A brief overview on the context of engagement in museum sectors today, and then 3 case studies succinctly summarized: intention, success, failure. And then an informed and facilitated discussion with the audience.

1. Disruption
Alternative Museum Practices that Yield Engaging and Strategic Results
David Alexander Corey Timpson Sandra Corbeil Daniel Boivin
@david_alexander @coreytimpson @SLCorbeil @MuseumOfNature

2. Rapid and exponential changes in technology.
> Behavioral change.
> Evolving visitor expectations.
Problem

3. Museums response towards audience engagement in this scenario.
> Meeting expectations
> Exploiting tactics and technology
> Building engagement…
> Yet remaining meaningful and respectful of due diligent museological best
practices. Continuing to be trusted sources of knowledge.
Solution

4. Canadian Museum for Human Rights
> Points of View: A National Human Rights Photography Exhibition
Ingenium (CMST)
> Innovation 150 Digital Storybook
Canadian Museum of Nature
> Arctic Beyond Ice
Projects

5. Points of View
Canadian Museum for Human Rights

8. Mandate
. encourage reflection & dialogue
Audience Engagement
. audience development
. museum reach
. visitation (physical, digital)
Collections & Content
. collections building
Objectives

9. Mandate
. encourage reflection & dialogue
Audience Engagement
. audience development
. museum reach
. visitation (physical, digital)
Collections & Content
. collections building
Objectives
RESPONSE
> multiple perspectives
> different demographics
> across the country
> in-gallery & remote experience
Collections & Content
> submission criteria

10. . National “Call for Participation”
. Advertised nationally (print & digital)
. Juried process (curator + 4 HR scholars and activists)
. Web submission
. Submission = perpetual, royalty-free license to CMHR
. Canada 150 Themes (Reconciliation, Inclusive/Diversity, Environment +
Freedom of Expression
. Youth Submission Category
POV Details

17. . 1000 submissions
. all available for acquisition
. 72 selected for exhibition
. category winners translated into tactile/described photos
. exhibition catalogue (72)
. opening exhibition had 72 highly engaged audience members (social opps)
. People’s Choice (social, viral) in-gallery & online
. 9028 going through proposed acquisition process
. Traveling Versions (Nano = Calgary x 2; Portugal, Spain, + more)
POV Summary

18. Challenges
. terms of reference for submission
. some pushback on licensing from potential submitters
. tactile translation
. curatorial voice vs Canadians at large (distinction)
Opportunities Realized
. engaged people from across the country for Canada 150
. increased collection
. wide reach of museum’s presence (physically and digitally / 24000+ votes)
. democratized curatorial/content development process
POV Conclusions

19. https://photo.humanrights.ca/

20. ↗
DISRUPTION: ALTERNATIVE MUSEUM PRACTICES THAT YIELD ENGAGING AND
STRATEGIC RESULTS
A STORY OF CROWDSOURCING
CMA 2018 Presentation by Sandra Corbeil
scorbeil@IngeniumCanada.ca
@SLCorbeil

21. Crowdsourcing - A new approach
• Historically, museums have provided “expert” interpretation of public history.
Traditional stewardship of knowledge is breaking down.
Traditional institutional authority is being disrupted.
• Digital disruption and social media have transformed expectations and
audiences expect participation and engagement
Audiences
and partners
becoming part
of content
ecosystem
Demand for
direct access
Mobile access
anytime,
anywhere

23. WHAT DID IT TAKE
↗ We needed to let go and to share
authority
↗ We needed to be “Open”
↗ We made the conscious decision to
engage with constituents
↗ We needed to embrace a participatory
approach

24. EMBRACING A PARTICIPATORY APPROACH
Open
Dialogue with
citizens
Crowdsourcing
Shared
authority
Multiple
voices
Audiences
and partners
becoming part
of content
ecosystem

25. ↗ Connect
↗ Metrics on site use
↗ Engage
↗ # stories shared and # accounts
↗ Diversity of content partners
↗ Empower innovation in a digital culture
This fosters partnerships with
↗ those who want to join and contribute
↗ those who want to collaborate
↗ those who want to know more about our process
DEFINING SUCCESS
Engage
Empower
Connect

26. METRICS

27. STRATEGIC RESULTS

28. “Beyond Ice”
Canada Goose Arctic Gallery
Dan Boivin - Canadian Museum of Nature

36. Build an
emotional
connection to
the Arctic

37. Create a
memorable
experience

38. Enter:
partnership
with NFB
interactive
projects

39. Creating a
safe “sandbox”
to create in

40. Authenticity
vs artifice

41. Where no-one
had gone
before...

42. Chaos or control?

43. First timer
courage

44. From
dreams
to reality

45. Chaired by David Alexander | @david_alexander
Royal BC Museum
Points of View: A National Human Rights Photography Exhibition
. Canadian Museum for Human Rights
. Corey Timpson | @coreytimpson
Innovation 150 Digital Storybook
. Ingenium
. Sandra Corbeil | @SLCorbeil
Arctic Above Ice
. Canadian Museum of Nature
. Daniel Boivin | @MuseumOfNaure
Q&A