By Dr. Natalia Grincheva, Research Fellow, University of Melbourne
This audio blog is a series of short interviews collected from several speakers at the 2017 MCN conference, both academics and professionals while I was an MCN Scholarship recipient. They include brief conversations with former board members, newcomers to the conference, and those who already got addicted to the annual meetings of a unique cohort of enthusiastic museum professionals from the U.S. and beyond.
Each speaker was challenged with three key questions:
First, I asked them to share details from their conference presentations and highlight the most important takeaways from the projects they are currently involved in. A wide spectrum of projects ranged from developing hands-on museum apps and designing new interactive experiences across physical and digital worlds to reimagining what innovation means for contemporary museums.
Second, interviewees elaborated on how their projects fit with the current environment of museum technology, increasingly and rapidly moving towards a closer and more strategic engagement with “big data.” Even though big data and cultural analytics have a strong impact on how museums approach their tasks in enlarging audiences, entering new markets, improving access, and deepening engagement, a wide range of responses from different speakers interrogate the meaning and value of the “big data” in relation to creating eloquent museums experiences and establishing connections with key communities.
Finally, speakers sent their personal messages and birthday wishes to the MCN community celebrating this year the 50th anniversary of the network. Each speaker has a unique perspective, a distinct voice, and tons of positive energy to share with the rest of the MCN members.
If you missed the conference or want to get more details on some topics discussed during the 2017 MCN sessions, this is your chance! Enjoy!
Angie Judge, CEO, Dexibit
Session: Money, Data, and Power:
A Review of Museum Use Cases with Big Data Analytics
“It is great to see that the museum industry is moving towards the space where it’s becoming more informed and more aware and more purposeful in how it acts with data in its hands… ”
Listen the Interview on SoundCloud (2.52 min)
Kubi Ackerman, Project Director, Future City Lab
Museum of the City of New York
Session: Designing the Future:
Creating an Interactive Gallery on the Future of New York City
“the lab is extremely data intensive… we wanted to have a big picture approach that really emphasizes how this information directly relates to experience of the city…”
Listen the Interview on SoundCloud (4 min)
Ed Rodley, Associate Director of Integrated Media, Peabody Essex Museum
Session: Break Out of the Rut: Fresh Strategies for Innovative Projects
“there is nothing that digital doesn’t touch and probably disrupt…so, being able to do that in a way that is productive, rather than disruptive is the challenge that we are all facing…”
Listen the Interview on SoundCloud(2.41 min)
Neville Vakharia, Assistant Professor and Research Director
Drexel University, Westphal College of Media Arts & Design
Session: Beyond the Graphing Calculator:
A Deep Dive into Data Visualization and Cultural Institutions
“When you take data and when you create a tool that is useful for a particular audience then when you really have an impact.”
Listen the Interview on SoundCloud (3.16 min)
Nancy Proctor, Executive Director, Museweb
Session: The Access App
“Even though we call it crowdsourcing, in the end of the day what we end up doing is community sourcing…”
Listen the Interview on SoundCloud (4.29 min)
Nicole Riesenberger, University of Maryland-Phillips Collection Postdoctoral Fellow in Virtual Culture, The Phillips Collection
Session: Collaborations That Work:
Designing Effective and Inclusive Academic Partnerships in Museums
“…students are exploring location aware mobile apps to help visitors to navigate through the museum and discover interesting works of art that they want to see during their visit.”