In Gallery,
Youth and Family,
Learning,
Reach,
Access

American Perspectives Gallery Guide
at Portland Museum of Art

A supplemental piece of literature provided visitors with an opportunity for deeper engagement with the exhibition as well as continued education after leaving the museum.

Photos Courtesy of the Portland Museum of Art

Funding Categories

Printing
Translation

partner

Portland Museum of Art

location

Portland, ME

About

A custom gallery guide was produced and printed in-house, featuring prompts, questions, activities, and an overview of key artworks from the exhibition. A total of 1,500 copies were printed, and all guides were used by visitors throughout the run of the exhibition. This approach allowed for a different visitor experience beyond simply viewing the artworks. Using the printed guide, visitors were encouraged to engage with the artworks in more active ways like writing and conversation.

Photos courtesy Portland Museum of Art

Intended Outcome

To engage youth and families in the gallery

Actual Outcome

Visitors had used all of the gallery guides by the end of the exhibition, which is the strongest indicator of success. The gallery guide offered key objects in manageable chunks of text and provided more active ways of considering these objects in context. There were also family-friendly prompts to encourage more intergenerational interaction.

Advice Post Project

Having a tactile component with additional prompts is a strong technique for engagement with visitors who want to experience an exhibition at their own pace.