RK&A conducted a summative evaluation of the New Glass Now exhibition at the Corning Museum of Glass. The interpretative goal for the exhibition is to challenge visitors to expand their notions of glass in contemporary art and design.
Methodology
The goal of the study is to explore visitors’ experiences in the temporary exhibition—the first exhibition to be evaluated in the contemporary wing of the museum. RK&A conducted 100 timing and tracking observations of visitors in the exhibition; visitors were recruited from all three potential entrances to the exhibition. Observation data provide an objective account of how visitors experience the exhibition. RK&A also conducted 30 in-depth interviews with visitors who had completed their visit to New Glass Now. Interview data provides insight to visitors’ understandings and takeaways.
Findings
First, New Glass Now was successful in challenging visitors to expand their notions of what glass in contemporary art and design can be. Most interviewed visitors said the exhibition and specific works of art made them think about glass differently than they had before. Second, visitors’ experiences in the exhibition are highly social, with many observed visitors conversing with another visitor in the exhibition, and one-half of visitors pointing out an artwork to another or beckoning a member of their group to come look at an artwork. Third, there is no predominant order to the exhibition visit, which can be instructive in thinking about how to exhibit in this space in the future. Finally, the introduction label and object labels were used infrequently and could be leveraged in content and placement to further support the interpretive goal.
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Citation
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