RUSSIA     2006  

Samara
September 25–28, 2006

Background
In September, 2006 Deborah Edward and Kathy Southern traveled to Samara Russia at the invitation of the Russian Museum and the Samara Art Museum to conduct a four-day regional seminar on the educational role of museums. The seminar was organized to involve museum professionals in a series of activities and discussions focusing on knowledge and learning in museums; the visitor experience; designing visitor-centered exhibits and programs; technology in museums; communications; and collaborations.

The original invitation was made to Jillian Poole by the former Director of the Samara Art Museum, a renowned museum leader who unfortunately died in early 2006. The new director was equally interested in hosting the seminar, but was just beginning his tenure as senior leader in the museum.

Seminar Activities and Daily Highlights
Twenty professionals initially attended from area museums, the local library and philharmonic. One attendee was from Omsk, a long distance to travel. The seminar was conducted in a room in the Samara Art Museum that was lined with Asian scrolls and equipped with appropriate technology.

Day One: Overview and Exploration of what makes a Great Museum The Russian Museum presented their virtual museum. Kathy and Deborah set the stage by providing an overview to what is a great museum using video clips from the AAM DVD produced for the Year of the Museum. Participants each shared one example of a great learning experience for them. We introduced the concept of museum learning and discussed types of audience groups. At the end of the day we evaluated the success of the day as a group.

Day Two: Education Theory and Practice We provided a framework to discuss museum education based on “Museums Places of Learning” by George Hein and Mary Alexander which presents a matrix about theories of knowledge and theories of learning. This provided a basis for discussing how teaching occurs in a museum. Working with colleagues from their own institutions, the group then created programs for specific audiences, based on the four quadrants of museum education. After lunch small groups, made up of a mixture of people from varied institutions, designed museum exhibits by conducting visitor research (e.g. interviewing each other) and developing prototypes. Materials for the prototyping were provided by seminar leaders and participants also incorporated materials found in the room. Deborah presented the Austin Children’s Museum exhibits, programs and history. In late afternoon, in response to interest by the group, seminar participants toured Stalin’s Bunker.

Day Three: Communication and Technology Kathy presented an overview of the National Children’s Museum. She moved into a presentation of communications planning, using a model that was focused on strategies for various stakeholder groups. We toured the Samara Art Museum’s special exhibit in celebration of former Director Annette Bos, and used this tour as an opportunity to brainstorm communication techniques. In the afternoon we presented examples of current technology uses, including cell phones, ipods, pda’s, and four audio wands from the National Gallery. These wands were especially interesting because one of their tours was in Russian. Participants were given homework to develop new communications plans for their institutions. At the end of the day we toured a publishing house that created reproductions of art work and organizes touring exhibitions of reproductions. The publisher is a board member of the Samara Art Museum.

Day Four: Partnerships and Principles Participants reported on their new ideas for communications strategies. Deborah and Kathy engaged in a dialogue about partnerships, using examples from their own work. They used Mastering Civic Engagement from AAM as a point of departure. Participants described successful partnerships and experiences. A group of graduate students in culturology from the local university (35 of them!) joined the seminar unexpectedly at this time, with interest in career paths. We broke the group into two to allow the students time to talk with Kathy and Deborah while the seminar participants created a set of principles about learnings from the seminar, our final seminar activity. The graduate students left following an hour discussion, providing time for us to conclude the seminar with our core group, who presented their principles, which reflected the goals of the seminar. The Samara Art Museum director rejoined the group and certificates were presented to all participants.

Effective training techniques
We were committed to providing a balance of group work and presentation throughout all four days. Group activities involved the full group, small groups and individuals working with their colleagues from their own institutions. Participants particularly enjoyed their creativity activities. The seminar was successful in providing concrete models which were then put to use each day. The seminar leaders made sure that every member of the group participated. Several comments in the evaluations spoke to the importance of assuring full participation by even the shyest of the group members.

Outcomes
Every member of the group embraced a new understanding of the importance of the visitor within the museum setting. Participants came away with new ideas about programs, exhibitions, communications and partnerships and the beginnings of a framework to evaluate their educational activities.

Translator
We were very fortunate to have Olga Reva as our translator. She is a seasoned participant in fund activities and provided an accurate, warm and engaging translation. As a result she was an important component in creating an environment where everyone participated.

Contacts made:
See list

Evaluation
According to the Russian Museum staff participation was lower than normally expected. According to participants many of them had found out about the seminar on their own. There were no representatives from the local museum community other than host museum staff. Marketing would have been helpful.

Participants were active, smart, thoughtful and engaged. We were delighted to work with all of them and indeed have some ideas about follow up collaboration in the future. Each participant stressed the importance of the topic of museum education as a topic for future fund seminars.

Appendix: Evaluation Feedback

At the end of the seminar, participants were asked to fill out a 2-page questionnaire to provide feedback on the experience. Responses to the questionnaire indicated that participants were extremely pleased with the seminar. They said the seminar was well organized and gave the presenters high marks for excellence. They indicated that seminar goals were met and they would use the information in the future. When asked whether they would attend another seminar from the Fund they were enthusiastic.

Specific feedback:
Why did you attend this workshop?

• Strive to improve my work
  
• Wanted to connect library and museums
  
• Wanted to share my experience with other museum professionals
  
• Interested in international perspective
  

What topics were helpful?

• Visitor experience
• Museums as centers for education
• Working with children
• Communication
• Community projects
• Types of learning

How will you use the seminar?

• Implement the program I conceived
• Expand programs for children
• Audience outreach
• Create Museum of the Book at the Library
• Strengthen community partnerships
• Strengthen communication strategies

What will be the results of the seminar?

• Increase attendance
• Expand audiences
• Improve image
• Utilize electronic guides
• More visitor orientation
• Written museum strategy for educational programs
• Communications scheme

What did you want changed?

• Longer
• More pictures
• More detail
• More opportunities for senior colleagues to present

What other topics would you like the Fund to present about?

• Art museums in US
• Evaluation of programs
• Visitor surveys
• How to earn money
• Working with sponsors
• US exhibitions
• Psychology and diplomacy re partnerships
• Interaction with media

Who will you recommend this seminar to?

• Museums, libraries, theatres, departments of culture, cultural leaders, fellow students, children’s organizations, pedagogues, social welfare institutions, club representatives, artists

What would you improve?

• More people
• More visual handouts
• More computer technology
• More facts
• Give information about the seminar

Other comments

• Better, broader, earlier notice of the seminar to prospective participants

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