This book helps museums integrate visitors' perspectives into interpretive planning by recognizing, defining, and recording desired visitor outcomes throughout the planning process.

Museum professionals' increased focus on visitors in recent years has been demonstrated by, among other things, the enhanced practice of evaluation and the development of interpretive plans. Yet too often, these efforts function independent of one another. This book helps museums integrate visitors' perspectives into interpretive planning by recognizing, defining, and recording desired visitor outcomes throughout the process. The integration of visitor studies in the practice of interpretive planning is also based on the belief that the greater our understanding, tracking, and monitoring of learners, the greater the impact museums will make on public understanding of the science and humanities disciplines. An approach that advocates thoughtful and intentional interpretive planning that constantly integrates visitor perspectives is the next step in working with, rather than for, our communities; a step toward truly becoming visitor-centered and impactful as essential learning institutions of the 21st century.

Museum professionals' increased focus on visitors in recent years has been demonstrated by, among other things, the enhanced practice of evaluation and the development of interpretive plans. Yet too often, these efforts function independent of one another. This book helps museums integrate visitors' perspectives into interpretive planning by recognizing, defining, and recording desired visitor outcomes throughout the process. The integration of visitor studies in the practice of interpretive planning is also based on the belief that the greater our understanding, tracking, and monitoring of learners, the greater the impact museums will make on public understanding of the science and humanities disciplines. An approach that advocates thoughtful and intentional interpretive planning that constantly integrates visitor perspectives is the next step in working with, rather than for, our communities; a step toward truly becoming visitor-centered and impactful as essential learning institutions of the 21st century.

Interpretative Master Planning: A Framework for Historical Sites begins with the basics of any planning experience: why do an interpretative master plan (IMP) and is your institution ready to undergo such a process? These chapters are followed with straightforward guidance on how to go about organizing the necessary funding to pay for an IMP’s development, the core members of your planning team, choosing stakeholders, hosting focus groups, and using all the information gathered to develop an engaging interpretative master plan that is unique to your museum, historic site, or organization. The book features five case studies highlighting organizations that have undergone the interpretative master planning process. Each case study offers a unique point of view about the process and provides the organization’s conclusions as to what they would or would not do again if they had the choice. The end results showcase the wealth of useful information that can be garnered from an Interpretative Master Planning experience. Interpretative Master Planning: A Framework for Historical Sites offers a complete framework complemented by real-world examples for creating a blueprint that will strengthen any organization’s interpretation.

Sponsored by the Museum Education Roundtable

As art museums adapt to changing times and audiences, new positions such as the interpretive planner - an advocate for visitor-centered approaches to exhibit design and a facilitator of team-based museum planning and multiple exhibition narratives - are emerging. The purpose of this research was to explore how and why art museums have incorporated interpretive planning into their institutional practices, specifically how the emergence of the interpretive planner has impacted organizational culture, the exhibit design process, and staff perceptions of visitor experience. Interpretive planners are given an equal voice to curators in the design of interpretive products, and are working in institutions that appreciate the importance of learning as well as education. Art museums with interpretive planners on staff are leaders in museums trends, serving as examples of the future of art museums as engaging and empowering places of learning for all audiences.

This second edition of Interpretive Planning: The 5-M Model for Successful Planning Projects draws from the author's more than three decades of experience in creating interpretive plans, and explains the process she has taught to hundreds of interpreters. This book can be a valuable tool for those wishing to develop an interpretive plan as well as those aspiring to work as a consultant or planner.