Partnering with Berlinische Galerie (the Berlin Museum of Contemporary Art) we spent a day asking key questions on Museum Outreach. How is it successful? What types of Outreach work best? How can it be improved? In a location that is itself an example of German and British museum partnerships (the exhibition of Scottish artist Paolozzi originated in the Whitechapel Gallery) we invited six speakers to lead the discussion.  ©

British Council

How can museums be actively connected to their local communities?

In a world where the number of ‘things to do’ is ever increasing, museums need to work like every other organisation to get audiences through the door.

The Museums Reach Out! event in May 2018 hosted 65 museum experts and professionals at Berlinische Galerie to take a closer look at UK and German outreach projects at museums and galleries. ‘Museum Outreach’ is the toolkit that museums use to find their audiences, to communicate with them, to find out what they want, and to give it to them via the new, engaging museum of the twenty-first century.

Take a look back at what participants had to say on Twitter

“It was a really fascinating and informative event and such a wonderful way to make connections and possibly the start of new creative partnerships.”

Julieann Worrall Hood (Head of Education, Roche Court Educational Trust)

Friederike Holländer (wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin, Bauhaus Agenten Programm) told us about the Bauhaus schools programme, and their innovative technique of training older children to give exhibition tours to younger ones. Rosie Fuller (freelance museum learning consultant) gave examples of a range of exciting London projects allowing children and families to engage with and respond to museums and artworks personally and informally. ©

British Council
Julieann Worrall Hood (Head of Education, The Roche Court Educational Trust, Salisbury) told the exciting story of ARTiculate, an inspiring programme that combines art and public speaking for young people. Carolina Silva (Whitechapel Gallery), Sandra Ortmann (Jugend im Museum) and Hannes Hacke (Humboldt Universität, Institut für deutsche Literatur) closed the afternoon with more examples of innovative practice.  ©

Rachel Launay (Director British Council Germany) and Dr. Thomas Köhler (Director Berlinische Galerie) opening Museums Reach Out!

Thanks to all those that came along to Museums Reach Out!

It was a pleasure to work again with Berlinische Galerie, especially as we were together able to contribute to the museum educator community which has been somewhat underserved in recent years. We hope that this will be the first of many events where collaboration between the UK and Germany can be out centre stage.

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