Introduction

Visiting exhibition at Museum of Slavonia, Osijek, Croatia
Visiting exhibition at Museum of Slavonia, Osijek, Croatia
Museum of Slavonia, Osijek, Croatia

By organizing exhibitions, museum staff promotes valuable museum objects while also allowing visitors to explore and learn about the cultural and historical significance of the cultural heritage that museums care about. An important part in organizing exhibitions is certainly museum education. The information behind the museum object must be appropriately presented to the visitor. It is also an opportunity for museum staff to teach the visitor how he can interpret the exhibition himself. Heritage promotion is an important element of conservation and cultural heritage management, with the aim of raising awareness of the value and significance of cultural diversity. And heritage interpretation is a structured approach to non-formal learning specialized in revealing significant ideas to museum visitors in their spare time.

Task

Interpretation of museum atrifacts, Musuem of Slavonia, Osijek, Croatia
Interpretation of museum atrifacts, Musuem of Slavonia, Osijek, Croatia
Museum of Slavonia, Osijek, Croatia

Interpretation is a process of communication. In museums we can find out basic information about a museum object (title of the work, author of the work, year of origin). Interpretation is part of the communication process in which the visitor receives the information and if the interpretation is successful, the visitor will adopt the information and it will be of particular importance to the visitor. Interpretation is also fun. In addition to acquiring information about the museum and any other object through interpretation, interpretation provokes curiosity, attention and arouses interest. How to interpret in museums?

Process

Let's try to interpret the museum object of a particular exhibition. Let us be aware that we are different from each other and that two or more persons will interpret the information in their own way. Step 1. Historical facts and first experience. It is important to acquaint visitors with basic information about the museum, exhibition and objects, but keep in mind how to further intrigue your guests. When visiting the museum the first thing you want is for your visitors to relax. Step 2. Open-ended questions. Think of a way how to deepen the meaning of an object through the interpretation of heritage? Ask visitors a series of open-ended questions. See the documents for more detailed instructions.

 

Conclusion

Interpretation in museums, galleries and other cultural institutions has multiple advantages such as: - helps to achieve the mission of the organization in relation to the target audience and stakeholders, - raises awareness of the importance of heritage, - helps to establish good neighborly relations with the local community in terms of conservation and management, - helps increase the number of visitors and revenue, - through quality interpretive programs and activities improves the image of a place, museum, local community or region by word of mouth of satisfied visitors. More importantly, the interpretation also affects our visitors because - arouses and develops interest and interest in the natural or cultural heritage they experience, - promotes the acquisition of knowledge, affects skills development, - affects the intellectual and emotional development of the individual, - improves mood and reduces stress, etc.

Evaluation

Learning Outcomes

  • Participants will be encouraged to interpret what they see according to their views.

Knowledge Acquired

  • After having followed the training material and the example exercises, the participants/ trainee should develop and be able to describe the process of how to interpret exhibitions and how the creative medium is very subjective.

Skills Acquired

  • Participants will acquire practical cognitive and creative intuitive to interpret exhibitions as they view it.

Competences Acquired

  • The participants will be able to reflect on how a story can be told via exhibitions and in a visual medium.