Although this may be a stretch I think that the partying atmosphere and drinking in Oneonta are threats to the Yager museum. Many of the activities that go on in this town revolve around partying. The theory for why this would be a threat is that, for most college students, they would rather go out to the bars on a friday night than go to a gallery opening or public program. And as said before although this idea is a stretch I think if you gave the average college student the choice between visit the Yager museum or go into town to party, they would choose to party.
I think that is not a stretch at all Amanda, but a rather good observation. Although i think the 'captive' audience at hartwick is an opportunity, i think the the undervalued attitude that the college shows toward the Yager is a threat. (like the thought of selling the Van Ess collection last year and the lack of information some blue key tour guides have etc) If was can't get support by the college...who can we get support by??
The general steorotype of museums as 'boring' and 'highly academic' is a threat to the Yager Museum because it influences a student or community member's decision to visit the museum or paricipate in its programs.
well, if we're going to make stretches, let's at least do it together... I remember in class (or perhaps in the car to hawk circle) we talked about how segregated the board/trustees etc are from the students that show up there. i used to be all about museums and go to the openings and such, but just always ended up feeling unwelcome, so I stopped first inviting people to come and then ended up just leaving, and then eventually not coming. another threat i see the museum facing is, sadly, location. while it has what is a seemingly ideal location in an institution of learning, it ends up being passed over like a row of grecian tribal chanting books in the library. i can't imagine how many passers-by the workstudy students see during their shifts, as compared to those actually entering the museum.
and to add a creative riff offshoot to our first comment, i think the threat can also be translated into subject matter. now, i myself am quite addicted to discovery/history channel type shows and am more likely to veg out in front of those than a beer pong table, but museums do carry the stereotype of having nothing to offer of interest for a college student demographic. can we make them go to an exhibit because it somewhat relates to a class? yes. but demonstrating a subject matter that pulls them in by its nature, that is your desired effect. more on this idea in another comment section.
I would like to challenge the group to consider that most museums face a reality that their audience is a smaller, more self-select group than the wider population. The future of all museums (including the Yager) is to cultivate the self-selected "likely" visitors--from the Canadian research paper, those people who go to performances, read, and go to movies. At Hartwick this translates to serious students who are not heavy partiers, and who are interested in exploring culture and learning informally. So, the challenge is--how to we reach/communicate/integrate student input into programs with STUDENTS LIKE YOU?
I think another threat to the Yager Museum is it's open times. I know it cant possibly be open seven days a week, but on the weekends is when the local community and tourists have time to go there. My parents come to visit me a couple of times per year, and every time they've come it's been a Sunday. they always hope they will be able to go to the museum, but it is never open when they are here. Saturdays tend to be days students are away from campus, but Sundays are when students are there and done partying for the weekend (or at least most are done partying). I feel like being closed sunday makes it harder for students to visit if they have a schedule like i do, with class and meetings all day during the week and activities (i.e. outdoor club snowshoeing trips, museum club trips, Newman club volunteering activties) on saturdays.
About MUST-304 Places of Learning: Museums and Education
Class Goals:
• Students will examine and determine the role of the museum educator in a museum.
• Students will be able to identify the educational role of the museum to its community and its patrons.
• Students will be able to define the various ways visitors can learn and the methods museum educators employ to aid in the learning process.
• Students will gain hands on experience developing museum education programs.
• Students will understand the challenges facing museum educators and examine the future role of education in museums.
• Students will demonstrate effective verbal and written communication through assignments and interaction with community partners.
Mission: In keeping with the vision of its founder and with the mission of the College, The Yager Museum of Art & Culture is now an educational institution dedicated to the collection, preservation, interpretation and exhibition of art and artifacts. The Museum reflects the academic interests of the College and is committed to presenting them in appropriate campus settings in informative, scholarly and integrative ways. Through these and other means, the Museum plays a major role in educating the students, faculty and staff of the College and local and regional communities as well as a larger audience beyond.
6 comments:
Although this may be a stretch I think that the partying atmosphere and drinking in Oneonta are threats to the Yager museum. Many of the activities that go on in this town revolve around partying. The theory for why this would be a threat is that, for most college students, they would rather go out to the bars on a friday night than go to a gallery opening or public program. And as said before although this idea is a stretch I think if you gave the average college student the choice between visit the Yager museum or go into town to party, they would choose to party.
I think that is not a stretch at all Amanda, but a rather good observation. Although i think the 'captive' audience at hartwick is an opportunity, i think the the undervalued attitude that the college shows toward the Yager is a threat. (like the thought of selling the Van Ess collection last year and the lack of information some blue key tour guides have etc) If was can't get support by the college...who can we get support by??
The general steorotype of museums as 'boring' and 'highly academic' is a threat to the Yager Museum because it influences a student or community member's decision to visit the museum or paricipate in its programs.
well, if we're going to make stretches, let's at least do it together... I remember in class (or perhaps in the car to hawk circle) we talked about how segregated the board/trustees etc are from the students that show up there. i used to be all about museums and go to the openings and such, but just always ended up feeling unwelcome, so I stopped first inviting people to come and then ended up just leaving, and then eventually not coming. another threat i see the museum facing is, sadly, location. while it has what is a seemingly ideal location in an institution of learning, it ends up being passed over like a row of grecian tribal chanting books in the library. i can't imagine how many passers-by the workstudy students see during their shifts, as compared to those actually entering the museum.
and to add a creative riff offshoot to our first comment, i think the threat can also be translated into subject matter. now, i myself am quite addicted to discovery/history channel type shows and am more likely to veg out in front of those than a beer pong table, but museums do carry the stereotype of having nothing to offer of interest for a college student demographic. can we make them go to an exhibit because it somewhat relates to a class? yes. but demonstrating a subject matter that pulls them in by its nature, that is your desired effect. more on this idea in another comment section.
I would like to challenge the group to consider that most museums face a reality that their audience is a smaller, more self-select group than the wider population. The future of all museums (including the Yager) is to cultivate the self-selected "likely" visitors--from the Canadian research paper, those people who go to performances, read, and go to movies. At Hartwick this translates to serious students who are not heavy partiers, and who are interested in exploring culture and learning informally. So, the challenge is--how to we reach/communicate/integrate student input into programs with STUDENTS LIKE YOU?
I think another threat to the Yager Museum is it's open times. I know it cant possibly be open seven days a week, but on the weekends is when the local community and tourists have time to go there. My parents come to visit me a couple of times per year, and every time they've come it's been a Sunday. they always hope they will be able to go to the museum, but it is never open when they are here. Saturdays tend to be days students are away from campus, but Sundays are when students are there and done partying for the weekend (or at least most are done partying). I feel like being closed sunday makes it harder for students to visit if they have a schedule like i do, with class and meetings all day during the week and activities (i.e. outdoor club snowshoeing trips, museum club trips, Newman club volunteering activties) on saturdays.
Post a Comment