Along with Walker’s Art on Call system, there has been an interest here in trying new projects in the realm of interpretive materials. It seems like we should be thinking about the various ways people like to get information, other than from reading labels, and design strategies to appeal to that sense of variety. Art on Call is a great way to learn about the Walker and works on view in an auditory way–visitors use their cell phones in the galleries to access info about artists, works of art, etc. Another strategy is the “Look Closer” cards, sort of a label-plus. These cards are designed to be used by visitors while standing in front of 8 select works in on view in the galleries. Unlike a traditional label, the cards include source imagery, as well as (hopefully) thought provoking questions about the works. The cards were modeled in part on somethings being done at the Denver Art Museum, a true bastion for thoughful in-gallery educational experiences, as well as the idea that museum education should happen everywhere within a museum, not just in a specific educational area.
Trouble is, we just put up the racks with the small selection of cards and visitors seem to be walking off with them- I’m sure assuming they’re meant to be taken home. Can an interpretive material that’s meant to be used only while in the gallery work- or do visitors want a takeaway too much? Either people just take things blindly or have decided to ignore our conveniently placed “please return when finished.”
Wow from that picture you can’t really see the thing saying “Please return when finished”. Is it at the bottom of the box in those tiny black letters? Maybe it should be huge and red and have stickers all over the guide itself.
Comment by Eric — July 29, 2005 @ 1:16 pm
Good point Eric! One of the changes we’re making when we these guys reprinted is to in in fact place stickers on the cards themselves saying “please return when finished”.
Comment by Lara — July 29, 2005 @ 1:57 pm
Wasn’t there talk of adding podcasts to the mix of interpretive tools? Something I could get from the site and bring with me on my iPod/mp3 player. I don’t own a cell phone.
Of course, I don’t own an iPod/mp3 player either. So what about having those available at the Walker for a (small) fee or for free (secure it with my credit card or something).
Comment by Peter — July 30, 2005 @ 9:46 am
No cell phone or ipod?
I’m afraid our Art on Call service would be sadly lacking for you. One of the reasons we went will cell phones was so that our front line staff wouldn’t have to worry about physical units disappearing or breaking since that has always been a problem. Also we were trying to offer this service free or at minimal cost (the cost of your minutes only) and the fastest way to do that was via cell phone.
If it seems like Art on Call is under serving our audience I’m sure the addition of ipods (or generic mp3 players) would be one of our first steps.
Lara do you know if there have been a lot of requests for iPods or audio guides?
Comment by Eric — August 1, 2005 @ 9:19 am
I’m not sure I like the cell phone thing. For one, what if I go with my partner to the museum, and we have only one cell phone between us? Podcasting seems the way to go, or some kind of unit the museum could provide. I understand this costs money, but I hope this is something the museum will work toward in its fundraising/planning.
Comment by Chris Fischbach — August 2, 2005 @ 9:25 am