Happy Museum thematic case study
Transcript of Happy Museum thematic case study
Happy Museum thematic case study: Engaging emotions to promote wellbeing and build resilience 2
ContentsIntroduction and relevance 2
About our Story for Change 3
About this case study 4
1. Sharing a sustainable wellbeing vision 5
2. Plan time, resources and scope 7
3. Use playfulness, creativity, and aesthetics to engage the senses 8
4. Be a good host, broker relationships 10
5. Making an impact 11
6. More about the Happy Museum ‘Story of Change’ tool 13
This case study looks at how deliberately seeking to engage emotions can help to promote wellbeing in audiences and staff, and also build resilience in organisations.
This case study is relevant to:
• Seniormanagementteams
• Learningandcommunityengagementteams
• Curators
Happy Museum thematic case study: Engaging emotions to promote wellbeing and build resilience 3
About our Story of Change Since2008,theHappyMuseumprojecthasbeentestingasetofworkingprinciplesrelatedtowellbeingthroughsmallcommissionedprojects.Thefundedprojectsuseda‘StoryofChange’tooltodefinetheirsustainablewellbeingvisionfortheprojectandtoplantheroutetoachievethatvision.StoryofChangeisalsoknownasTheoryofChange;LogicModellingisasimilarapproach.Usingastoryofchangechallenges‘businessasusual’thinkingbystartingwiththe
‘why?’–theoverallpurposeofaproject–andworkingbackwards.Movingtoafocusonwellbeingandsustainabilityisnotsomethingthatcanbeplannedandexecutedinthewayaconstructionprojectcanbe.Thinkingaboutaconvincingnarrativethatwilltakeusinthatdirectionandsharingithelpseveryonetoalignaroundthenewdirection.
More about our Story of Change can be found on page 13 and online here
Principles How? The ‘drivers’ of success
What? The activity you deliver
Why? The difference we want to make
•Measurewhatmatters
•Beanactivecitizen
•Pursuemutualrelationships
•Createtheconditionsforwellbeing
•Learnforresilience
•Valuetheenvironmentandbeastewardofthefutureaswellasthepast
HowyougoaboutsettingupaHappyMuseumapproach:thedriversforchange,commitments,setupandinvestmentsthatunderpintheapproach.
Theactivityyoudeliver,workinginternallyand/orexternally,inpartnershipwithstaff,volunteers,participantsandaudience.
Thisisthereasonwe’rehere,theoutcomesaHappyMuseumcanachieve.Thedifferencewemaketoeveryone,staff,volunteers,participantsandaudience.
Happy Museum thematic case study: Engaging emotions to promote wellbeing and build resilience 4
About this case study ThiscasestudyanalysesHappyMuseumfundedprojectsonthethemeofengagingemotions(includingdifficultemotions)–notonlystrategiesaimedataudiencesandvisitorsbutalsointernaleffortsaimedatstaffandorganisationalculture.Ourtheoryisthatdeliberatelyengagingemotions(asdistinctfromthemorecommonmuseumapproachofengagingtheintellect)canhelptopromotewellbeing
inaudiencesandstaff,andalsobuildresilienceinorganisations.Focusingondifferentlearningstyles,asmuseumsareveryusedtodoing,alsoleadstoanemphasisonphysicalactivity,onmakingandonaesthetics.Puttingthetwotogethermakesakindof‘activestewardship’,whichisaboutcaringforpeopleandplanetaswellascollectionsandbuildings,butwhichisalsoproactiveratherthanpassive.
Happy Museum thematic case study: Engaging emotions to promote wellbeing and build resilience 5
1. Sharing a sustainable wellbeing vision
The Happy Museums investigated how a vision about sustainable wellbeing can be applied to what is unique about museums – their collections.
Forinstance,theMuseum of East Anglian LifeinSuffolkmadethewellbeinglinkbetweenobjectsandpeopleexplicitwithaseriesofexhibitionscomparingchildren’swellbeinginVictoriantimeswithtoday.Oneoftheexhibitions–HappyDays–involved7and8yearoldsfromalocalprimaryschooldesigningaspecialhappydayforthemselvesandforaVictorianchildbasedaroundobjects–theonestheyhadaswellasthemuseum’sowncollectionofVictorian’schildren’spossessions.Thechildrenchoseobjectsfortheirdayandwroteabouthowtheyfelt
aboutthem.Fortheirownhappyday,thechildrenoverwhelminglychoseobjectsthatrepresentedrelationships–withfamilyandfriends–andtimespentplayingoutdoors.TheonestheychoseforVictorianchildrencentredonfoodandfestivities.
Read our case study on the Museum of East Anglian Life here
FortheirHappyMuseumProject,theImperial War Museum NorthinStretford,Manchester,decidedtotestdifferentapproachestoobjecthandlingbyvisitors.Thispieceofactionresearchwaslinkedtoawiderefforttore-imaginethemuseum’scorepurposeandfunction.Themuseumused–andcontinuestouse–thestoryofchangetooltodevelopawellbeingvision,planandchartprogress.Theprojectwasapieceofactionresearchtestingsixapproachestoobjecthandling(handlingbeingamoredirectroutetothesensesthanintepretation)toexploretheirimpactonwellbeingandcivicengagement.“Usingveteranstosupportobjecthandling…wasthemostsuccessfulapproachwetested,”saysHeadofExhibitionsZoeDunbar.“Thishighlightedtoustheimportanceoffirst-handoreye-witnesstestimonytothe
“This highlighted to us the importance of first-hand or eye-witness testimony.”
Zoe Dunbar, Imperial War Museum North
Happy Museum thematic case study: Engaging emotions to promote wellbeing and build resilience 6
experienceonsiteandwehavebuiltuponthissincetheprojectcompleted.Objecthandlingstillformsastrongpartofwhatwedoandwenowhaveobjecthandlingtrolliesmannedbyourveteransandvolunteers.”
Read our case study on the Imperial War Museum North here
AttheBeaney Housetheyusedthemuseumbuildingandit’scollectionstoengageitscommunitieswiththeirownwellbeing.250‘HappinessInvestigators’and‘CulturalDoctors’,including120schoolchildren,wereinvitedtoinvestigatethemuseum’scollections,libraryandheritage.Thesewerethenmadeinto‘happinessprescriptions’whichwereissuedtovisitorsinafull-sizedmodelApothecarymadeentirelyfrompaper.Theprojectexploredhowcontactwithculturalexperiencescankickstarthealthierandhappiercommunities.
Read our case study on the Beaney here
AnewcommunitydevelopedgalleryatGodalming Museumwasusedtoshowthatconversationsaboutsustainabilitywerenotnew–theyhadalongheritageandwerepartofthetown’songoingstory.AquotefromtheDaily Telegraphin1881wasfeatured:“WeshallnotwantthestokerandcolliersomuchifonlytheexamplesetbythegoodpeopleofGodalmingbefollowed.Thewaterfalls,millheadsandriverswillquietlybemakingallourelectricitybydayandweshallbeconsumingitaseasilyatnight,orthewindsandtideswillbemadetolabourforus.Natureinallhervariedmoodswillbecalledintohelpusfightagainstthedark,andweshallbeeventuallytoturnnightintodaybythebrightlampswhichNatureherselfkindlesforus.”
Read our case study on Godalming Museum here
“Conversations about sustainability were not new – they had a long heritage.”
Happy Museum thematic case study: Engaging emotions to promote wellbeing and build resilience 7
2. Plan time, resources and scope
For some of the museums and galleries, the question of how to improve wellbeing by engaging emotions led to a re-evaluation of the resources available to them. Several museums focused their Happy Museum projects on underused outdoor space – in the process creating a wellbeing link with the environment.
TheBilston Craft GalleryinWolverhamptonaddedoutdoorplaytoitsexistingplayandcraftoffer,intheprocessopeningupnewpossibilitiesforoutreach.CraftexpertswererecruitedtotrainBilstonstafftomakeoutdoorplayobjectsandthespacewasimprovedanddeveloped–thespacewasdevelopedandtestedinpartnershipwasdevelopedwithalocalschool.“Wediscoveredthatoutdoorworkisaverydifferentthingfromindoorcraftplay,”saysJackShuttleworthofBilstonCraftplay.“Indoors,thechildrentendtositdown;outdoorstheydon’tstopmoving.Theschoolgroupmadethreevisitsandweputlessmaterialouteachtime,aswefounditwasn’tneeded.”Bilstonisnowofferingterm-timepackagesoffivesessionsofoutdoorplayandcraftstolocalschools.ThegalleryisdevelopingapopupcraftspacetobringcraftplaytoparksandopenspacesinandaroundWolverhampton.
Read our case study on Bilston Craftplay here
Inanotherapproachtoengagingemotions,theShakespeare Birthplace TrustinStratfordonAvonwantedtobuildrelationshipswiththelocalcommunityandmakethegardensaplaceforrepeatlocalvisits.TheTrustdecidedto‘reinvent’thegarden,orchardandwoodlandofAnneHathaway’scottageforlocalresidents,throughtwoinstallationsandacommunityplantingsession.Theprojectinvolvedatouchsensitive‘SingingTree’,thecommissionofapieceofmusicforvisitorstoplay,andaplantingbyvolunteersofthousandsofbluebellsandsnow-drops.Itculminatedinacommunityparty.Avisitorsaid:“Thisisabeautifulpieceofworkandthat’scomingfromsomeonethatdoesn’tlikeShakespeare.ButthewhisperedprosecombinedwiththemagicofPeter’sviolinissomethingveryspecial.Itputsyouinabetterplaceforawhile.”TheprojectteamreportsthatthingsarechangingattheTrustandnow“wellbeingisalegitimateaimforstaffandvisitorsalike.”
“Indoors, the children tend to sit down; outdoors they don’t stop moving.”
Jack Shuttleworth, Bilston Craftplay
Happy Museum thematic case study: Engaging emotions to promote wellbeing and build resilience 8
3. Use playfulness, creativity and aesthetics to engage the senses
Other museums and galleries were more focused on expanding the scope of their offer, beyond a focus on learning to include focusing on the senses, physical and fun – a shift in mode of appeal from head to heart.
Manchester Museumhasatraditionofplayfulness,andthroughtwoHappyMuseumprojects,themuseumhastriedtodevelop,spreadandembedplayfulness.Thefirstprojecttrainedthemuseum’svisitorteamtodeveloptheirunderstandingofplayandreflectiontechniques–andtosupportchild-ledplaysessions.Inthesecondproject,themuseumdevelopedRulesforaPlayfulMuseum,aplayfulandaccessiblehandbooktocapturethelearningandexperienceoftheirexperimentsinplayfulness.Themuseumnowoffersplayfuldaysandplayfulnessfeatures
inmuseumstrategydocumentsandininductionmaterials.Evaluationevidencefollowingtherulebookprojectshowedthatplayfulbehaviourfromstaffandvisitorshasincreased.ForprojectconsultantCharlotteDerry,developingtherulebookhas“reallyhelpedthemuseumhaveevenmoreconfidence.Itishelpingtoembedplay,whichisaquiteephemeral,fleetingthing.Havingthishandbookunderpinsgreatpracticemakingitsomethingconcrete–playfulnessispartofwhatstaffdonow.”
Read all about the Playful Museum here
Torquay Museumisanaturalhistorymuseumandwantedtoreachanew14-18yearagerangewithaprojectfocusingontheenvironment.Theprojectwaslinkedtoawidergoaltomakethemuseumasustainabilitycentre.Themuseumteamranassembliesintwosecondaryschoolsfollowedbysevenyoungpeople’sworkshops.Onekeytothesuccessoftheprojectwasthefocuson
“Playfulness is part of what staff do now.”
Charlotte Derry, project consultant
Happy Museum thematic case study: Engaging emotions to promote wellbeing and build resilience 9
enjoymentoftheprocess–forthestaffleadingtheworkshopsaswellasfortheyoungpeopletakingpart.Theyoungpeoplewereveryengagedanddevisedwittyandresourcefulmaterialsonfacingthechallengesofclimatechange.
Fromtheoutset,theStory MuseuminOxfordhasputengagingemotionsisattheheartofeverythingitdoes.TheHappyMuseumprojectplayedaroleindefiningthemuseum’sethosandcorevision.Themuseumhassoughttoengagetheemotionsofvisitorsthroughtheuseofspace,theuseofobjects,andtheuseofaesthetics.Someexhibitsallowvisitorstotielabelswiththeirownthoughtsandcommentsonandleavethem.“Thisissomethingwehaveincorporatedthroughoutthebuilding,allowingforlivingconversationswithourvisitors.”Wellbeinghasexplicitlyinformedthedesignofexhibitionsandtheappointmentofatheatredesignerhelpedtocreatethe
‘deephumaninterconnections’andemotionallyintelligentspacestheStoryMuseumwereaimingfor.Evaluationshowsthatvisitorsrespondtothiswithmanysayingtheirvisitwas‘anemotionallysatisfying’experience.Themuseum’sfirstexhibition–‘OtherWorlds’–hadaremarkablelevelofengagement,with6,000writtencontributionsin18days.
Read our case study on the Story Museum here
TheHappyMuseumprojectatWoodhorn Museumledtotheappointmentofacomedianinresidencewithafocusonwellbeing.Aswellassessionsaimedatvisitors,therewereseveral‘meetthecomedian’trainingsessionsofferedtostaff.Thesessionshelpedbreakdownstaffsilos.Thecomedianprojectwaswidelypublicisedandhelpedattractnewaudiencestothemuseum.
“Visitors respond to this with many saying their visit was ‘an emotionally satisfying’ experience.”
Happy Museum thematic case study: Engaging emotions to promote wellbeing and build resilience 10
4. Be a good host, broker relationships
Engaging the emotions of audiences and local communities can be achieved by opening up the typical museum-to-visitor relationship.
Museumsandgalleriesshouldactasgoodhoststotheiraudiencesandcommunities,offeringthingslikewelcomingspace,foodanddrink.Asgoodhosts,theycanpayattentiontoparticularneedsandtheycanalsobrokerrelationshipsbetweentheir‘guests’.
AtThe LightboxinWoking,artwasusedtoengagetheemotionsofgroupofpeoplewithmentalhealthissues.Duringthegallery’s‘LandscapesoftheMind’project,thenineparticipantsselectedinspirationalartworksfromthecollectionandworkedwithartiststocreatetheirownworks.Theparticipantscuratedanexhibitionofbothbodiesofworkandtheprojectfinishedwithaconferenceon‘theartofwellbeing’.TheLightboxhassincedevelopeditsroleasahostandbrokerwithanumberofcollaborativecommunityprojects:Skyscapesinvolvesadultswithlearningdifficultiesworkingwithartistsanddrawingonthecollectionforinspiration.Olderpeopleattwocarecentresaretakingpartin‘Stitchingyourmemories’.AnintergenerationalprojectinvolvingWoking’sMuslimcommunityandtheShahJehanMosquewillleadtothecreationofaSufipoetrysoundscape.Anenvironmental
sustainabilityprojectcalled‘WasteNot…’askedlocalpeopletoexhibitobjectstheyhavebeenkeepingandrepairingratherthanreplacing.
Read our case study on The Lightbox here
Gwynedd Museum and Art GalleryinBangorwantedtohostanewkindofmuseumexperiencebyencouragingpeopletotalkandlisteninthegalleries.ThroughapartnershipwithOxfordInternetInstitute(OII)andtheWalesCentreforBehaviourChange,Gwynedddevelopedasoftwareappthatallowedvisitorstorecordtheirreactionstoworksofartandtoplaybackthereactionsofothers.Called‘What’syourstory?’theprojectaimedtoboostengagementandparticipation,encouragingmoreextrovertbehaviourintheexhibitionspace.Nudgetechniqueswereusedtodrawpeopletorecordingpointsandtobeboldinsharingtheirresponsesandanarttherapisttestedtheapptousewithherclients.
Read our case study on Gwynedd Museum here
“As good hosts, they can pay attention to particular needs and they can also broker relationships between their ‘guests’.”
Happy Museum thematic case study: Engaging emotions to promote wellbeing and build resilience 11
5. Making an impactEfforts to engage emotions, to speak to the heart rather than the head, can lead to people interacting more, feeling happy, satisfied and more worthwhile. In some museums, this enabled them to make more of a difference in their work with people with particular needs. In other museums, it led to a greater environmental awareness, as much through noticing surroundings as through awareness of the importance of environmental sustainability.
AtAbergavenny Museum,HappyMuseumfundingwasusedtotestanewapproachtoco-curationwithlocalvulnerableyoungpeople.Twocraftspeopleledworkshopsinweavingwitheightyoungcarersandbee-keepingwith20primarychildrenwithspecialneeds.
Theworkshopstookplacebothinsidethemuseumandoutdoors.Bothgroups,schoolchildrenandyoungcarers,madereferencetotheimmersiveexperienceoftheactivities.Onparticipantreferredtothe“busywithyourhandsthing”–whichisawayofdescribing‘flow’,whichresearcherMihályCsíkszentmihályidescribedasamentalstateinwhichapersonisfullyimmersedin‘energisedfocus’.Asoneyoungcarerputit:“EverytimeIwenthome[afterweaving]Iwaschilledout.IwenthomeandhadashowerandIwashappy.”Anothersaid:“I’msochilledhere.It’stheatmospherehere,theconcentratingondoingsomething,morethanthepeople.”Staffnoticedthesameexperiencewiththeyoungerchildrenwhobuiltstoopsforbee-keeping,describingthemas“gripped”bytheactivity.
Read our case study on Abergavenny Museum here
“I’m so chilled here. It’s the atmosphere here, the concentrating on doing something.”
Young carer
Happy Museum thematic case study: Engaging emotions to promote wellbeing and build resilience 12
Derby Museums’Re:Makeprojectfoundthattheactofmakingthingsimprovedpeopleswellbeing.TheprojectattheSilkMillMuseuminvitedaudiencestobecomeproducersandmakers,designingandbuildingtherefurbishedmuseum’sfixturesandfittings,withhelpfrom‘makers-in-residence’.Since2012,morethan200localpeoplehavebeeninvolvedindesigningandmakingfurniture,displaystandsandfittings.Makingisnowattheheartofthemuseum,whichhasthreeworkshopspacesofferingcreativeandpracticalactivitiesforvisitors.Themuseumrunsshortsessionsandweekendcourses–andalsohostslarger‘makerfairs’.ThroughapartnershipwiththeUniversityofDerby,thephysiologicalimpactoftheactivityofmakingwasmeasured–revealingasmallbutsignificantdropinthelevelofstresshormonecortisolinthosetakingpartinmakingactivities.Thelearningfromtheprojecthas
informedtherestructuringoftheDerbyMuseumsstaffteamandtheproject’sapproachtoco-productionhasbeenrolledouttotheothermuseums.ARe:Make2projecthasledtoanaturegallerybeingco-createdbylocalpeopleandthemuseumteam.
Read our case study on Derby Museums here
AtKirkstall Abbey Museum,HappyMuseumfundingwasusedtodevelopactivestewardshipthrougharangeofcommunityprojects.Theactivitiesemphasisedthespiritual,environmental,edibleandphysical.Somewereheldinalocalchildren’scentre.WordofmouthbroughtlargenumberstoanEasterseedplantingsession.Anadultwithlearningdifficultieswasamongthosethattookpart.Asaresultshetookonplantingoneoftheflowerbedathercarehome.
“The activities emphasised the spiritual, environmental, edible and physical.”
Happy Museum thematic case study: Engaging emotions to promote wellbeing and build resilience 13
6. More about the Happy Museum’s ‘Story of Change’ tool
The projects funded by the Happy Museum project used a ‘Story of Change’ tool to define their vision for the project and to plan the route to achieve that vision.
Thepurposeofthistool(whichissimilartotheoryofchange,orlogicmodelling)istomakesurewestartbyfocusingonthedifferencewewanttomakeratherthanontheactivitieswemayusetoachievethoseends.UsingaStoryofChangechallenges‘businessasusual’thinkingbystartingwiththeoverallpurposeandworkingbackwards.Theprocessof‘measuringwhatmatters’canthen
startattheplanningstage–bydefiningthesuccessfactorsforaproject,astrategyorachangeofdirection.Thetoolisalsovaluableforhelpingtocommunicateavisiontostaff,volunteersandallstakeholders,aswellasthethinkingthatunderpinsit.
Read more about the Story of Change tool
Happy Museum thematic case study: Engaging emotions to promote wellbeing and build resilience 14
SeebelowforourownStoryofChangewhichshowssuccessfactorsforHappyMuseums.Anonline versioncontainslinkstofurthercasestudiesandresources.
Principles How? Drivers
What? Delivery
Why? Difference we make
Measurewhatmatters
Shareawellbeingvision
ShareaStoryofChange
Usetime,resourcesandscopecreatively
Measurewhatmatterstopeople
Tore-thinkwhatmatters
Beanactivecitizen Encourageactiveengagement
Anticipatechallengeandchange
Workexperimentally
Useeveryone’spotential
Tocreatehappy,resilientpeople
Pursuemutualrelationships
Shareownership
Ensuremutualbenefit
Workacrosshierarchiesandteams
Tocreatehappy,resilientteams
Allofwhichhelpre-imaginemuseumsforbettercommunityLIFE*
Createtheconditionsforwellbeing
Learnforresilience
Considerplayfullness,creativity,activityandaesthetics
Beagoodhost
Brokerrelationships
Communitiesare:
•Learning
•Interacting
•Feelinghappy,satisfiedandworthwhile
•Environmentallyaware
Valuetheenvironmentandbeastewardofthefutureaswellasthepast
Considerthesocialandfinancialbenefitsofbeinggreen
Usethemuseum’suniqueresources.
Leadbyexample:careofpeople,placeandplanet
*TheHappyMuseumProjectisconductinganationalLIFEsurvey,whereLIFE=Learning,Interactionswithothers,Feelingsandemotions,andEnvironmentalawareness.More:www.happymuseumproject.org