Connected Audience Conference 2019, The Role of Emotions in Museum and Cultural Experiences

The Connected Audience Conference 2019, The Role of Emotions in Museum and Cultural Experiences, will take place on 4.-6. April 2019, Kulturforum (Staatliche Museen zu Berlin).

KulturAgenda Institute for Museums, Cultural Enterprises and Audiences, The Institute for Learning Innovation and the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin together present a conference exploring the newest research in human emotions and the role they play in museum and cultural experiences.

Emotions are core aspects of human behaviour which have an impact on learning and the development of memories. They are influenced by social factors and can help shape connections which are hugely important for cultural institutions and their audience development activities.

In the past museum experiences were too much focused on the intellectual and logical transmission of knowledge however research shows that emotions are key to visitor engagement. So what can museums and other cultural institutions do to be more effective in meeting individual visitor needs and connect to their local communities? Can we design better cultural and museums experiences by knowing more about the impact of emotions and the whole complexity of arousing emotional responses?

In a series of presentations, small group workshops and panel discussions we would like to discuss with emotion specialists, academics, museum professionals and professionals from other cultural institutions the challenges we face in generating exhibitions and developing audience-focused organisations that talk to the many and what role emotions play in all this.

Participants will have the opportunity to both contribute and learn about topics such as Creating awe, wonder and empathy in museum and cultural experiences, The role of emotions in visitor engagement and visitor satisfaction, and Emotion as the driver of decision-making and its potential for programming and marketing

The following high profile experts have already confirmed their attendance: John Falk (Institute for Learning Innovation, US), Maria Gendron (Yale University, US) and Lisa Feldman Barret (Northeastern University, US), Kay Voges (Theater Dortmund, GER), Miriam Wenzel (Jewish Museum Frankfurt, GER), Elif M. Gokcigdem (Author and founder of Empathy-Building through Museums, US), Tom Owen (PGAV, US)

This 2.5-day international conference will provide inspiring discussions and productive interactions between conference organisers, local museums and cultural institutions, conference participants, facilitators and visitors. We seek to create a facilitating and stimulating atmosphere with a strong dialogical approach. Participants will gain relevant experiences and insights for their professional practice.

With this conference format we want to bring together museum staff and researchers, scientists, artists and many other stakeholders and even connect with visitors and non-visitors. We are keen to make audience research and development a key component of museums work and want to showcase good practice, discuss new research findings and connect theory and research with practical work on the ground.

Conference Fees:Early Bird: 300 EUR (till January 20th)Standard Ticket: 360 EUR

Student Ticket: 200 EUR (limited tickets available - please via this link - student registration)

Click here for further information and registration.