A DISCUSSION WITH NINA SIMON

nina@museumtwo.com @ninaksimon on twitter slides at http://bit.ly/ninathree

where i live

what i dobalboa park online collaborativeboston children’s museum calgary science centerchabot space science centerchicago history museumdenver art museumexperience music projectgirls math and science partnershipinternational spy museummonterey bay aquariumoakland museumSFMOMA smithsonian museum of natural historystatens museum for kunsttech museum of innovation

the participatory institution is a place where visitors can create, share, and connect with each other around content.

what i advocate

in cultural institutions, that can mean...

lower: Chicago Children’s Museumlower: Science Museum of Minnesota

Minnesota History CenterCantor Art Center

THREE SURPRISING THINGSI’VE LEARNED ABOUT

DESIGN FOR PARTICIPATION

LESSON 1:MORE SCAFFOLDING! MORE CONSTRAINTS!

Denver Art Museum

Denver Art Museum

90,000 visitors, 37,000 posters made

average time spent making a poster: 25 minutes

GoMA

GoMA

Find someone about your height to help you with this exhibit

GoMA

Find someone about your height to help you with this exhibit Ask a stranger of your gender to do this activity with you

LESSON 2:PEOPLE CONTRIBUTE DIFFERENT THINGS WHEN GIVEN DIFFERENT PROMPTS & INPUT MECHANISMS.

Lowell National Historical Park

“The percentage of ‘unrelated’ responses decreased from 58% (white cards) to 40% (blue cards), and ‘specific’ responses nearly doubled, from 28% (white) to 50% (blue).”

http://www.participatorymuseum.org/ref3-16/

LESSON 3:RESPONSIVENESS IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

HOW CAN VISITORS MAKE THIS PROJECT BETTER?

Worcester City Gallery and Museum

Worcester City Gallery and Museum

Worcester City Gallery and Museum

“At first, I wasn't sure whether or not my responses were useful to anybody. It took a long time for any feedback to filter through. When it did come I really appreciated Nina's thanks and encouragement. That's what kept me coming back to the site.”

http://museumtwo.blogspot.com/2010/03/participatory-museum-process-part-2.html

HOW CAN VISITORS MAKE YOUR INSTITUTION BETTER?

A DISCUSSION WITH NINA SIMON

nina@museumtwo.com @ninaksimon on twitter slides at http://bit.ly/ninathree