Truly inclusive museums center visitors in their practice. In order to do this, they make sure that the idea that they offer through interpretation balance the desires and needs of museums and visitors. Ideally, they include elements of the collection object and its history in ways that are relevant to the visitor.
The graphic, however, is the most generalized state for interpretation. In practice, parts of this diagram will increase in relative scale. For example, for most objects, the donor portion is much smaller than the relevancy. How do you measure this? Well, go back to your goal–you want to center visitors. Look at the ideas from the visitor’s lens. (A future post will share more about thinking of interpretation holistically.)
So how do you do this? Start by thinking about the object. That object is so much all in one package no matter what the collection–art or science. As an interpreter, you are the person who decides what stories are foregrounded. But, in order to do that, you need to be thoughtful about the choices you make. Think of the object as a locus of fractal layers of ideas. There are so many elements that come together.
Step through all those hidden layers from the object’s beginning to now. You could start with tangible, like its surface texture, but also think about the layers that are intangible. Also, you can consider the object and the culture around the object. And, then be thoughtful about how you explicate and excavate those layers for your visitors. Many of those layers, like the use, have changed over time, so they are not obvious to visitors. Some of these elements might be also invisible now, like the context. You can bring the invisible past into people’s present in relevant ways.
My classic example is the fibula. As you think about developing the interpretation of this object, break out every layer of an object, and be thoughtful about what elements that you choose to use in your interpretation. Certainly, this was not just a functional object, it was also a marker of wealth and gender. Compare these two statements: “The fibula is used to hold up a garment.” or “Wealthy men in early Britain used finely wrought fibula to fasten their garments. The latter statement adds important layers of knowledge connecting the object’s present to facets of its past.
But, think of the power you have. You can help people journey into ideas and concepts that are apparently invisible. You have the chance to transform something inert into a transformational tool. Take up that charge.
This is the fifth in a series of posts about considering Interpretation and Content to Meet Today’s Visitor’s Needs.