Something Different: A pilot study evaluating family outreach ...

Something Different - Page 43 of 47
In addition, the questionnaire data indicated the outreach visit’s potential as a method
of boosting the confidence of the mothers engaged. In response to a Likert scale (from 1 to 5)
assessing the level of agreement with the statement ‘I feel confident visiting museums like
the Fitzwilliam with my child’, Tina initially circled the number indicating that she
‘disagreed’ with this statement. In the second questionnaire completed two weeks after the
visit, Tina indicated that she ‘agreed’ with the above statement – but she pencilled in the
caveat “if attending something like this”. That is, she would feel confident visiting museums
like the Fitzwilliam if she had the support of a family outreach visit similar to the one
examined in this case study. This questionnaire data is further evidence of the potential for
broad impacts on the mothers’ confidence, social skills and social inclusion. Indeed, O’Neill
(2002, p. 35) identifies the importance of ensuring that “confidence is built up among the
excluded and the included are genuinely welcoming” in order to foster inclusivity in
museums. Moreover, as mentioned in the gallery time results, there may be secondary
benefits from the family outreach visit in terms of child literacy through the reinforcing of the
‘storytelling’ speech genre.
Discussion
Having employed a mix of qualitative methods, some clear response patterns emerged in the
data from this case study. This study and its results hold implications both for the practice of
museum outreach and the evaluation of such activities, which are explored below.
Summary of Results
Clearly, the family outreach visits were viewed as effective from the perspective of those
engaged. The very low level of prior experience with cultural institutions presented an initial
barrier to these individuals’ attendance at the Fitzwilliam Museum. However, this barrier was
overcome for a number of disadvantaged young mothers through the opportunity to visit the
museum as part of a facilitated group, with activities aimed at ensuring their children’s
enjoyment.
Interviewer Have you done anything related to art or culture or anything
like that since your last visit?
Sarah No. I think I’d prefer to come here as a group, and have these
sort of exercises and stuff, rather than just going somewhere on
my own with no one to help show me around. [...]
Interviewer Have you come across anything else like this [family outreach
programme] for other museums or places?
Sarah No, this is the only place that does it.
Interview at Fitzwilliam Museum on Day of Visit - 9/2/10