Dear Mr. Sas,

Regarding the role of the tourist when determining museum direction, here is some feedback from the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson Hole, Wyoming - USA.

We conduct seasonal market research - summer and winter seasons - that help us to determine which exhibits the public enjoys, if they like our cafe and gift shop, and if they like our evening programs.  

We have only conducted the research for two years and our exhibit calendar is three years in advance.  Thus, the current exhibits do not reflect the feedback.  However, public reaction to an exhibit is being considered, to a degree, in future exhibit planning.  Exhibits are also chosen to satisfy educational goals, too.  Public popularity is not the only criterion.

Our Curator of Education conducts evaluations on her regular course offerings to the local and regional public schools and makes changes accordingly.  We consider our student populace to be "a visitor," also.

Finally, our overall findings, with gallery visitation and educational programs, is that interaction with the museum art is crucial and is what brings most satisfaction to the visitor.  Therefore, our programs involve a great deal of hands on (sketching, studying art history, walking tours with docents, etc.) activities.  A recent example is that we have installed two cd rom computer kiosks in our children's gallery that have been very well received.  "Aloof appreciation does not satisfy" is our motto.

Hope you find this helpful.
Ponteir Sackrey
Marketing Manager
National Museum of Wildlife Art
----------
From:   Jan Sas[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
Sent:   Tuesday, March 18, 1997 4:42 AM
To:     [log in to unmask]
Subject:        influence of visitors

I am working on an article about the influence of visitors.
Museums have to be more and more self supporting forced by political and
economical trends. Because visitors can generate a lot of income many
museums concentrate on customer satisfaction. The first step is that museums
listen seriously to their visitors by doing visitor research. The next step
is that visitors play the role of consultant. Museums invite visitors to
talk with the responsible managers about exhibition policy, design,
education, etc. Here in the Netherlands some museums have created
consultation groups. As focus group they advise the museum staff.
Unfamiliair in Holland is the third step: museums collaborate with
communities: exhibitions and programmes are curated by community groups.
Maybe even a fouth step exists: the visitor as director. I like to know how
far do museums allow visitors to involve in their policy and programmes?
What is the power of the visitor? I am NOT interested in personal or
philosophical ideas about this subject. I am looking for examples from the
daily museum practice.
Thank you for your help. Please respond off list.
===
Jan Sas
Senior Lecturer Museum Communications and Visitor Studies
Reinwardt Academy
315, Dapperstraat
NL-1093 BS Amsterdam
The Netherlands
voice:     + 31 20 69 22 111
fax:       + 31 20 69 26 836
e-mail:    [log in to unmask]
URL:       http://www.xs4all.nl/~rwa