1) 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?
2) How can we attract more attention to the Yager Museum? For example, better signage outside, footprints as we described, signage on other parts of campus, brochures in key places (admissions and in new student packets), banners on the outside of the building, etc.etc.?
3) How do we project the Yager Museum's strengths to the College community in a fun, appealing, nonthreatening way? Strengths you all came up with included:
Access to museum collections for class and research; look at objects in new
ways; collections which easily correspond to other academic departments and
courses in the college; museum is too access (for students) and hallway outside
museum is heavily travelled; willingness to educate (student curated exhibits
and hands-on experience); and willingness to help students (offers internships,
work study, volunteer opportunities, and lots of ways to get involved).
