Catalyzing Conversations: How to Activate Collections in a Socially Relevant Way

Events of the past few years have thrown a stark light on the nature of museum-community connection, and prompted many to ask: What could be the role of a museum to respond to events that rock our communities? and What are the moral implications of “business as usual”?

While artists often tackle issues of their time, institutions tend to be conservative in their response. Recently, however, some in the museum field have signaled increasing willingness to take a more explicit role as community actor.

One of many fundamental challenges in playing a more active social role is to activate collections in ways that are accessible, relevant and engaging to visitors. For museums to catalyze conversations, and potentially action, visitors must feel their ideas and full selves are welcome and valued.

Participants in this session will experience the thought process of designing for dynamic, visitor-centered engagement with social issues through art:

• Engage in a creativity challenge to think about the future of the field
• Go through the questions, philosophies, and practices that guide CMA’s Center for Art and Social Engagement and the Museum in Progress initiative and explore the space
• Work in groups to address challenges and imagine new, visitor-centered modes of engagement using collections
• Commit an action step/Identify one thing participants intend to do differently at their institution

When:  Monday, June 24, 2019, 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Where:  Columbus Museum of Art, 480 East Broad St., Columbus, OH 43215
Speakers: Jennifer Lehe, Manager for Strategic Partnerships, Columbus Museum of Art; Hannah Mason-Macklin, Manager of Interpretation and Engagement, Columbus Museum of Art
Registration: $15 Members; $25 Non-Members

Not registering online? Visit the workshop page to download a registration form and mail or email it to: oma@ohiohistory.org

OMA
800 E. 17th Ave.
Columbus, OH 43211

Registration deadline: June 20, 2019