Dive deep into the world of museums!
Whether you're a museum professional or simply love going to museums join on a journey to explore the evolving landscape of museums.
Each episode features reviews of museums I attend. We'll also discuss key topics, methods, and challenges facing and challenges facing museums today.
Episode 12 - Guest Episode with Ian from Museum Archipelago
Ian from Museum Archipelago discusses his podcast, career, and the future of technology in museums in an interview, offering insights into museum innovation.
5 Jun 2025
Episode 11 - Douglas Mansion, BYU MOA and my path in the heritage field
The host recounts travels to the Douglas Mansion and BYU Museum of Art, then shares insights on navigating a career in the museum and heritage field.
14 Apr 2025
Episode 10 - Technicalities of text panels and USA heritage news
Thanks for joining me for this episode!
In this follow up episode about text panels I discuss word count limits and accessible design such as colour, font, size.
Then I talk about an arts event I attended called First Fridays in the Exchange. Check out if your city has a similar event!
First Fridays in the Exchange (Winnipeg) https://www.firstfridayswinnipeg.org/#/ (https://www.firstfridayswinnipeg.org/#/)
Finally, I discuss news facing the heritage, culture, and arts sector. This week focuses on budget cuts and tariffs in the United States.
Sources:
https://museum.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/BCMA-Exhibit-Dev-The-Art-of-Writing-110.pdf (https://museum.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/BCMA-Exhibit-Dev-The-Art-of-Writing-110.pdf)
https://museumsvictoria.com.au/learning/small-object-big-story/5-exhibition-basics/ (https://museumsvictoria.com.au/learning/small-object-big-story/5-exhibition-basics/)
https://id.humanrights.ca/graphic-standards-for-exhibits/text-hierarchy-and-readability/ (https://id.humanrights.ca/graphic-standards-for-exhibits/text-hierarchy-and-readability/)
https://info.gaylord.com/resources/accessible-exhibit-labels (https://info.gaylord.com/resources/accessible-exhibit-labels)
https://www.aam-us.org/2021/07/01/accessible-communications-guidelines/ (https://www.aam-us.org/2021/07/01/accessible-communications-guidelines/)
https://www.sifacilities.si.edu/sites/default/files/Files/Accessibility/accessible-exhibition-design1.pdf (https://www.sifacilities.si.edu/sites/default/files/Files/Accessibility/accessible-exhibition-design1.pdf)
https://www.vam.ac.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/VA_Gallery-Text-Writing-Guidelines_online_Web.pdf?srsltid=AfmBOopBSYN6h1Fwj1nkxypZowYzRj_Qj1qZM2D-87mDEvfbBo_AMmzO (https://www.vam.ac.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/VA_Gallery-Text-Writing-Guidelines_online_Web.pdf?srsltid=AfmBOopBSYN6h1Fwj1nkxypZowYzRj_Qj1qZM2D-87mDEvfbBo_AMmzO)
https://www.getty.edu/education/museum_educators/downloads/aaim_completeguide.pdf (https://www.getty.edu/education/museum_educators/downloads/aaim_completeguide.pdf)
News:
https://icom.museum/en/news/international-museum-day-2025-the-future-of-museums-in-rapidly-changing-communities/ (https://icom.museum/en/news/international-museum-day-2025-the-future-of-museums-in-rapidly-changing-communities/)
https://news.artnet.com/market/trump-tariffs-new-york-art-industry-2626074 (https://news.artnet.com/market/trump-tariffs-new-york-art-industry-2626074)
https://news.artnet.com/market/canada-tariffs-2615628
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/doge-decimates-institute-museum-library-services-imls-2626543 (https://news.artnet.com/art-world/doge-decimates-institute-museum-library-services-imls-2626543)
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/director-national-african-american-museum-on-leave-2627356 (https://news.artnet.com/art-world/director-national-african-american-museum-on-leave-2627356)
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/trump-executive-orders-arts-2605142 (https://news.artnet.com/art-world/trump-executive-orders-arts-2605142)
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/doge-imls-institute-museum-library-services-2623286 (https://news.artnet.com/art-world/doge-imls-institute-museum-library-services-2623286)
https://www.science.org/content/article/trump-order-could-wipe-out-federal-support-u-s-science-museums (https://www.science.org/content/article/trump-order-could-wipe-out-federal-support-u-s-science-museums)
Looking for a summer job in Canada?
https://young-canada-works.canada.ca/Account/Login?ReturnUrl=%2F (https://young-canada-works.canada.ca/Account/Login?ReturnUrl=%2F)
17 Mar 2025
Episode Nine - How to write a good text panel and my top museums in Europe
Thanks for listening to another episode! This week I talkabout what makes a good text panel.
Then I share my favourite museums in France, Belgium, andthe Netherlands.
Would you like to be on the podcast? Send me an email at bronwynreillybryan@gmail.com (mailto:bronwynreillybryan@gmail.com)
Resources:
https://www.prepostseo.com/readability-checker (https://www.prepostseo.com/readability-checker)
https://hemingwayapp.com (https://hemingwayapp.com)
https://www.museum-ed.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/If-You-Cant-See-It.pdf (https://www.museum-ed.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/If-You-Cant-See-It.pdf)
https://www.vam.ac.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/VA_Gallery-Text-Writing-Guidelines_online_Web.pdf?srsltid=AfmBOopBSYN6h1Fwj1nkxypZowYzRj_Qj1qZM2D-87mDEvfbBo_AMmzO (https://www.vam.ac.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/VA_Gallery-Text-Writing-Guidelines_online_Web.pdf?srsltid=AfmBOopBSYN6h1Fwj1nkxypZowYzRj_Qj1qZM2D-87mDEvfbBo_AMmzO)
Favourite museums in France, Belgium and the Netherlands:
Museum Plantin-Moretus – Antwerp, Belgium https://museumplantinmoretus.be/en (https://museumplantinmoretus.be/en)
Musée d'Orsay – Paris, France https://www.musee-orsay.fr/fr (https://www.musee-orsay.fr/fr)
Musée de l’Orangerie – Paris, France https://www.musee-orangerie.fr/fr (https://www.musee-orangerie.fr/fr)
Van Abbemuseum – Eindhoven, Netherlands https://vanabbemuseum.nl/en/ (https://vanabbemuseum.nl/en/)
Rijksmuseum - Amsterdam, Netherlands https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en (https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en)
Musée Rodin – Paris, France https://www.musee-rodin.fr/en (https://www.musee-rodin.fr/en)
Rembrandt House - Amsterdam, Netherlands https://www.rembrandthuis.nl/en/ (https://www.rembrandthuis.nl/en/)
Rubenshuis – Antwerp, Belgium https://rubenshuis.be/en (https://rubenshuis.be/en)
News:
https://www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/video/2025/03/09/canadian-heritage-is-investing-5-million-in-the-largest-afro-canadian-centre-in-the-country/ (https://www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/video/2025/03/09/canadian-heritage-is-investing-5-million-in-the-largest-afro-canadian-centre-in-the-country/)
3 Mar 2025
Episode Eight - "Big Idea" in exhibits, The Muse in Kenora, Ontario, and lots of museum news
Thanks for joining!
This week I discuss what a "Big Idea" is, how to create one, and why they are important for exhibitions.
I also visited two museums in Kenora, Ontario and share the highlights of these institutions.
https://themusekenora.ca (https://themusekenora.ca)
Sources :
https://exhibits.si.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Guide-to-Exhibit-Development.pdf (https://exhibits.si.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Guide-to-Exhibit-Development.pdf)
https://museum.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Exhibit-Dev-Tool-The-Art-of-Storytelling-120.pdf (https://museum.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Exhibit-Dev-Tool-The-Art-of-Storytelling-120.pdf)
https://serrellassociates.com/store/big-idea-ebook (https://serrellassociates.com/store/big-idea-ebook)
https://museumenvironments.com/identity/ (https://museumenvironments.com/identity/)
News:
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/200-million-worth-khatib-stolen-paintings-secured-2603387 (https://news.artnet.com/art-world/200-million-worth-khatib-stolen-paintings-secured-2603387)
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/invoke-snags-first-ai-image-copyright-2608219 (https://news.artnet.com/art-world/invoke-snags-first-ai-image-copyright-2608219)
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/for-the-first-time-since-king-tut-egypt-has-unearthed-a-royal-tomb-2610834 (https://news.artnet.com/art-world/for-the-first-time-since-king-tut-egypt-has-unearthed-a-royal-tomb-2610834)
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/netherlands-returns-119-benin-bronzes-to-nigeria-in-landmark-repatriation-agreement-2610481 (https://news.artnet.com/art-world/netherlands-returns-119-benin-bronzes-to-nigeria-in-landmark-repatriation-agreement-2610481)
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/benin-bronzes-in-museums-1967773 (https://news.artnet.com/art-world/benin-bronzes-in-museums-1967773)
17 Feb 2025
Episode Seven - IPOP Visitor Framework and my favourite museums in Toronto
Welcome back for this episode. This week I delve into the IPOP visitor framework created by the Smithsonian.
Learn more here/sources:
https://medium.com/@DigitalGov/the-smithsonians-ipop-exhibition-framework-lessons-for-a-human-centered-content-approach-8a395abae425 (https://medium.com/@DigitalGov/the-smithsonians-ipop-exhibition-framework-lessons-for-a-human-centered-content-approach-8a395abae425)
https://repository.si.edu/bitstream/handle/10088/33808/Pekarik_et_al-IPOP_A_TheoryOfExperiencePreference_2014-Curator-_The_Museum_Journal.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y (https://repository.si.edu/bitstream/handle/10088/33808/Pekarik_et_al-IPOP_A_TheoryOfExperiencePreference_2014-Curator-_The_Museum_Journal.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y)
My favourite museums in Toronto:
Casa Loma - https://casaloma.ca (https://casaloma.ca)
Toronto History Museums (especially Colborne Lodge, Fort York, Spadina Museum, Mackenzie House) - https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/history-art-culture/museums/ (https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/history-art-culture/museums/)
Riverdale Farm - https://riverdalefarmtoronto.ca (https://riverdalefarmtoronto.ca)
Village at Blackcreek - https://blackcreek.ca (https://blackcreek.ca)
Art Gallery of Ontario - https://ago.ca (https://ago.ca)
Campbell House - https://www.campbellhousemuseum.ca (https://www.campbellhousemuseum.ca)
Gardiner Museum - https://www.gardinermuseum.on.ca (https://www.gardinermuseum.on.ca)
Museum news:
JMW Turner's 250th Birthday - https://news.artnet.com/art-world/britain-celebrates-jmw-turner-250-2600406 (https://news.artnet.com/art-world/britain-celebrates-jmw-turner-250-2600406)
The Museum of Homelessness pilot project -
https://www.museumsassociation.org/museums-journal/news/2025/01/museum-of-homelessness-pilots-emergency-shelter-during-severe-cold-weather/# (https://www.museumsassociation.org/museums-journal/news/2025/01/museum-of-homelessness-pilots-emergency-shelter-during-severe-cold-weather/)
Thanks for listening and please share!
3 Feb 2025
Episode Six - Guest Episode with former summer student coworkers
This week I’m joined by Tegwen and Kirsten, who I worked with for two summers as summer student employees at a historical house museum. We reflect on unique aspects of the house and job, and the importance of summer students to the running of heritage properties.
The house we worked at - Mather-Walls Historical House https://www.heritagetrust.on.ca/properties/mather-walls-house (https://www.heritagetrust.on.ca/properties/mather-walls-house)
Check out the TV episode from The Other Side that Tegwen and Kirsten were on about the Mather-Walls House https://theothersidetv.ca/bonus-videos-from-season-7-episode-7-why-is-the-door-locked/ (https://theothersidetv.ca/bonus-videos-from-season-7-episode-7-why-is-the-door-locked/)
Tegwen’s favourite museum: https://www.marmottan.fr/en/ (https://www.marmottan.fr/en/)
Kirsten’s favourite museums: https://diefenbunker.ca (https://diefenbunker.ca)
https://www.uppercanadavillage.com (https://www.uppercanadavillage.com)
20 Jan 2025
Episode Five - Falk's Museum Visitor Motivations, Oregon Historical Society, and Getty Villa
This week I continue to discuss John Falk's museum visitor motivations, this time experience seekers, professional/hobbyists , and rechargers.
Then I discuss my recent visit to the Oregon Historical Society.
Learn more about the Oregon Historical Society here: https://www.ohs.org
Finally, I discuss some news surrounding the Getty Villa in the midst of the Palisades Fire.
If you are interested in how they saved the museum and collections check out this article: https://www.msn.com/en-us/public-safety-and-emergencies/fire-and-rescue/inside-the-dash-to-save-the-getty-villa-from-the-palisades-fire-a-timeline/ar-BB1rb2Vo
Source: Identity and the Museum Visitor Experience by John H. Falk, 2009
13 Jan 2025
Episode Four - Heritage in Montreal and Falk's Museum Visitor Motivations
Welcome back!
In this episode I discuss some interpretive heritage signs throughout Montreal.
Then I dive into the explorer and facilitator museum visitor type as first put forth by John Falk.
Interested in visiting the museums I mentioned: Cleveland Museum of Natural History https://www.cmnh.org/explore/current-exhibits
V and A East
https://www.vam.ac.uk/east?srsltid=AfmBOopMbvfbqxwRJCo-sICidvEQAZRn5zZLSsl6VbTMLVGSFn0FdPYX
Source: Identity and the Museum Visitor Experience by John H. Falk, 2009.
23 Dec 2024
Episode Three - Guest Episode about Montreal Archaeology Museum
This episode we are joined by a guest, Andy, someone who often visits museum with me.
More info about this unique museum can be found here: https://pacmusee.qc.ca/en/
Delve into museum visitor identies in this book: Identity and the Museum Visitor Experience, John H Falk, 2009.
9 Dec 2024
Episode Two - Chateau Ramezay and how to tell better stories in historic house museums
During this episode I recap my visit to the Chateau Ramezay in Monteal and share the highlights of the museum.
Then I share my six tips/goals for how historic house museums can tell better stories to become more interesting and engaging for the public.
Thanks for listening!
25 Nov 2024
Episode One - Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and Increasing repeat visitors
Welcome to a brand new podcast all about museums!
In this episode join me as I debrief after my visit to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. A museum I would recommend to all art lovers!
Then I discuss ways that museums can encourage repeat visitors and why people sometimes don't attend museums.
Sources:
https://www.aam-us.org/2024/10/04/repeat-visitation-at-museums-a-2024-annual-survey-of-museum-goers-data-story/
https://www.aam-us.org/2021/06/21/10-ways-to-gain-the-loyalty-of-return-visitors/
https://museumca.org/about-friday-nights-at-omca-with-off-the-grid/
http://media.vam.ac.uk/media/documents/legacy_documents/file_upload/17179_file.pdf
https://drpress.org/ojs/index.php/EHSS/article/view/11028
Futhur reading:
https://www.museumnext.com/article/6-museums-successfully-cementing-relationships-with-their-audiences/
http://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/23299/1/2014Q&Q_Brida%20DisegnaScuderi_PROOF.pdf
Lau, A. L. S., McKercher, B.: Exploration versus Acquisition: A Comparison of First- Time and Repeat Visitors. J. Travel Res. 42(3), 279–285 (2004)
Dorn, D.A.H., Polegato, R. (2015). First-Time and Repeat Visitors: What Makes a Satisfying Museum Experience?. In: Robinson, Jr., L. (eds) Proceedings of the 2008 Academy of Marketing Science (AMS) Annual Conference. Developments in Marketing Science: Proceedings of the Academy of Marketing Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-10963-3_6
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