The Progress Report
A newsletter for museum professionals that’s serious about audience progress but playful about the process.
Contributors
- Alexa Magladry 1
- Aubrey Bergauer 1
- Ben Mosior 1
- Erin Milbeck Wilcox 2
- Isabel Singer 1
- Isabella Bruno 2
- Jennifer DePrizio 1
- Kelly Cannon 3
- Kimberlee Kiehl 1
- Krista Dahl Kusuma 1
- Kyle Bowen 159
- Lynda Kelly 1
- Nameiko Miller 1
- Rachel Ropeik 1
- Randi Korn 1
- Rebekah Harding 1
- Robert Weisberg 1
- Rosie Siemer 11
- Ruth Hartt 1
- Steve Boyd-Smith 1
- Susan Hawksworth 2
2022 Roadmap
A look at the year ahead written by a man who hasn’t left his office since the Spanish flu visited New York.
How might smaller museums better invest in marketing?
With your help, I'd like to help small museums understand how to invest in marketing.
Mapping listening habits to audience goals
Museums often focus on experience goals when listening to audiences, but understanding end goals and life goals can lead to more meaningful and impactful experiences. Reflecting on the "why" behind listening practices is key.
Ambivalent pancakes
When seeking to understand audiences, listening for ambivalence in individuals can reveal their inner thinking, emotions, and guiding principles in a way surveys and focus groups rarely do.
What is the purpose of community-based research?
Local cultural organizations partnering on audience research makes intuitive sense, but do people define their communities primarily by location? A goals-based approach to studying audiences may be more revealing.
When probing feels scary, reflect
Museums want to prioritize listening to visitors, but asking questions with an agenda can feel intrusive. Practicing reflective listening without probing can lead to more authentic understanding
