Interpretations research process Presentation given by Maureen Michael Interpretations Research Coordinator Friday 12 September 2008 The Lighthouse, Glasgow

Interpretations research process How can we use interpretation to increase access to contemporary art, and to address perceived barriers to intellectual access?

Vocal Collective Gallery, Edinburgh How does consulting a panel of audience members affect the delivery of interpretation for the Collective Gallery?

Minding The Gap Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee How can we support Gallery Assistants to operate in the perceived gap between organisational aspirations for and audience expectations of a contemporary art experience at DCA?

Reach Out Pier Arts Centre, Orkney What interpretation strategies can we develop and adopt that will encourage and maintain interest from a locally-based audience?

Show Me Yours, I’ll Show You Mine Talbot Rice Gallery, Edinburgh How do different audience interpretive communities receive and interpret artworks using a variety of tools and activities. How is this capability most effectively facilitated?

Interpretations process A process of action research emerged for the whole Interpretations project, but also each gallery team had to negotiate a process to suit their own context.

Interpretations activities Photographs, badges, games and chocolate biscuits were central to the shared tasks and discussions between the gallery teams.

Interpretations findings How best to represent the questions, methods, contexts and outputs of each project? Who is the representation for?

Interpretations timeline This was an ambitious and challenging timeframe. Time for analysis is essential to working out what it all means.

Interpretations reporting The gallery projects are diverse in their contexts, activities and outputs. What form of reporting would be meaningful to Interpretations and respectful of individual autonomy?

Interpretations structuring the final report What is the purpose of a project report? Who is it for and what should be in it?

Interpretations The four gallery projects speak for themselves...

Interpretations Interpretations was operated by engage Scotland and supported by the National Lottery through the Scottish Arts Council and by the Hugh Fraser Foundation