AH4254 Museums and Audiences

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 10

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Planned timetable

To be confirmed

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr G Bozoglu

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr Gonul Bozoglu

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module considers how museums, galleries and heritage institutions think about their audiences (visitors and non-visitors). Museums and heritage institutions exist “in the service of society” (ICOM 2022 definition of the museum) and thus their fundamental activities (broadly defined as collecting, preserving, interpreting and displaying collections) should be underpinned by audience wants and needs. In this module, we will explore how cultural institutions conceptualise, identify and understand their audiences in order to best provide for them. Key themes covered in the module include; evolving museum definitions, visitor studies, co-curation and co-production, participatory practice, museum activism

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS AH1001 OR PASS AH1003 AND PASS AH2001 AND PASS AH2002

Assessment pattern

100% coursework

Re-assessment

100% essay

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 lecture (x10 weeks), 2 seminars (x10 weeks), 1 office hour (x12 weeks)

Scheduled learning hours

33

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

253

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Understand the changing role of museums in society, specifically with respect to their audiences
  • Reflect upon institutional power structures in museums
  • Define their positionality with research and practice within the fields of art history and museum studies
  • Engage effectively in reflective and critical thinking and group discussion