School and Teacher Partnerships at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art

This chapter examines educational programming at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. The educational value of single and multi-visit field trips is discussed. The author shares how the Brooks structures its STEAM field trip and provides instructions for an art making activity. The community impact of the Mid-South Scholastic Art awards is explained. Consideration is given to the importance of designing museum programming aligned to state curriculum standards. Examples of teacher workshops are provided. Best practices for successfully welcoming school groups to the museum environment are also shared.

Rebranding of Ukrainian Art Museums: Design as a Cultural Strategy

The purpose of the article is to identify the features of branding campaigns of Ukrainian art museums and their impact on increasing the popularity of museum institutions; and finding out the effectiveness of design approaches in such campaigns. Research methods are based on the application of comparative, formal-stylistic, iconological analysis and deconstruction method. The novelty of the research is to analyze the branding campaigns of art museums in order to learn from their experience and effective design solutions. The article also reveals the problem of integration of the viewer into the museum environment and the attempt through design to go beyond the imposed stereotypes, to overcome the attitude to art as a field alien to the average viewer. Conclusions. As a result of the analysis of branding campaigns of iconic Ukrainian art museums we come to the conclusion about their efficiency both for separate establishments, and for all culture in general. Comparative analysis of different approaches has shown the importance of identifying the uniqueness of institutions and attempts to reflect it in the design of identity. And although today we can talk about the belated transformation of the museum environment in Ukraine, which has been shedding boring socialist-realist cloaks almost three decades after the restoration of independence, it is important to note that this process coincides with the global trend of renewal of world museums. Design is becoming a cultural strategy that aims more than changing the image: it must turn the museum into a subjective player in the cultural field, able to think not in terms of power but in terms of culture. Therefore, the rebranding of the country’s iconic art museums can be called without exaggeration one of the most important cultural achievements since the restoration of independence. This process also demonstrated the current demand for design as a cultural strategy that can establish visual bridges between art professionals and potential viewers, as well as change cultural codes, set trends and thus influence the change of image of the city and country.

A new lighting method for cultural materials using selective chromatic light

Lighting is a critical component in a museum environment because, together with temperature, relative humidity and pollutants, it is one of the damaging factors able to produce long‐term, cumulative and irreversible photodegradation processes. To correctly preserve artworks, limiting illuminance and exposure is recommended, allowing on one side the preservation of the object, but on the other limiting the display of the object, especially for sensitive materials. The aim of this research was to develop, evaluate and compare a new lighting method for paintings and other cultural materials to improve the experience of the objects whilst reducing the risks from exposure. The idea is based on the use of selective chromatic light where the component of the spectrum absorbed by the materials is removed. This absorption is the principal cause of photodegradation. The proposed lighting system can be obtained by combining different types of projection systems together with filtering using an appropriate light source. Six methods of light projection have been compared for two mock-ups simulating real artworks with high and medium light sensitivity. The efficiency of illumination increased from 30% to 111% compared to standard lighting systems. Light stability tests were additionally performed, finding reduced colour changes compared to traditional lighting systems.

Kegiatan preservasi naskah kuno Syekh Abdul Manan di Museum Bandar Cimanuk Indramayu

The spread of Islam in Indramayu stems from trading activities at Cimanuk Port, Indramayu. This is completely contained in the hundred years old manuscripts of Sheikh Abdul Manan. This study aimed to determine how the preservation of Syekh Abdul Manan's ancient manuscripts at the Bandar Cimanuk Museum, Indramayu. The research used a qualitative approach through descriptive research method. Based results of research, the Bandar Cimanuk Museum has carried out activities for the preservation of Sheikh Abdul Manan’s ancient manuscripts through restrictions to direct access to museum users, routine cleaning of manuscripts and the museum environment, fumigation, and digitization. Restrictions to direct access to museum users by placing the ancient manuscripts in glass covered displays and special boxes. Routine maintenance of the museum is conducted by regulating the light and humidity, using camphor in every corner of the room, dehumidifier settings, and directing the museum visitors. Fumigation is conducted through pesticide compund to eliminate pests once a year. The digitization of ancient manuscripts into the form of a digital book (flipbook) which is carried out in collaboration with museums with various institutions, such as, a collaboration with researchers and students from Padjadjaran University. The entire process of preservation activities was carried out in a structured and panned methods. The study concludes that the importance of preservation to maintain and preserve the heritage of ancient manuscripts to be accessed and utilized by wider societies.

Monitoring pollutant gases in museum microclimates: a relevant preventive conservation strategy

Exposure to an atmosphere rich in volatile pollutants can endanger collections in museums, galleries, libraries or archives. Monitoring volatile pollutants in museum microclimates remains an unusual practice in most institutions. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can be released by many sources, including the artefacts’ materials themselves. The presence of pollutants in an enclosed space with poor ventilation, adding to high temperature and relative humidity levels or significant fluctuations, may increase the risk of damage for the more susceptible materials. The tendency observed in museums to enclose artefacts in vitrines or boxes may contribute to the formation of microclimates with high VOCs concentration. Based on the studies developed in the last decades, this work intends to draw attention to the risks associated with gaseous pollutants in museum environment and outline some recommendations that encourage cultural heritage institutions to implement a pollutant monitoring plan associated with risk prevention.

Monitoring pollutant gases in museum microclimates: a relevant preventive conservation strategy

Exposure to an atmosphere rich in volatile pollutants can endanger collections in museums, galleries, libraries or archives. Monitoring volatile pollutants in museum microclimates remains an unusual practice in most institutions. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can be released by many sources, including the artefacts’ materials themselves. The presence of pollutants in an enclosed space with poor ventilation, adding to high temperature and relative humidity levels or significant fluctuations, may increase the risk of damage for the more susceptible materials. The tendency observed in museums to enclose artefacts in vitrines or boxes may contribute to the formation of microclimates with high VOCs concentration. Based on the studies developed in the last decades, this work intends to draw attention to the risks associated with gaseous pollutants in museum environment and outline some recommendations that encourage cultural heritage institutions to implement a pollutant monitoring plan associated with risk prevention.

Digitale Elemente in der Kunst- und Kulturvermittlung für Senioren in Museen

This empirical study yields surprising results from the connection between digitalization and the older generation. The research question explores: To what extent do seniors "want" and "can" interact with digital media? The author investigates how a digital element for the mediation of art and culture in the museum environment is accepted and perceived by senior citizens. In addition, staff members were interviewed and mediation activities were systematically observed. The data collected in this qualitative study confirms a positive reflection of the seniors, while at the same time offering clues for reducing a digital divide and increasing digital participation of seniors outside museum spaces as well.

Stimulating students’ cognitive activity by means of interactive lectures in a museum environment

Considering the innovative interest of society in competent specialists, Higher Education strives to meet these needs by positioning introduction of interactive learning dynamic application in educational process as one of the forms of cognitive activity organisation. An illustrated lec-ture, a binary lecture, a consultation lecture and a conference were used in the study as priority means of cognitive activity stimulation. In doing so, we relied on the ideas of museum pedagogy as one of the important conditions of creating dialogicity, searching activity, team interaction and social experience. While conducting the abovementioned lectures in a museum environment, the special atmosphere is being created, which encourages fruitful work with historical sources, receiving information through exhibits, positive communicative environment aimed at initiating cognitive interest and activity, creativity, students’ independence in the knowledge assimilation, practical application of skills and abilities. All these, as our research has shown, contribute to the increase of the students’ cognitive ac-tivity stimulation levels.

School and Teacher Partnerships at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art

This chapter examines educational programming at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. The educational value of single and multi-visit field trips is discussed. The author shares how the Brooks structures its STEAM field trip and provides instructions for an art making activity. The community impact of the Mid-South Scholastic Art awards is explained. Consideration is given to the importance of designing museum programming aligned to state curriculum standards. Examples of teacher workshops are provided. Best practices for successfully welcoming school groups to the museum environment are also shared.