Creating a connection between natural heritage collections and the natural world through nature connectedness was critical to Encountering the Unexpected. In 6 museum experiments, artists, creative practitioners and museum staff provided a space in which participants could – as artist Sheila Tilmouth (who worked with The Whitaker) described it – venture into their curiosity. Valuing participants’ experiences as non-specialists was vital, as was providing opportunities to explore nature and natural heritage collections at their own pace.
Using nature connectedness as a frame through which to understand natural heritage collections worked well when:
- Nature connectedness and collections are embedded, not two separate elements
- Participants could connect with nature in their everyday lives and in diverse ways
- Participants could ‘be in the moment’, encouraging creativity and seeing the unexpected
- An investigative approach is taken
- The process is open-ended
- It enables a personal and individual journey
- There is no set agenda (but there is a framework)
- There are opportunities for discovery, for thinking, feeling, doing
Nature connectedness and collections did not work as well when:
- The focus is on facts, information and knowledge
- There is a lack of opportunity for interrogation
- Collections are incidental, being used to illustrate a point
- The experience ends with the session
- There is no opportunity for development
- There is no meaningful connection with peoples’ lives
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