The University of Queensland Art Museum
UQ Art Museum is the Australian national leader in cultural mediation, an innovative model of visitor engagement practice centred on two-way conversation and a desire to welcome and build connections with audiences of all kinds in museum and gallery spaces. This area of museum operations is often overlooked, though it has the potential to directly impact and amplify efforts in exhibition programming, education programs, audience development, and accessibility.
Through an innovative model of visitor engagement, UQ Art Museum’s front of house staff undergo extensive training in techniques for facilitating two-way conversation, connecting visitors with artist intentions and ideas, gently challenging established viewpoints, and providing support for access and interpretation.
This investment means visitors can engage with and experience mediation regardless of age, background or level of artistic knowledge. Visitors are still welcome to explore our galleries on their own and in their own way, but for those who want to enrich their experience, conversations with our team offer a friendly and safe way to learn, reflect, listen and explore together.
UQ Art Museum’s practice and training in this area and has been recognised in the sector through several awards and partnerships, including being selected by the Australian Government’s arts advisory body Creative Australia to deliver cultural mediation training for the Australia Pavilion staff at the 2024 Venice Biennale. As an early adopter of cultural mediation practice and training in Australia, UQ Art Museum trained the Pavilion staff with tools to facilitate dynamic and active dialogue with an artwork, turning mere attention and interest into important conversation around a complex presentation and practice.
Explain in one sentence why you think the project you nominate is outstanding and could serve as an example for the entire community of modern and contemporary art museums.
Our practice amplifies the potential of visitor engagement, a frontline area of museum operations that is often overlooked but has the power to build lasting connections with audiences and engage them with complex programming and new ideas and perspectives.
Explain why this practice or program is relevant and sustainable in creating meaningful and lasting connections with people, communities, and the museum context with a medium to long-term vision.
Cultural mediation is a vital and sustainable museum practice that challenges the traditional “top-down” model of museum education and emphasises the value and diversity of visitor experiences and perspectives. We want our visitors to feel welcome, and to be heard and empowered to learn and explore with us. This practice is well positioned as an important access and inclusion tool, as it values different learning and engagement approaches and the diverse needs of each visitor.
For example, artwork labels are useful reference points providing information about artworks and artists, but when visitors discuss artworks with Mediators, they can contextualise their own reactions to them and explore how they connect with their personal perspectives and experiences.
Our Mediators are students, studying in disciplines across science, law, allied health, international relations, museum studies and art history. Their interdisciplinary backgrounds allow us to drive positive change within the arts sector and beyond.