Special Encore Presentation of Museum Promise
January 24, 2014
Hosted by Carol Bossert
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Guest Information
Episode Description
At the turn of the 20th century, librarian and museum maverick John Cotton Dana wrote, “A good museum attracts, entertains, arouses curiosity, leads to questioning –and thus promotes learning.” But what exactly is learning in a museum context? And how do—or can—museums promote it? What is the responsibility of the museum to fulfill its promise to be an institution that promotes learning? This week’s program of The Museum Life examines these question with educator, writer and critical thinker, David Carr. The discussion will follow David’s “Ten Lessons and One Rule,” published in The Promise of Cultural Institutions. We will discuss what we mean by learners, what kinds of learning takes place in museums and how museums and other cultural institutions can inadvertently stifle learning.
The Museum Life
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Museums attract millions of visitors and employ thousands. The Museum Life, hosted by Carol Bossert, charts the growth and development of this cultural business. Museum Life showcases leaders in the field who provide perspective on current issue as well as creative thinkers who are impacting the future of museums.
Carol Bossert
Carol Bossert loves museums. She has spent her career working in and for these important cultural organizations that include traditional collection-based museums, science centers, national parks and visitor centers.
In addition to hosting Museum Life, Carol Bossert maintains an active consulting practice to help cultural institutions, government agencies and corporations engage with their communities through exhibitions and place-based experiences. Her clients include Smithsonian Institution, National Park Service, Great Lakes Science Center, International Spy Museum, North Carolina Museum of Natural History, and international clients in China, Mexico and Saudi Arabia. Learn more at http://carolbossertservices.com/.
Carol Bossert holds a doctoral degree in biology from the University of Texas-Dallas and a Bachelors of Arts degree in Zoology from DePauw University. She is a graduate of the J. Paul Getty Museum Management Institute and has served professional organizations such as the American Alliance of Museums and National Science Foundation. She is also a member of The Museum Group, an organization of senior professionals in museum practice and Praxis Museum Exhibit Group.
She blogs about museum and civic issues http://carolbossertservices.com/blog/.
