Tuesday 25th February 2025, 1.30pm – 2.40pm

Working without words: adventures in inviting and analysing responses without text or language

Despite working on projects dedicated to the preservation, celebration and interpretation of all forms of human expression, the work of audience research and evaluation in museums and heritage is mainly based on analysing text and language, received as written or verbal responses. But what happens when we invite audiences and collaborators to respond in another way? What about audiences who can’t respond with words at all? In this seminar we will explore the benefits and considerations involved in deriving data from word-free responses in learning evaluation, co-curation and creative research. We’ll explore examples of work that has invited participants to make, move, or play as a response, either with the aim of widening access, or to broaden understanding.

Contributions will be offered by:

• Hudson Ray, a Senior Audience Researcher working across the Science Museum Group sites in the north of England, who has been supporting the development of the Sound & Vision galleries at the National Science and Media Museum. The museum’s closure and a focus on prioritising audiences with varied access needs has necessitated a change in audience research methodologies. This work has involved interpreting movement and art as forms of non-verbal feedback, as well as building methodologies around existing group learning sessions and skills-building workshops.
• Rhona Matheson, Chief Executive of Starcatchers, an organisation who create performances and creative experiences for babies and children from birth to 5 years. Originally established as a pilot project in Muirhouse, North Edinburgh in 2006, Starcatchers has pioneered approaches to engage creatively with babies, toddlers and young children locally, nationally and internationally. They have developed robust research and evaluation to underpin their work, and have an urgent commitment to advance children’s rights to engage with and participate in arts and creative experiences from birth and, through this, amplify young children’s agency and voice.

This session will be co-led by Ellen Saffrey Stuart and Sian Hunter-Dodsworth, with an introduction by Sian.

GEM Members can book for free using the VSG member rate.