For Arts' Sake

Josh Yiu, Director of the Art Museum at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), discusses the evolving role of university museums in Hong Kong and beyond. He shares insights on innovative projects like integrating AI with traditional calligraphy, the importance of university museums in academic and public life, and the challenges they face, such as climate change and funding. Discover how university museums are shaping connections between art education and the community.

In this episode, Dar-kuen Wu, Senior Curator at Taiwan's Contemporary Culture Lab (C-Lab), shares his practical approach to blending contemporary art with Taiwanese culture. He discusses his role in managing C-Lab, a government-supported cultural centre, and highlights key projects like the Future Vision Lab. Dar-kuen also talks about significant international collaborations and offers insights into the innovative ways C-Lab combines art and technology.

In our third episode, Leeji Hong, curator at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) in Seoul, discusses her unique curatorial philosophy, highlights exhibitions like 'Game Society' and the Hyundai Motor Series, and talks about MMCA's innovative digital strategies. Leeji also explores how the museum adapted during the pandemic, developed programs like 'Delivery in Art', and embraced Korea's mobile-first culture to engage visitors. 

In our second episode, Meggy Cheng, ex-Head of Marketing at M+ Museum in Hong Kong, discusses how she applies her corporate experience to the arts, enhancing how contemporary art is appreciated worldwide. She offers insights into launching a major art institution during a pandemic and the evolution of art marketing in the digital era.

In our opening episode of Season 7, meet Jervais Choo, Deputy Director of Organisational Design and Innovation at Singapore's National Heritage Board and founder of DigiMuse. Explore how his work with digital artists and technologies like AI and VR is changing museum experiences. The discussion includes practical advice for integrating tech into museums, understanding digital innovation's role, the necessity of experimentation, and future directions in museum technology.

In this episode, we chat with Diva Zumaya, assistant curator at LACMA. Join us as we explore her journey at LACMA, where she challenges dominant narratives in European art history, and learn about her deep passion for teamwork in the curatorial process. 

Art can be a transformative force for good, as Harriet Body shows us on this episode of For Arts' Sake. As an Australian artist who uses the arts to create inclusive spaces and promote mental wellbeing, Harriet shares her inspiring work and discusses the impact of the arts on individuals and communities.

In this episode, we chat with Dr. Sadiah Boonstra, a Jakarta-based curator, researcher, and advocate for decolonial practices in the museum world. With experience working at cultural institutions around the world, Dr. Boonstra will discuss the importance of preserving cultural heritage, engaging with diverse communities, and challenging dominant narratives in the museum sector.

Join us for the conversation with Helen Hillyard, curator at Dulwich Picture Gallery, as she shares her insights into the world of curation, the importance of making historical collections relevant to contemporary audiences, and creating a dialogue between the past and present.

In this episode we are speaking with Dr. Jenny Newell, Curator for Climate Change at the Australian Museum in Sydney. Join us as we discuss the unique role that museums and cultural institutions can play in tackling the climate crisis and learn about some inspiring initiatives.

Join museum educator Claire Brown in exploring the power of slow looking and Visible Thinking in museums, and discover how these approaches can enhance visitors' enjoyment and understanding of artworks.

In this bonus episode, Alina and James chat with David Dawson from Wiltshire Museum about the struggles and success of running an ambitious independent museum.

This episode features an interview with Sarah Cowie, at the time the Engagement Manager for National Museums Scotland. Julia and Alina spoke with Sarah about working across multiple museums at once, the importance of finding interesting role models for young visitors, and strategies for keeping audiences engaged, visit after visit. Since this interview was recorded, Sarah has moved into a new role with the National Trust.

In this week's For Arts' Sake, Julia and James sit down to chat with Daria Beglova, head of the Peredelkino Arts Centre and Residence. Despite falling into disrepair, Peredelkino remains an icon of Moscow culture and Russian literature. The discussion centres on the importance of preserving heritage and the parallels between history and present-day events.

In this week's episode, Alina and James speak with Anna Petrova from Odesa Fine Arts Museum. At just 22 years old, Anna is already making a name for herself in arts and culture, currently working as the head of excursions at one of Odesa's principal art galleries. Anna's enthusiasm for museums shines through as she shares her experiences working in “the pearl of the pearl” of Ukraine, her love of art, and her hopes for the future.

This time on For Arts' Sake, Alina and James are joined by Sarah Creed. Sarah is currently the Exhibitions Project Manager at the Design Museum, but has experience in a wide variety of roles across a huge range of museums, galleries, and heritage sites. Over the course of the interview, Sarah shares her experiences and expertise on topics including museum audiences, weird exhibition pieces, and finding time for her hobbies.

In the first episode of a very exciting international season, James and Alina chat with Lizzie Peabody. Lizzie is a professional storyteller, audio producer, and host of the Smithsonian Institution's Sidedoor podcast. This conversation dives into the art of storytelling, the importance of building narratives, and some ways we can reimagine how museums can reach out to their audiences.

In this special bonus episode, we chat with Dr. Dominique Bouchard, Head of Learning and Interpretation at English Heritage. Dominique shares insights from her fifteen years of experience leading public programming and exhibitions, and explores ideas of how museums and heritage can help communities tell their own stories.

We talk with Louise McAward-White, Collections Systems Specialist at the British Film Institute (BFI) and co-founder of Fair Museum Jobs, about improving collections systems at the BFI and contributing to a more equitable practice in museum employment.

We talk with Gemma Wright, Head of Learning at Camden Arts Centre (CAC), about the learning programmes she creates to engage learners of all backgrounds. We also learn how CAC nurtures the next generation of artists through residencies and learning programmes.

Dan Vo is the founder of the award-winning LGBTQ+ volunteer-led tours at the V&A. We discuss the history of these tours, the tour-guide training, the audiences, and the V&A academy course he currently leads.

We sit down with Abby Bird, Communications Manager at the Black Country Living Museum (BCLM) and creator of BCLM’s viral TikTok account, to discuss museum social media and learn how to make museums more relatable to GenZ.

We're joined by Dhikshana Turakhia Pering, Head of Learning at Somerset House, to chat about engagement, young audiences, cultural production, and juggling work and family.

In the season finale, we're joined by the Wellcome Collection's Inclusive Practice Lead, Teresa Cisneros, to discover the work that goes into creating real change and inclusion in the museum world.

We talk with culture sector communications and outreach manager Devon Turner on how to create and grow global culture networks.

We speak with Sutton House's Community Learning Manager, Sean Curran, to learn about the importance of keeping local and hidden histories alive.

We sit down with Holly Wilson of the British Museum's Wolfson Project to find out how museums can make themselves more welcoming spaces.

To kick off Season 3, we're joined by Tim Powell, head of R&D at Historic Royal Palaces, to chat about creating memorable experiences that bring stories to life.

Karly explores how meditation and awareness practices in museums can bring us deeper connection, understanding and joy. She is part of the Limina Collective delivering 'slow looking' and mindfulness-based practices in UK art collections. Before her current venture, she has enjoyed over 20 years of delivering learning events for the National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, Royal Collection, Wallace Collection, Dulwich Picture Gallery, British Library, and V&A.

Olivia and Paula like to challenge traditional interactions with cityscapes and reveal hidden histories through 'Uncomfortable' walking tours. This project has transformed the traditional walking tour into a critical pedagogy of urban landscapes. With extreme opinions on the rise, academics have an obligation to bring their research out into the public space to encourage dialogue, critical thinking, and empathy. Through Uncomfortable Oxford, Paula & Olivia have designed a method for deflating emotional tensions that surround uncomfortable histories, directing dialogue towards a productive middle ground.

Liam believes that museums are not neutral, and wants them to challenge themselves to always be more inclusive, empathetic, and radical. He believes in the power museums have to go beyond their fundamental role as holders of history, and use that knowledge to present a bold and fair vision for the future. He wants to see museums decolonise their collections, and provide more people with the power to make the decisions over what gets collected and displayed. But most of all, he really just wants museums to be more fun.

Alex is passionate about making a change in the ways that cultural organisations speak and engage with their audiences. As a freelancer, Alex works with many cultural institutions, including ArtUK where he explores how digital outreach and learning resources could help engage wider audiences. Prior to that, Alex led Digital Programmes at the Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A) and worked on digital learning programme at the Museum of London.

Claire Madge is a central figure in the promotion of accessible museums across the UK. She's the founder of Autism in Museums, an initiative working to create autism-friendly change in the cultural sector. A tireless volunteer, Claire has worked with a number of big and small museums, including the V&A, British Museum, Jewish Museum, and Museum of London. Claire has seen the difference autism early openings to museums have made for her family. Her goal - is to share her positive experience with others.

Hello. This is For Arts' Sake – a podcast that gives voice to museum people. Here we share real-life stories of leading professionals in museums and the heritage sector across the UK. Stay tuned for upcoming episodes!

Jenny wants to know how historical places retain people’s emotions. She is a true cultural ambassador and has a great deal of experience having worked across many cultural organisations, including the V&A and Historic Royal Palaces. Currently, Jenny Pistella is teaching at Queen Mary University, London, where she is also working towards her PhD. Could historical places remain haunted by the emotions or feelings of people who had inhabited them? Could we, as visitors of historical sites and places, still experience those emotions today? These are the questions Jenny is trying to find answers to.

Listen in as we chat to Jack Shoulder, a museum learning Rockstar. Learn from Jack how to make museum learning fun and filled with positive energy! He has practised it on millions of people at the British Museum and now at the Towner Art Gallery and V&A. Jack gets personal as he shares his commitment to overcome the fear of failure by the time he turns 30.

This week we are talking to Caroline Marcus - a passionate museum learning expert. Caroline is a university lecturer at UCL, a consultant and programme producer specialising in museum learning. She will be sharing her insights on how to transform museums into magical and eye-opening places for kids and adults alike. Listen until the end to hear about Caroline’s inspirational vision about the museum of ‘universal themes’ - an idea that resonates deeply with us.

This week we’re chatting to Aisling Serrant about her creative approach to museum festivals. Aisling works as a Community Engagement Manager at the Museum of London Docklands which tells the history of about London as a port. Aisling organises festivals bringing together families from all backgrounds to learn about different cultures and history. Her main goal is to make the museum a welcoming space for everyone.

Ed Lawless makes the British Museum more accessible to young visitors using technology within the Samsung Digital Discover Centre. He enjoys challenging the conventional models of what museum learning programmes for schools, families and young people look like. From live video links with classrooms to a growing programme of tablet guided experiences for school groups, Ed is making digital technology work for students. He has explored how familiar digital technology can be exploited in new ways to create learning experiences for whole families, not just children. Looking to the future, Ed is working with his team to develop a new strand of programming for teenagers and other young people in the Museum. Our website: https://forartsake.co.uk

You're listening For Arts' Sake, a podcast where we discover what museums are really for and what people who work there really do. Every week we ask leading museum professionals to share. Stay tuned! The first episode is coming soon!