Date of Award

Spring 4-26-2019

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Department

Education

First Advisor

Dr. Francesco Giuseffi

Second Advisor

Dr. Joseph Alsobrook

Third Advisor

Dr. Robyne Elder

Abstract

By investigating the history of corporate art collections and the evolution of educational frameworks in museums, this case study questions the differences between exhibition formats to illuminate possible areas of improvement. Museums were initially formed to display collections donated by wealthy or royal families and constructed around the ‘Curator’s Gallery’ format. This exhibition type focused on the aesthetic arrangement of objects based on the established art historical canon hierarchy and were accompanied by minimal ‘tombstone’ labels with little, if any, didactic information. Science museums emerged in the middle of the 19th century and were among the first informal learning institutions to consider the importance of education, illustrated by their use of the ‘Visitor’s Gallery’ format which included text panels with additional information. Influenced by the popularity of learning theories emerging in formal education, along with the increasing financial strain placed on art museums, led to the reevaluation of mission statements to include an educational purpose to justify federal aid. Despite the accepted change of exhibition design in most museums to include an educational component, there are no studies conducted on the evolution and importance for the same changes to be made in corporate art exhibitions. The researcher conducted a case study comparing the two different exhibition formats utilizing a corporate art collection’s exhibition in a dedicated art gallery inside one of the company’s history museums. The researcher’s intent was to investigate if and how visitor’s perceptions changed when learning was involved in the art viewing experience. Visitors were asked to participate in an exhibition where the art was accompanied first by basic text labels listing the artist, title, medium, and date of creation. They were then asked to come iii back at a future date to experience the show again, with the additional of extended text panels. Through three post experience surveys and a follow-up interview, the findings which follow showed an overall preference to the second format of the ‘Visitor’s Gallery’ experience, as well as unanimous consensus the second format closer aligned with a company's mission statement of providing a culture of caring, being community based and innovative.

Rights

Copyright 2019

Download

Share

COinS