Abstract
Archaeological museums are often stereotyped as being static spaces, silent and stoic with carefully arranged cases of ancient artifacts. As those involved in the museum world know, life behind the scenes is often animated and bustling, but too often the vibrancy of the older museum remains concealed from visitors. The “Archaeology Alive” program at the Archaeological Museum of Ancient Corinth was born from the desire to reveal the liveliness of the museum by bridging the gap between the scholarship taking place in the museum workrooms and the public visiting its galleries. During Archaeology Alive programming, an archaeologist presents a topic from the ancient world that features an object from the Corinth collections and invites visitors to engage in conversation about the materials, the museum, and the archaeological site at large. The novelty of providing visitors with the opportunity to engage directly with an archaeologist encourages them to ask questions, share their perspectives, and reveal their unique insights. This interactivity in the museum invites the visitors to take an active role in their museum experience, as the contributions of their questions, perspectives and insights are just as integral to the conversation as are the archaeologist’s experiences and expertise. By adding an engaging, conversational dimension to the museum experience, museum educators can amplify their efficacy and enhance the visitor experience to create a lasting impact.
Presenters
Taylor CwiklaSteinmetz Family Foundation Museum Fellow, Educational Outreach, American School of Classical Studies at Athens, Corinth Excavations, Korinthia, Greece
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
KEYWORDS
Education, Conversation, Engagement, Insights, Perspectives, Impact, Archaeology, Outreach
