In his book, Graham Black argues that museums must transform themselves if they are to remain relevant to 21st century audiences and this root and branch change would be necessary whether or not museums faced a funding crisis. It is the result of the impact of new technologies and the rapid societal developments that we are all a part of, and applies not just to museums but to all arts bodies and to other agents of mass communication.

Through comment, practical examples and truly inspirational case studies, this book allows the reader to build a picture of the transformed 21st century museum in practice. Such a museum is focused on developing its audiences as regular users. It is committed to participation and collaboration. It brings together on-site, online and mobile provision and, through social media, builds meaningful relationships with its users. It is not restricted by its walls or opening hours, but reaches outwards in partnership with its communities and with other agencies, including schools. It is a haven for families learning together. And at its heart lies prolonged user engagement with collections, and the conversations and dialogues that these inspire.

The book is filled to the brim with practical examples. It features:

• an introduction that focuses on the challenges that face museums in the 21st century
• an analysis of population trends and their likely impact on museums
• boxes showing ideas, models and planning suggestions to guide development
• examples and case studies illustrating practice in both large and small museums
• an up-to-date bibliography of landmark research, including numerous websites

Sitting alongside Graham Black 's previous book, The Engaging Museum, we now have a clear vision of a museum of the future that engages, stimulates and inspires the publics it serves, and plays an active role in promoting tolerance and understanding within and between communities.

This very practical book guides museums on how to create the highest quality experience possible for their visitors. Creating an environment that supports visitor engagement with collections means examining every stage of the visit, from the initial impetus to go to a particular institution, to front-of-house management, interpretive approach and qualitative analysis afterwards. This holistic approach will be immensely helpful to museums in meeting the needs and expectations of visitors and building their audience base. Because "The Engaging Museum" ""offers a set of principles that can be adapted to any museum in any location, it will be a valuable resource for institutions of every shape and size.
Especially designed to be user-friendly, "The Engaging Museum "includes:
* Chapter introductions and discussion sections
* Supporting case studies to show how ideas are put into practice
* A lavish selection of tables, figures and plates to support and illustrate the discussion
* Boxes showing ideas, models and planning suggestions to guide development
* An up-to-date bibliography of landmark research
"The Engaging Museum "will appeal internationally to students and teachers from a wide range of post-graduate museum courses in museology, museum studies, gallery studies, heritage studies and management, as well as to those studying tourism and visitor attraction management. It is also highly relevant to any professional planning a new museum exhibition or applying for grant aid for exhibition development.

Museums and the Challenge of Change explores the profound challenges facing museums and charts ways forward that are grounded in partnership with audiences and communities on-site, online, and in wider society. Facing new generations with growing needs and desires, growing population diversity, and a digital revolution, the museum sector knows it must change - but it has been slow to respond. Drawing on the expertise and voices of practitioners from within and beyond the sector, Black calls for a change of mind-set and radical evolution (transformation over time, learning from the process, rather than a 'big bang' approach). Internally, a participative environment supports social interaction through active engagement with collections and content - and Black includes an initial typology of participative exhibits, both traditional and digital. Externally, the museum works in partnership with local communities and other agencies to make a real difference, in response to societal challenges. Black considers what this means for the management and structure of the museum, emphasising that it is not possible to separate the development of a participative experience from the ways in which the museum is organised. Museums and the Challenge of Change is highly practical and focused on initiatives that museums can implement swiftly and cheaply, making a real impact on user engagement. The book will thus be essential reading for museum practitioners and students of museum studies around the globe.

Museums and the Challenge of Change explores the profound challenges facing museums and charts ways forward that are grounded in partnership with audiences and communities on-site, online, and in wider society. Facing new generations with growing needs and desires, growing population diversity, and a digital revolution, the museum sector knows it must change - but it has been slow to respond. Drawing on the expertise and voices of practitioners from within and beyond the sector, Black calls for a change of mind-set and radical evolution (transformation over time, learning from the process, rather than a 'big bang' approach). Internally, a participative environment supports social interaction through active engagement with collections and content - and Black includes an initial typology of participative exhibits, both traditional and digital. Externally, the museum works in partnership with local communities and other agencies to make a real difference, in response to societal challenges. Black considers what this means for the management and structure of the museum, emphasising that it is not possible to separate the development of a participative experience from the ways in which the museum is organised. Museums and the Challenge of Change is highly practical and focused on initiatives that museums can implement swiftly and cheaply, making a real impact on user engagement. The book will thus be essential reading for museum practitioners and students of museum studies around the globe.

This very practical book guides museums on how to create the highest quality experience possible for their visitors. Creating an environment that supports visitor engagement with collections means examining every stage of the visit, from the initial impetus to go to a particular institution, to front-of-house management, interpretive approach and qualitative analysis afterwards.

This holistic approach will be immensely helpful to museums in meeting the needs and expectations of visitors and building their audience.

This book features:

• includes chapter introductions and discussion sections
• supporting case studies to show how ideas are put into practice
• a lavish selection of tables, figures and plates to support and illustrate the discussion
• boxes showing ideas, models and planning suggestions to guide development
• an up-to-date bibliography of landmark research.

The Engaging Museum offers a set of principles that can be adapted to any museum in any location and will be a valuable resource for institutions of every shape and size, as well as a vital addition to the reading lists of museum studies students.

In his book, Graham Black argues that museums must transform themselves if they are to remain relevant to 21st century audiences and this root and branch change would be necessary whether or not museums faced a funding crisis. It is the result of the impact of new technologies and the rapid societal developments that we are all a part of, and applies not just to museums but to all arts bodies and to other agents of mass communication.

Through comment, practical examples and truly inspirational case studies, this book allows the reader to build a picture of the transformed 21st century museum in practice. Such a museum is focused on developing its audiences as regular users. It is committed to participation and collaboration. It brings together on-site, online and mobile provision and, through social media, builds meaningful relationships with its users. It is not restricted by its walls or opening hours, but reaches outwards in partnership with its communities and with other agencies, including schools. It is a haven for families learning together. And at its heart lies prolonged user engagement with collections, and the conversations and dialogues that these inspire.

The book is filled to the brim with practical examples. It features:

• an introduction that focuses on the challenges that face museums in the 21st century
• an analysis of population trends and their likely impact on museums
• boxes showing ideas, models and planning suggestions to guide development
• examples and case studies illustrating practice in both large and small museums
• an up-to-date bibliography of landmark research, including numerous websites

Sitting alongside Graham Black s previous book, The Engaging Museum, we now have a clear vision of a museum of the future that engages, stimulates and inspires the publics it serves, and plays an active role in promoting tolerance and understanding within and between communities.