Global Museum--barriers for museum studies graduate students

Yesterday in class we discussed the importance of audience development efforts in museums addressing barriers that prevent audiences from visiting.

Students created a list of barriers for museum studies students:

• Commuter students--I don't live here
• Alums who are not students any more (some of the current 870 students will graduate before the museum is open)
• Fatigue (I write about, think about, read about, and learn about museums all day)
• Hours may not work with schedules
• May not feel a connection to the institution
• Opening delay diminishing a sense of connection or trust

Students also discussed the potential of the Global Museum to be a site of both bonding and bridging (using Robert Putnam's terms that were picked by Nina Simon in her blog)--bonding between museum studies students and bridging between grad students, undergrads, etc.