Audience Engagement in the Arts: A Guide to Public Programming

Public programs play a vital role in engaging art audiences – from educational and participatory activities, such as artist talks, performances, and workshops, to outreach initiatives in schools, communities, and beyond. They offer art museums and curators multidimensional ways to reach diverse audiences, facilitate community-building, and create memorable experiences.

This course gives a comprehensive guide to audience engagement and public programming in the arts by exploring their history, theory, and especially their practice. We will cover questions such as: How do we forefront the public in public programs? How to decide what form a public program should take? What are the practical hands–on aspects needed to realize a public program? Through these questions and more, participants will discover how to shape their own present and future programs.

We will focus on three key areas of public programming: interpretive programming (programs done in response to an exhibition or other prompt), independent programming (programs that are created for their own purpose), and experimental or interdisciplinary programming. Case studies–both from the instructor’s programs and from around the world–and short readings will help us as we explore these forms.

Since public programming occurs in a wide range of art organizations and independently, this course is for artists, curators, cultural workers, educators, museum and other arts nonprofit staff, academics/professors, and more. By the end of the course, participants will have a greater understanding of the many possibilities of public programming and the practical skills needed to engage art audiences in innovative and inspiring ways.

*Prices include VAT

Image: Clarisse Croset via Unsplash