Performance as a medium of learning in museums and at heritage sites - an investigation
The PERFORMANCE, LEARNING AND HERITAGE research project is an investigation into the uses and impact of performance as a medium of learning in museums and at historic sites. The Centre for Applied Theatre Research (CATR) undertook research into the increasing and varied use being made of theatre and other drama-based activity as interpretive tools with visitors to museums and historic sites - an expanding but relatively under-researched field of performance practice. We observed, documented and analysed a variety of performance styles in relation to their site-specific contexts; encompassed the experience of, and response to, performance, of independent adult visitors, family groups and organised educational groups; in collaboration with Manchester Museum , commissioned a new professional performance piece to test and build on research findings as they began to emerge (performed in 2007); mapped the extent, style and functions of performance as a learning medium in museums and historic sites throughout the UK and abroad (an ongoing enterprise). The three year project began work in July 2005 and has culminated in publications (including journal articles, plans for an edited book, a searchable database and a DVD) and an international conference in Manchester in Spring 2008. The book, "Performing Heritage" will be published in late 2010 or early 2011.
Project
arts-humanities.net
[all by Jackson except where stated otherwise]
(2010) Co-author, with Jenny Kidd, ‘Museum theatre: cultivating audience engagement. A case study’, in J. Shu & P. Chan (eds.), The IDEA 2007 Dialogues: planting trees of drama with global vision in local knowledge. Hong Kong: TEFO & IATC, pp. 240-254.
(2007) Co-author, with Catherine Hughes and Jenny Kidd, ‘The Role of Theater in Museums and Historic Sites: Visitors, Audiences and Learners’, in Bresler, L., ed., International Handbook of Research in Arts Education. Dordrecht: Springer, pp. 677–693.
(2008) Performance, Learning & Heritage – DVD, giving selected highlights of museum performances documented by the PLH research team, with voice-over commentary by Jackson. Also contains selected extracts from keynote speeches given at the Performing Heritage International Conference, Manchester, April 2008.
(2010) ‘Visitors becoming audiences: negotiating spectatorship in museum performance’, in About Performance v.10 (July 2010: University of Sydney)
(2008) For the AHRC: Performance, Learning & Heritage, a report by Jackson & Kidd (155 pages + 17 page Executive Summary). Report also available online at: http://www.plh.manchester.ac.uk/
Kidd, J. (2007) ‘Filling the Gaps: Interpreting museum collections through performance’ in The Journal of Museum Ethnography, vol. 19, pp. 57-69.
At press:
Edited book: 'Performing Heritage: research, practice and innovation in museum theatre and live interpretation' (co-edited with Jenny Kidd). Expected publication: November 2010.