Arts and Audiences 2
Full course description
This course focuses on the relationship between arts and audiences. The course takes an interdisciplinary approach and builds on perspectives coming from academic fields such as (art) history, sociology, pedagogy, philosophy, museum and media studies as well as professional practices such as education, policy, marketing and curatorship. It aims to show students the diverse ways in which art institutions relate to and interact with audiences. The course is firmly grounded both in academic scholarly works and professional practices. Lectures will offer overviews on the topics at hand and present diverse positions in the field. Workshops will offer focused work on academic literature related to the topics as well as hands-on professional training.
In period 4 the programme will be tailored to the student’s interests and hands-on projects with societal partners allowing students to further specialize will be offered. The course consists of 2 parts running simultaneously. The first part combines guest lectures from professionals and specialists, seminars on key topics and professional workshops. Topics that can be addressed are: impact of immersive and discursive experience on the learning experience, knowledge creation in art museums, measuring the intrinsic and extrinsic values of the arts, trends in cultural participation, ethical frameworks for digital engagement, the use of mobile apps in museums, digital archives and projects such as the Google Art Project asking for public participation, darker sides of (problematic aspects of) participation/participatory culture, ethical issues of audience research, combining offline and online research, etc.
The second part is a research assignment in collaboration with a societal partner. It can take the form of designing an exhibition, designing an art education activity, event or programme for a specific target group and institution, evaluating an education program, exhibition, presentation or app.
The focus of period 4 is on the critical analysis of cultural practices with a focus on the relationship between art and audiences, and the implementation of the results into practice.
Course objectives
At the end of the course, students are able to:
- demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the key theories, approaches, concepts and methodologies in museum studies, audience research, curatorial studies, and cultural education and an ability to transfer this knowledge into the field;
- demonstrate advanced knowledge of and insight into important issues in the fields of audience research, education, curatorship with an emphasis on participatory practices;
- differentiate between and negotiate the interests of relevant stakeholders, actors and factors in diverse practices related to audiences;
- use professional skills to work with audiences in the fields of arts and culture;
- collaborate with a societal partner within a research assignment;
- critically analyse cultural practices with a focus on the relationship between art and audiences, and the implementation of the results into practice.
Prerequisites
Arts and Audience 1
Recommended reading
To be announced