Hi Erin! Great question. I am about to finish graduate school with an MS in environmental justice and a certificate in museums studies; my studies in environmental justice inform how I approach education of difficult topics - there is no neat and nice way to describe my work! However, my answer comes from experience as one a gallery guide working exhibits with difficult topics. In undergrad, I worked at my campus art museum, which had exhibits dealing with issues of migration, racism, genocide, and sexuality.
My suggestion, as someone who was stationed in the galleries, is to provide lots of background information about the pieces, artist, motivation of the work or exhibit, and why it is important that it be displayed. But above all, I suggest emphasizing to the gallery guides that if they feel uncomfortable, it is okay to say you don't know or defer to a supervisor. Most interactions were pleasant and ample background information and some sensitivity training was all that was needed, but knowing I had the support of my supervisors if need be was reassuring. It's also a great lesson in humility and being okay without knowing the answer. I usually approached this with whatever knowledge I did have, and then "well, that is a great question, let's find out together" and either turning towards further resources or a supervisor. Often, if I am unsure how to approach themes, I consider how I would explain it to my grandmother.
In fact, when I was nineteen, an elementary school child asked me what the Holocaust was. In this case, I deferred to the parent they were with - who handled it deftly. Turned out this child was Native, and had learned about Native American dispossession and genocide, and the mother connected it to that lesson. That was certainly a unique situation, though. The piece she was viewing was a direct memorial for Holocaust victims, made in connection with a memorial to sexual assault victims at the University. Having to explain these themes to a child was not easy, but is a crucial step in being able to understand and disseminate information to guests. I definitely won't forget that.
In supervising gallery guides, supporting them in how to navigate these situations is critical in building trust in your employees, which enhances the museum experience for visitors, as the gallery guides are confident in their knowledge and in the support they have when they don't know something. Hope this helps!
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Skyler Leslie
Museum Studies Program - University of Michigan
Ann Arbor MI
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-05-2024 12:23 PM
From: Erin Dempsey
Subject: Seeking examples of Gallery Guides that engage with serious/heavy topics
Hello! For our summer exhibition this year we are featuring artworks that center around some serious topics like gun violence and reform, migration, war zones, and gendered violence. We would like to create a Gallery Guide for general visitors and self-guiding tour groups that can help them explore the artwork while also being respectful of the topics. Does anyone have any examples of exhibition collateral that was engaging but also respectful of heavy topics and controversial issues? In the past our Gallery Guides have had a much more whimsical tone that is not appropriate for this exhibition.
Any examples you could share would be very appreciated! Thank you!
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Erin Dempsey
Museum Educator and Interpretation Associate
National Liberty Museum
Philadelphia PA
edempsey@libertymuseum.org
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