Information for Zine assignment

The beginning:
The first museums were private collections of wealthy people, families, or companies. These collections consisted out of rare or curious natural objects and artifacts. These objects were shown in rooms they called wonder rooms or cabinets of curiosities. These museums were only accessible for the wealthy people.

The first really public museum was opened in europe in the 18th century (the Louvre).

1928 First educational classes for children
1932 Founding of childrens art center
1938 Young people gallery in NY (by MOMA)
1947 Founding of NAEA

At the beginning of the 19th century museums were seen as places where you could experience art and be impressed instead of being taught about art. In the second half of this century museums started to experiment with didactic labels, public lectures, school programs, and educational exhibitions. At the beginning of the 20th century the goal of education in museums was to improve the society. Educational programs were about delivering correct information. There was only one meaning possible.Later interpretation (personal) became more excepted.

Today education in constantly changing because of all the changes taking place in our world. We now live in a visual world in what borders are being crossed and technology is being used in almost everything we see around us. The world of today is based on images. "The visual culture is in a continual state of becomming and should be taught as such". (K. Freedmand and P. Stuhr)

Today a lot of museums use digital media in their museum like:
Websites
Online discussion forums
Educational websites
Blogs
Podcasts
User generated content
PDA's
Mobile phones
Camera's
Audio tours
Touch screens

Quotes

"Having access to museums at an early age sets the tone for further exploration of ones culture by developing skills to interpret visual language".
(Wolf-Ragatz 1996)

"Paris &Hapgood (2002) described museums as informal learning environments where objects and experiences stimulate curiosity that can be extended to the classroom and beyond".

"A visit to the art museum places students in a new position to contemplate art, to ask questions about art, artists, and to discuss art and art making, and to learn about art history, art critisicm, aesthetics, various cultures, the museum and a host of other subjects".
(Bolin & Mayer 1998)