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Vivent les differences: identifying audiences for a museum exhibition

Museum of Transport, Kelvin Hall, 1 Bunhouse Road, Glasgow G3 8PZ, UK

Pauline Webb

Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, Liverpool Road, Castlefield, Manchester M3 4JP, UK

This paper describes the methodology and presents the main findings of a front-end exhibition evaluation carried out by staff at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, UK, in 1991. A visitor survey was used to evaluate ideas for a forthcoming exhibition on civil aviation and air travel. This research is placed in the context of the role of museums in the public understanding of science and of audience research in museums. The survey findings demonstrate the existence of divisions of interests among museum visitors, particularly according to gender. These differences must be recognized and accommodated by the definition of target audiences if exhibitions are to function as effective channels for developing public understanding of science and technology.

Public Understanding of Science, Vol. 3, No. 3, 277-290 (1994)
DOI: 10.1088/0963-6625/3/3/003


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