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Alexandra Zbuchea
National University of Political Studies and Public Administration
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Alexandra ZBUCHEA
Alexandra ZBUCHEA
well as formal one, having different when visitors relate experiences in the
target publics: children, grown-ups, museum to those in the outside world;
special groups etc. analogies facilitate understanding;
incidental learning, unrelated to the
b. The informal education in intention of an exhibit, often occurs.
museums These statements are likely to occur in
There are several approaches the case of many types of museums and
regarding education in the contem- visitors, but not in every case. Each
porary society, the predominant trend museum should know and understand
being the constructivist and inter- the patterns dominant in the case of
pretative learning processes (Steiner, their visitors.
2001). The museum professionals The support for contextual-
should know, understand and take them, informal education is given by the
as well as the characteristics of the artefacts displayed in permanent or
public, into account in order to reach the temporary exhibitions. All the exhibits
museum’s goals. A central issue is the are twice interpreted – once by the
visitor, its needs and desires, curators and the second time by the
experiences and habits, in the context of visitors themselves. Both groups
a museum installation. interpret the artefacts no matter their
Contextual education for children intentions, but some are doing this
and adults is different. The messages consciously, others involuntarily.
and activities concerning the informal Curators have an important role in
as well as formal education process in a interpreting the collections, in designing
museum have to be tailored according and transmitting messages, in guiding
to the aimed audience. Informal and the public during the visit etc. (Falk,
formal education in museums has some Dierking: 1997; Lindauer: 2005;
similarities and common purposes but Xanthoudaki: 1998; Moscardo: 1999).
they are also different, especially when The curators have to interpret the
taking into account the tools they use. In artefacts because they are out of their
a museum, they have to be in harmony initial context and they do not perform
and to lead together to the accom- anymore the function they were meant
plishment of the museum’s mission. to, therefore most of them are
A study at the Science and meaningless for most of the visitors.
Technology Centre in Australia pointed Any object should be explained,
out six patterns of learning and directly or indirectly. It reflects a certain
interaction of the visitors (Johnson and history, various customs, cultural
Reinne, 1995). If we extend the results connotations; it refers to a context that
to museums in general, these statements no longer exists (Xanthoudaki, 2003:
are as follows: visitors want to have fun 23-24).
and look for this kind of experience; In most cases, the interpretation of
learning is not the main purpose of the each artefact is presented to the visitors,
visit; the role of the museum is to as an explanation, on a label. Other
facilitate the understanding of the forms of interpretation are catalogues,
exhibits not to teach; learning occurs books, documentaries etc.
EDUCAłIA ÎN MUZEU 49
(Iacob, 2005). The diversification and or less structured, answers and other
increase of the educational and public reactions from the public. A better
programs of the museum have communication, understanding of the
determined the development of the messages and reaching of museum’s
dedicated department in the museum. It aims including the educational ones, for
also stressed the need of especially the benefit of the public, imply a proper
trained personnel. museum discourse, both regarding the
The same phenomenon whole organization and related with
experienced the “Grigore Antipa” each exhibition it mounts, as well as
National Museum of Natural History. It proper educational and public
used to organise weekly public lectures, programs.
guided tours on request and occasional Despite the importance of a
programs for schools. In the last years coherent discourse as well as
the educational offer of the museum educational role they have, most of the
increased with long-term programs such Romanian museums still lack a special
as the summer entomologic school, policy in these respects. Because of
“The Sunday meeting” or “The five their organization and the improper
o’clock guest”, and short term policies adopted, they do not attract too
programs, associated to different much public. This fact leads not only to
exhibitions or events. No doubt that the financial problems but also they do not
same organizational challenges faced all have the cultural and educational role
the museums that developed their public they are supposed to.
and educational programs. With some noticeable exception,
Unique in Romania is the initiative most of them placed in the largest towns
of the ASTRA Museum to publish in its of the country, the museums in Romania
online journal several articles dedicated have an old attitude regarding their role,
to education, under the section Museum way of exhibiting the cultural artefacts
is a school. they collect as well as transmitting
cultural and ethical values. Some of the
Any museum should be a focal reasons for this situation are:
point within a community. Its purposes inappropriate management and
are various and important to the welfare marketing policies, insufficient
of the society, being the main financial resources, lack of professional
organizations that preserve and promote training and even experience in this
its cultural heritage. The role of field, bad correlation between
museums has changed over time. Today museum’s message and activities with
they are / should be crucial educational the interests of the local community.
institutions, with an important role in Therefore it is necessary a new
the growing understanding both of the approach of the whole activity in a
past and present as well as of the museum. A good starting point is better
otherness. These aims could be reached communication, especially through a
only through effective communication. more suitable and effective discourse,
Any museum transmits messages to that should also aim implicitly or
different audiences and receives more explicitly educational purposes.
52 Revista muzeelor
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EDUCAłIA ÎN MUZEU 53