From audiences to users - changing relationships in art galleries

On the panel with John Tusa, Sarah Weir and John Holden at the launch event at NESTA earlier this week

What would a more user-centred approach mean for art galleries and museums? Could engaging with our audiences enable us to make galleries matter to a wider range of people, and in so doing provide new resources (human and financial) for our organisations?

Earlier this year I explored these issues, looking at how user innovation was being used in other sectors (public, commercial, other parts of the arts) and talking to a wide range of arts professionals in the visual arts and museums sectors about what user engagement means for how we run art galleries.

Today, I spoke at seminar hosted by NESTA and the Clore Leadership Programme entitled ‘Leadership in Uncertain Times’ at which this article – along with another seven on similar themes – were launched.  You can read (and download) my article here – I’d be delighted to hear any comments, feedback or suggestions.

audiencestousers

UPDATE: Clore Leadership Programme have now published all the essays via their website including two others looking at user-led innovation in different sectors (Abigail Pogson in music and Michelle Knight in theatre), and Jonathan Best’s provocation around media convergence and live theatre, William Wong’s exploration of new business models and three articles on leadership by François Matarasso, Nadine Andrews and Teo Greenstreet.