Abstract
This study focuses on Community Voice Labels (CVLs) at the Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA), using one project as a case study for the success of this initiative. CVLs are a method of including a variety of lived perspectives on the museum’s walls. The Interpretation Department at the CMA believes there is more than one way to look at a work of art and that people are experts in their own lived experiences. Seeing varied perspectives on the walls can help visitors feel that the content the museum presents is relevant and reflective of their own experiences. By creating a museum experience reflective of its diverse visitorship, the CMA hopes to foster a brave space for community conversation and create deeper connections with our publics. For the case study project, we interviewed 22 members of the community over 3 months. Each participant selected an artwork that represented their views on the American Dream. We scheduled recorded virtual meetings with each participant. Based on the recordings, interpretive planners created labels and collaborated with partners to ensure they accurately represented their thoughts and experiences in their own words. We compensated partners $200 for their time and effort. We hoped visitors would recognize that each person’s life experiences led to differing perceptions of the American Dream. We also hoped they would find connections to the theme and see their experiences reflected in our collection. The study also includes data gleaned from participant interviews about the successes and challenges of the project.
Presenters
Stephanie FosterLead Interpretive Planner, Public and Academic Engagement, The Cleveland Museum of Art, Ohio, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Community, Didactics, Interpretation, Education, Labels, Connections, Relevance
