire Bown:physical activity or talking all the time.
Claire Bown:Mental and emotional engagement are equally important forms
Claire Bown:of active participation.
Claire Bown:So if you have a participant and they're quietly looking at and
Claire Bown:thinking about an artwork, they may be just as actively engaged or even
Claire Bown:more engaged than someone who's answering factual questions about it.
Claire Bown:So before we dive into any specific techniques, we need to first
Claire Bown:address the mindset change required to create active experiences.
Claire Bown:And this starts with rethinking three key relationships.
Claire Bown:So first, the relationship between the educator, guide,
Claire Bown:docent, and the participant.
Claire Bown:So if we see ourselves as facilitators, rather than information
Claire Bown:providers, we naturally create more space for active participation.
Claire Bown:Your knowledge then becomes an active tool to guide and foster discovery.
Claire Bown:Secondly, we need to rethink the relationship between the
Claire Bown:participant and the object.
Claire Bown:So we need to recognize that participants bring their own perspectives and
Claire Bown:experiences to the conversation, and this helps us to design encounters that create
Claire Bown:opportunities for them to connect and find meaning in what they're looking at.
Claire Bown:And thirdly, the relationship amongst participants.
Claire Bown:So museum visits are social experiences.
Claire Bown:People learn from each other.
Claire Bown:So by creating opportunities for participants to share ideas and
Claire Bown:perspectives with each other, we enrich everyone's experience.
Claire Bown:And making these mindset shifts requires intention.
Claire Bown:So in my book, I emphasize the importance of actively and intentionally creating the
Claire Bown:conditions where engagement can happen.
Claire Bown:This is central to two of the eight practices in the Thinking Museum approach.
Claire Bown:That's facilitation and creating a community of collaboration.
Claire Bown:And at the start of the book.
Claire Bown:I also discussed the 3 Foundations of the approach, so that's
Claire Bown:observation and noticing.
Claire Bown:Shared visual, inquiry and personal discovery, and accepting these as
Claire Bown:the values from which you design and lead your programs is a crucial
Claire Bown:part of the mindset shift needed for creating active experiences.
Claire Bown:And this shift can be quite challenging.
Claire Bown:So in museum programs where sharing knowledge is the primary focus, this
Claire Bown:can be difficult, but knowledge and facilitation aren't opposing skills.
Claire Bown:Good knowledge of your collection or your site can actually enhance your
Claire Bown:ability to facilitate meaningful discussions and to respond confidently
Claire Bown:to whatever emerges during an experience.
Claire Bown:So let's have a look at the first moments of any guided experience
Claire Bown:when we're getting started.
Claire Bown:So the first few minutes sets the tone for everything that follows, and in the
Claire Bown:Thinking Museum approach, this falls within what I call the Entry phase.
Claire Bown:So this is one of.
Claire Bown:Three phases of a guided experience, which are Entry, Exploration, and Exit
Claire Bown:and traditional museum tour introductions often focus on establishing the
Claire Bown:educator or guides credentials may be outlining some collection highlights
Claire Bown:or providing historical context.
Claire Bown:Now, while these elements may have their place, they can also unintentionally
Claire Bown:signal a passive experience ahead.
Claire Bown:So here's how to make your introductions more active.
Claire Bown:So firstly, keep your personal introductions brief and relevant.
Claire Bown:Focus on your role as a facilitator and what you love about your job
Claire Bown:rather than listing credentials or academic achievements.
Claire Bown:Secondly, the idea of connection before content.
Claire Bown:I've said it before, I'll say it again.
Claire Bown:Take time to make connections with people.
Claire Bown:Take time to learn about your participants before the program starts in earnest.
Claire Bown:You know, asking what drew you to this exhibition today creates a relationship
Claire Bown:that values their perspective.
Claire Bown:Also make sure you frame the experience as collaborative from the start.
Claire Bown:So use 'we' language this positions participants as co explorers
Claire Bown:rather than just audience members.
Claire Bown:So, for example, 'today we'll be exploring these artworks together...'
Claire Bown:is a simple shift that positions participants as active contributors.
Claire Bown:And also establish participation norms early.
Claire Bown:So, include a simple participation element in the first few minutes of the program.
Claire Bown:This will set the expectation that this will be an interactive experience.
Claire Bown:So for example, you could invite participants to share their initial
Claire Bown:impression of the gallery space or the building, or to spend some time
Claire Bown:observing and describing what they see in the first artwork or object.
Claire Bown:And acknowledge the value of diverse perspectives upfront, so explicitly
Claire Bown:invite different viewpoints you could say in your introductions.
Claire Bown:'You know, one of the wonderful things about art history, whatever
Claire Bown:theme you want, is how it can mean different things to different people.
Claire Bown:And I'm really looking forward to hearing your perspectives today.'
Claire Bown:And lastly, think about choice points.
Claire Bown:So if this is appropriate for your setting, you might want to let
Claire Bown:participants know about potential opportunities to influence the
Claire Bown:direction of the experience.
Claire Bown:So you might say today we'll have a few moments where we can decide together
Claire Bown:which areas to explore more deeply.
Claire Bown:So that's your introduction.
Claire Bown:Let's move on to questions.
Claire Bown:So questions, I've said many times on this podcast, they are the most
Claire Bown:powerful tool we have for creating active experiences, but the type of
Claire Bown:questions we ask makes all the difference.
Claire Bown:So in passive experiences, questions, often test knowledge.
Claire Bown:So, you know, questions like, ' who can tell me when
Claire Bown:this building was constructed?'
Claire Bown:They might also have single correct answers, ones the guide
Claire Bown:or educator already knows.
Claire Bown:These questions might focus mainly on identifying features, styles, or dates
Claire Bown:or artists, when we're talking about art,
Claire Bown:they might also act as rhetorical devices before the guide eventually
Claire Bown:provides the right answer.
Claire Bown:So I like to think of these as 'performative questions' because they're
Claire Bown:not signaling that you are interested in what participants have to say at all.
Claire Bown:So here's how to transform your questioning approach
Claire Bown:into more active questioning.
Claire Bown:Ask genuine observation questions.
Claire Bown:You know, 'what do you notice about this room?' 'What details stand out
Claire Bown:to you in this artwork?' So these invite everyone into the conversation
Claire Bown:regardless of any prior knowledge.
Claire Bown:Then you might want to use some comparative questions, you know, 'how
Claire Bown:does this space differ from the one we just visited?' 'Or what similarities do
Claire Bown:you notice between these two objects?', these types of questions, prompt,
Claire Bown:active looking and connection making.
Claire Bown:And you might want to include some personal response questions such as,
Claire Bown:'which aspect of this museum or historic site do you find most compelling?'
Claire Bown:Or what about some hypothesis generating questions.
Claire Bown:'Why might the inhabitants have designed the space this way?' 'Or
Claire Bown:what might this unusual feature tell us about how people lived?'
Claire Bown:these types of questions, invite speculation rather
Claire Bown:than regurgitation of facts.
Claire Bown:And you'll also want to think about sequencing your questions.
Claire Bown:So in my book, I share lots of tools to help with formulating
Claire Bown:and sequencing your questions.
Claire Bown:First, in the Discussion Cycle, I show how moving from observation to
Claire Bown:description, to interpretation and conclusion creates a natural progression.
Claire Bown:And you might also want to try one of my 10 Questioning Practices.
Claire Bown:These will help you to sequence questions for different types of discussions.
Claire Bown:And crucially, these frameworks allow space for sharing
Claire Bown:information in an active way.
Claire Bown:And finally, you want to give wait time, so allow five to seven seconds
Claire Bown:of silence after asking a question.
Claire Bown:This shows you genuinely expect some thoughtful responses, and it gives
Claire Bown:people time to think- really, really important, especially when they're
Claire Bown:taking in new environments as well.
Claire Bown:So let's now talk about movement and how we design spaces, because the
Claire Bown:way we move through museums really shapes whether we are just passively
Claire Bown:following or actively engaging.
Claire Bown:So in more passive setups, we tend to see things like this.
Claire Bown:Perhaps everyone gathered behind the guide, we're all
Claire Bown:looking in the same direction.
Claire Bown:The group moves together as one following a set route, and people might stay
Claire Bown:at the same distance from each other throughout, and there's not much physical
Claire Bown:interaction with the space itself.
Claire Bown:But we can change this.
Claire Bown:So try mixing up the physical arrangement if space allows, get the group to form
Claire Bown:a semicircle as this helps everyone see both the object and each other.
Claire Bown:And in small rooms like those in a historic house or an old building, you
Claire Bown:can invite people to choose a spot where they can really notice something specific.
Claire Bown:And if you're outside, getting people to look from different vantage points
Claire Bown:can really open up new ways of seeing the landscape or the architecture.
Claire Bown:You can also offer choice in how people move.
Claire Bown:So say something like, uh, 'take a few minutes to look around this area and
Claire Bown:find something that stands out to you'.
Claire Bown:And this changes people from being followers to becoming explorers.
Claire Bown:Then when you come back together, you can share and compare
Claire Bown:what caught your attention.
Claire Bown:I also love to use positioning as a thinking tool.
Claire Bown:So for example, asking, um, perhaps 'where do you think a member of the household
Claire Bown:might have stood in this room?' Or 'find a spot that gives you a completely
Claire Bown:different view of this feature'.
Claire Bown:It turns thinking into something physical and visible.
Claire Bown:And of course varying how people look.
Claire Bown:So careful closeup looking for looking at details, using the middle
Claire Bown:distance to take in the whole scene or from very far away for context.
Claire Bown:And all of this helps to create different layers of engagement.
Claire Bown:You can even use the body as a way to respond.
Claire Bown:So, you know, try something like, 'how do you think people
Claire Bown:moved through this space?'
Claire Bown:Or 'notice how your body reacts to the size or layout of the architecture.'
Claire Bown:It's about tuning into how the space feels, as well as how it looks.
Claire Bown:And yes, this even works in tight spaces.
Claire Bown:So in a small room, you could say something as simple as, 'take
Claire Bown:30 seconds to notice one detail that interests you about how
Claire Bown:this space was designed or used'.
Claire Bown:And then we'll share.
Claire Bown:Prompts like these can make a big difference.
Claire Bown:So let's move on to talk about how we can facilitate
Claire Bown:interaction amongst participants.
Claire Bown:So in a more traditional program, the guide would stand at the front, would
Claire Bown:ask a question, someone would answer, and the guide or educator would respond.
Claire Bown:Then another question and another answer.
Claire Bown:So it's a bit like everything has to go through the guide, like a wheel
Claire Bown:with the guide at the center and the participants around the edge.
Claire Bown:But there's no connection between the people who are on the edge, there's
Claire Bown:no real conversation or collaboration.
Claire Bown:This setup really limits how much participants can interact with each other.
Claire Bown:So how can we change this dynamic into a more active one?
Claire Bown:So you could start with something very simple like partner looking.
Claire Bown:So 'turn to the person next to you and share one thing you've
Claire Bown:noticed about this object'.
Claire Bown:And with this, everyone gets involved at once and it helps people feel
Claire Bown:more comfortable participating.
Claire Bown:You can also build in layers.
Claire Bown:So you can start with pairs, then bring pairs together in small groups
Claire Bown:to spot patterns or common ideas, and only then share with the whole group.
Claire Bown:And by doing this, you are building confidence and energy step by step.
Claire Bown:You could also create structured sharing opportunities.
Claire Bown:So techniques like each person shares one element they notice
Claire Bown:that hasn't been mentioned yet.
Claire Bown:And this ensures broader participation, much more so than open discussion.
Claire Bown:And you can also assign roles.
Claire Bown:So perhaps perspective taking roles.
Claire Bown:You could create small groups, and each group considers the same
Claire Bown:object from different perspectives.
Claire Bown:So design elements, historical context, emotional response, whatever you want,
Claire Bown:and then bring it all together to discuss.
Claire Bown:So let's talk about information next.
Claire Bown:So, in traditional or more passive guided experiences, the content is often fixed.
Claire Bown:It's delivered the same way, regardless of who's in front of you.
Claire Bown:But when we shift to a more active approach, our content becomes
Claire Bown:more responsive and adaptable.
Claire Bown:Now, this doesn't mean that we stop sharing important
Claire Bown:historical information or context.
Claire Bown:Not at all.
Claire Bown:It's about offering multiple pathways into the core ideas.
Claire Bown:So ask your participants what they're curious about.
Claire Bown:Ask this question.
Claire Bown:What are you wondering about this 'object, this artwork?', and
Claire Bown:ask it throughout your program.
Claire Bown:It gives you a sense of what the group is curious about, and then
Claire Bown:you can share tailored information that connects with their interests.
Claire Bown:Sometimes I'll share a small piece of information and it
Claire Bown:will act as a springboard.
Claire Bown:Then I'll ask something like this: 'knowing this information,
Claire Bown:how does it change how you look at the artwork or object?
Claire Bown:What do you notice differently now?'
Claire Bown:So this keeps the conversation active and it gives meaning room to grow.
Claire Bown:And always invite interpretation first.
Claire Bown:So before sharing an explanation ask what do you think this might be?
Claire Bown:Or Why do you think this detail was included?
Claire Bown:Then you can add context that builds on their ideas or observations.
Claire Bown:So finally, moving to closing.
Claire Bown:So how we end an experience matters just as much as how we begin.
Claire Bown:Passive closings usually involve a quick summary or a 'thanks for
Claire Bown:coming', but active closings are an opportunity to help visitors reflect,
Claire Bown:connect, and carry something forward.
Claire Bown:So you might use reflection prompts.
Claire Bown:These are prompts or questions that invite participants to identify what
Claire Bown:was most meaningful, surprising, or thought provoking for them.
Claire Bown:So you might want to use my Look Back, Step Forward, or my
Claire Bown:3 2 1 Reflection Questioning Practices from The Art Engager.
Claire Bown:These are so useful to end a program.
Claire Bown:You might want to issue some connection invitations.
Claire Bown:You might say 'is there an idea from today that you might take with you
Claire Bown:into everyday life?' Or you might do some group reflection, so you might
Claire Bown:ask the question, 'what themes have we noticed across the galleries or
Claire Bown:objects or artworks that we explored?'
Claire Bown:And you might want to ask some forward looking questions.
Claire Bown:So 'what might you see differently now after this experience?' In my
Claire Bown:book, I call this phase the Exit phase, and it's a phase where you
Claire Bown:are really helping participants to take what they've experienced
Claire Bown:and connect it to a wider world.
Claire Bown:So transforming visits from passive to active is essentially rethinking
Claire Bown:how meaning gets made in museums.
Claire Bown:The approaches we've discussed today from re-imagining the educator's role
Claire Bown:to transforming questions, redesigning physical movement, facilitating visitor
Claire Bown:interaction, to adapting content, to closing for continued engagement, all
Claire Bown:of this serve this larger purpose.
Claire Bown:Now it's a change in technique.
Claire Bown:Sure.
Claire Bown:But it's also a mindset shift.
Claire Bown:And these shifts ask us to trust that our participants bring valuable perspectives,
Claire Bown:that meaning happens through engagement, and that our role is to facilitate
Claire Bown:discovery, not just deliver facts.
Claire Bown:So I'd love to hear how you are making these shifts in your own work.
Claire Bown:What's working, what's challenging?
Claire Bown:You can share with me on social media at Thinking Museum.
Claire Bown:So that's all for today's episode.
Claire Bown:I hope you found it helpful and thought provoking.
Claire Bown:If you've enjoyed this episode, or if any episode in our extensive back
Claire Bown:catalog has resonated with you, please consider supporting the Art Engager.
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Claire Bown:Finally, don't forget to visit my website to learn more about The Art Engager book
Claire Bown:available now wherever books are sold.
Claire Bown:That's it for today.
Claire Bown:Thank you so much for joining us.
Claire Bown:See you next time.
Claire Bown:Bye.
Claire Bown:Thank you for listening to The Art Engager podcast with me, Claire Brown.
Claire Bown:You can find more art engagement resources by visiting my website,
Claire Bown:thinkingmuseum.com, and you can also find me on Instagram at Thinking
Claire Bown:Museum, where I regularly share.
Claire Bown:Tips and tools on how to bring art to life and engage your audience.
Claire Bown:If you've enjoyed this episode, please share with others and subscribe to the
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Claire Bown:Thank you so much for listening, and I'll see you next time.