Educational program 'Dialogue-Based Learning: Creativity and Museum Practice'

Presentations and workshops, conducted by Linda Norris, independent museum expert from USA, are organized by the Latvian Academy of Culture in cooperation with the Society of Promotion of Museology in the Baltics and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia, as well as Žanis Lipke Memorial, National History Museum of Latvia, Latvian Natural History Museum, Riga Film Museum and Tukums Museum. Participation is free of charge. Thanks to the project sponsor - Baltic-American Freedom Foundation (BAFF)!

Since 2009, Linda Norris has worked extensively with Ukrainian museums and has written on Ukrainian museum practice for both Ukrainian and American publications. Currently, she is teaching an online course for the Johns Hopkins University Museum Studies Program entitled ‘International Experiments in Community Engagement’. As the author of the widely-read blog, ‘The Uncataloged Museum’, this project will provide Linda Norris with new perspectives, new museums, and new material for blog posts. The blog’s success is due in part to her continued experience with museum colleagues around the world of which this will be an important part.

The event is intended to bring together museum professionals, researchers and lecturers on museology and cultural heritage issues, as well as graduate students from all three Baltic States. 

PROGRAM

WEDNESDAY, 10 FEBRUARY 2016

Presentation: Bridging and Bonding: Community Engagement in Museums

Museums can be places where we build bridges between different segments of the community and also create bonding opportunities for those with similar interests and backgrounds.  Both activities have value and this presentation will examine a wide variety of differing approaches to both bonding and bridging.

Time: 10AM – 12AM, 1PM – 3PM   

Location: National History Museum of Latvia, Brīvības bulvāris 32, Riga

Expected audience size: up to 60 persons, museum professionals, researchers, lecturers, students, and the general public

Simultaneous translation planned – English / Latvian

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THURSDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2016

Presentation: United States Museums: The Big Picture

Unlike European nations, the United States does not have a Ministry of Culture.  As a result is a complicated, yet vital, patchwork of ideas, approaches, and standards.  In this overview, up-to-date statistics and other information about the workings of American museums will be shared.d this presentation will examine a wide variety of differing approaches to both bonding and bridging.

Time: 10AM – 12AM   

Location: National History Museum of Latvia, Brīvības bulvāris 32, Riga

Expected audience size: up to 60 persons, museum professionals, researchers, lecturers, students, and the general public

Simultaneous translation planned – English / Latvian

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THURSDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2016

Round-Table: Creativity in and of museums

Discussion on creativity and contemporary museum practice will take place with participation of Linda Norris and the members of the Society of Promotion of Museology in the Baltics, as well as larger audience.

Time: 1PM – 3PM   

Location: National History Museum of Latvia, Brīvības bulvāris 32, Riga

Expected audience size: up to 60 persons, museum professionals, researchers, lecturers, students, and the general public

Working language: English

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MONDAY, 15 FEBRUARY 2016

Workshop: Creativity and Museum Practice

Play, talk, think, discover: explores themes from Norris’ and Tisdale’s recent book, Creativity in Museum Practice. Participants will gain an understanding of creativity theory, learn how to enhance their own creative practice, and how to build a creative culture at a museum, building an organization that benefits civil society.

Time: 10AM – 12AM, 1PM – 3PM   

Location: Riga Film Museum, Peitavas iela 10, Riga

Expected audience size: up to 35 persons, museum professionals, researchers, lecturers, graduate students

Working language: English

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TUESDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 2016

Workshop: Visitor Voices in Museums

We will explore different learning theories in museums; plan how to use front-end and formative evaluation to include visitor input; prototype easy and cheap hands-on elements; and talk about how to balance curatorial authority with visitor engagement.

Time: 10AM – 12AM, 1PM – 3PM   

Location: National History Museum of Latvia, Brīvības bulvāris 32, Riga

Expected audience size: up to 35 persons, museum professionals, researchers, lecturers, graduate students

Working language: English

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WEDNESDAY, 17 FEBRUARY 2016

Workshop: Developing Family Friendly Exhibits

Museums are no longer just temples for scholars.  We now need to create exhibitions that provide meaningful experiences for visitors coming in family groups.  This doesn’t mean the dumbing-down of content, but rather adapting content and approach to a wide variety of learners and learning styles.

Time: 10AM – 12AM, 1PM – 3PM   

Location: Latvian Natural History Museum, K.Barona iela 4, Riga

Expected audience size: up to 35 persons, museum professionals, researchers, lecturers, graduate students

Working language: English

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THURSDAY, 18 FEBRUARY 2016

Workshop and Field Trip: Creating a Great Tour

Museum and historic site tours are all too often merely recitations of facts, done for a silent audience.  In this workshop, participants will gain skills to craft guided tours that connect and inspire visitors, working on big ideas and at the same time, communication skills.

Time: 10AM – 12AM, 1PM – 3PM   

Location: Tukums Museum, Tukums

Expected audience size: up to 35 persons, museum professionals, researchers, lecturers, graduate students

Working language: English

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