Block Museum Digital Strategy - Statement

The Block Museum of Art, Northwestern University Digital Strategy 2020

Reference: Jasper Visser, Jim Richardson, Digital Engagement in Cultural Heritage and the Arts (2017)

MISSION The Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art enriches teaching and learning on the campuses of Northwestern University and in the communities of the surrounding region by

PRESENTING CONVENING art across time, cultures, and media;

interdisciplinary discussions in which art is a springboard for exploring issues and ideas;

COLLECTING

art that supports the Northwestern University curriculum.

VISION

TO ENGAGE

To be a dynamic, imaginative, and innovative teaching and learning resource at Northwestern University through an artistic program that is a springboard for thought-provoking discussions relevant to the curriculum and to our lives today.

TO INSPIRE To develop a new generation of artists, scholars, and arts professionals by providing experiential learning opportunities bridging the classroom and the world beyond the campus.

TO SERVE To be a crossroad between campus and community, by creating an environment where all visitors feel welcome to participate.

THE BLOCK MUSEUM OF ART DIGITAL STRATEGY STATEMENT The Block Museum of Art digital strategy supports and strengthens the museum’s existing mission, vision, and strategic plan through embracing digital engagement and outreach as a core activity of its work.

The Block aspires to use digital platforms and channels to: 1.

extend its commitment as a resource for interdisciplinary teaching, learning and research at Northwestern and beyond;

2.

showcase, cultivate, and catalyze thought provoking discussions about art and its relevance to contemporary life;

3.

provide free, rich, and accessible arts and culture experiences for existing and new audiences.

The Block commits to broadly accessible digital projects as a crucial public dimension of its work, its pedagogical process, and the museum experience.

It seeks to pursue digital plans that extend its reach and increase its impact, and to develop digital capabilities and goals across all departments of organization.

BLOCK DIGITAL AUDIENCE Peer Universities

The Block Museum digital content reaches multiple museum audiences.

Artists & Scholars

The museum considers delivery platform and content pillars appropriate to each audience, and recognizes potential for digital to reach multiple constituencies globally and locally simultaneously.

NU Faculty and Staff

NU Students

NU Alumni

Academic Art Museums

Chicago/ Evanston cultural community Art world

BLOCK CONTENT PILLARS The Block is committed to developing digital content and projects that advance 4 top level content areas and 5 second level content areas

TOP LEVEL :

Museum Areas of Programmatic Focus and Points of Difference

Global Perspectives

Interdisciplinary Connections – Art as Research

Contemporary Issues & Ideas

New Art Histories

BLOCK CONTENT PILLARS The Block is committed to developing digital content and projects that advance 4 top level content areas and 5 second level content areas

SECOND LEVEL:

Museum Areas of Leadership and Reputation

Elevating Teaching & Learning at Northwestern Impacting Student Experience Showcasing Northwestern Faculty Research Celebrating Staff Expertise and Excellence Sharing Behind-the-Scenes and Museum Best Practices

BLOCK PROGRAMS Content pillars also inform work across museum programs.

Exhibitions

Digital strategies amplify the presence, reach, and impact of Block Museum programs including; exhibitions, publications, cinema, engagements, and collection.

Publications

Cinema

Engagement

The Collection

BLOCK DIGITAL CONTENT PLATFORMS Channel

Objective

Audience

Content

Website

Inform Audiences and Visitors – Aggregate all offerings

People who have decided to visit museum, or interact

Jumping off point for information about the museum – “front door” to other content

“Stories from the Block” Blog

Advance Content Pillars

Content-affiliated audiences

Video, Audio, PDF, Articles on all content pillars

Newsletter

Inform loyal audience, invite participation

Loyal audience, ”members”

Mix of News, Event Invitations and content.

Northwestern Now/ Press Releases

Reputational Growth

External Press, University Stakeholders

High level stories about museum leadership

Facebook

Invite participation, disseminate our stories

‘general audience’ skewing local

Links of interest from our peers, photos, blog links

Twitter

Disseminate our stories, participate in peer conversations

‘general audience’ skewing influencers & press

Short text with links – conversation with other institutions

Instagram

Engagement with audiences and influencers

‘general audience’ skewing student & art world

Great images of collection and engagement, snappy text

LinkedIn

Showcase Block Professional Reputation

Other museums and education sector professionals

Block institutional news, “thought leadership”

Special Project Apps & Websites

Grow specialized knowledge in content area

Students and teachers

Project specific information

10

DIGITAL VOICE At The Block, as at Northwestern we are intellectual thrill-seekers.

We are: Ambitious: Driven, bold, and confident, without arrogance Imaginative: Seeking opportunities to discover, invent, and create Optimistic: Confident that the best ideas are yet to come Curious: Motivated to explore, excited by solving a problem Specifically for The Block’s audiences - we are also accessible, inclusive, and welcoming. The Block is free and open to all on digital platforms as well as in its physical space.

CURRENT TRENDS INFORMING DIGITAL WORK Rapid move to University remote learning Interest in art experiences for crisis meaning-making Reduced ability for physical global travel Call for positive stories around digital learning Desire for online spaces for contemplation and reflection Universal economic challenges in universities, museums and beyond • Inequalities in digital access and abilities • Need for digital K-12 teaching resources • • • • • •

BLOCK MUSEUM ASSETS Content is the Digital Translation of our standout assets.

Our content will leverage the following areas • • • • • • • • •

Collection - 6,000 works, recently digitized Exhibition Program – Rich history of exhibitions to draw from and amplify Staff – More than 30 full and part time professionals with expertise Cinema – Renowned regional media arts program Students –Voices throughout Northwestern including docents and fellows Publications – Exhibition publications expand scholarship, and engage in critical reflection on art, material culture, and museum practice.

Campus Partnerships – Robust network of Northwestern connections National & International Partnerships – Strong ties to peer institutions and organizations worldwide Faculty – Support and participation from faculty throughout the institution Engagement Program – Large public archive of past programs and events

OBJECTIVES SHORT TERM: 3 to 5 months Support Northwestern goals during remote transition Showcase Block presence and contribution to Northwestern and greater community during closure Use digital tools to continue ongoing museum goals and strategic work MEDIUM TERM: 6 to 12 months Increase knowledge and use of Block Collection as teaching tool Offer campus and audiences digital experiences that extend museum impact during an extended period of change Contribute to ongoing national dialogue about “Why Museums Matter” LONG TERM: 1 to 3 Years Offer digital engagement and pedagogy elements across all exhibition and program planning Broaden museum audiences and deepen impact through routinized, integrated digital programs

DIGITAL CONTENT CREATION

The Block aspires to use digital platforms and channels to provide free, rich, and accessible arts and culture experiences for existing and new audiences;

COLLECTION SPOTLIGHT Block Collection Spotlight invites a closer look at objects in the Block Museum collection written by Northwestern students, Block staff, and University faculty across fields of study.

This long-running series includes indepth essays reflecting on over 40 objects from the collection and is ongoing.

Content Pillars New Art Histories Teaching & Learning Staff Expertise

THE BLOCK FROM HOME During Spring 2020, The Block launched The Block From Home web portal offering expanded visibility for the museum’s rich archived content.

Visitors are invited to explore highlights from The Block’s audio, video and publication program from home or from the digital classroom.

Content Pillars Teaching and Learning Museum Best Practices

QUARANTINE STAFF PICKS Each week during Spring 2020 members of The Block's team, its graduate fellows and undergraduate interns and docents offer three top picks from the museum’s collection or its archive.

These selections also appear in museum social media and newsletter.

Content Pillars New Art Histories Teaching & Learning Staff Expertise

ARCHIVE SELECTIONS Each week during Spring 2020, The Block offers special selections and new releases from its archive including lectures, panel discussions and performances. The museum uses refreshed social media graphics to highlight special and curated content picks showcasing the depth of its programming for audiences seeking ways to engage remotely.

Content Pillars New Art Histories Teaching & Learning Interdisciplinary Contemporary Issues

BLOCK BEHIND-THE-SCENES In the first installment of this new initiative, the Block’s preparators— practicing artists who install museum exhibitions—are creating contributions to our website. They will invite us into their studios and share how their contact with works of art intersects with their studio practices. This project will underscore the invaluable contributions of artists to how visitors encounter art in museums.

Content Pillars Contemporary Issues Staff Expertise Museum Best Practices

TEACHING & LEARNING

The Block aspires to use digital platforms and channels to extend its commitment as a resource for interdisciplinary teaching and learning at Northwestern and beyond

COLLECTION DATABASE Recognizing the importance of online research to students and faculty, The Block has completed a major digitization process to document all artworks in our collection with hi-res digital photography.

In Fall 2020, The Block will launch eMuseum, our new online collection database, making the collection available to all from anywhere at any time.

Content Pillars Teaching & Learning Museum Best Practices

CARAVANS OF GOLD – PROGRESSIVE WEB APP In Spring 2020, The Block Museum of Art will announce the release of a free, mobile web app designed to share the groundbreaking touring exhibition Caravans of Gold, with international audiences. Developed by The Block and the Northwestern Libraries in partnership with a team of undergraduates, the digital project capitalizes on current developments in mobile technology as well as the ethical philosophies of the minimal computing movement in order to champion wide digital accessibility to a remote version of the exhibition.

Content Pillars Global Perspectives Contemporary Issues Teaching and Learning New Art Histories Faculty Research Staff Expertise Museum Best Practices

ONLINE COURSE: COLLECTING/CRITIQUE The Block Museum is co-presenting a course with the department of art history titled Collecting/ Critique: Art, Museums, and Thinking About History, examining ongoing debates in the museum field around collecting and presenting museum collections. The culmination of the course is a student-led acquisition of artwork for The Block Museum collection facilitated through the use of digital platforms with scholars, artists and gallery visits participating remotely.

Content Pillars Student Experience Teaching & Learning Contemporary Issues Faculty Research Staff Expertise Museum Best Practices

TEACHING SUPPORT The Block Museum has reached out to Northwestern faculty to offer support for remote teaching using works of art from the museum’s collection. Services include: selection and consultation of databases and images, Block staff joining classroom digital discussions, and online lectures or workshops.

Content Pillars Teaching & Learning Staff Expertise Student Experience Museum Best Practices

CONVENING AND CONNECTING

The Block aspires to use digital platforms and channels to showcase, cultivate, and catalyze thought provoking discussions about art and its relevance to contemporary life.

BLOCK CINEMA LIVE STREAMS The Block Cinema program will connect with global audiences through Vimeo livestream presentations of films accompanied by online discussions. Highlights included a “screening” of the rare film, “Badnam Basti,” the first Indian film to explore queer relationships, and a focus on “Desktop Documentaries.”

Content Pillars Global Perspectives Interdisciplinary Connections Contemporary Issues Teaching and Learning

SOCIAL MEDIA EXCHANGES The Block continues to take part in ongoing social media exchanges with museums worldwide, reaching new audiences, elevating knowledge of the collection and highlighting Northwestern’s commitment to the arts including social media “exchanges” have included #SharetheArts #MuseumBouquet #MuseumTelephone #MuseumMomentofZen Content Pillars Interdisciplinary Connections

WHY MUSEUMS MATTER: VIDEO DIALOGUES In an online discussion Director Lisa Corrin will speak with Northwestern students about why they feel The Block matters to Northwestern, why museums in general matter to student experience, and particularly why they might matter at this time.

These recorded talks will be of interest to colleagues at academic art museums across the country also tackling this question.

Content Pillars Student Experience Museum Best Practices

DIGITAL DOCENT PROGRAM During the Spring 2020 quarter, The Block student docents are actively engaged in remote learning focused on the Block’s collection. Adopting a work of art for their in-depth research, they will become its “ambassador” building a digital file that will support future teaching, exhibition development, and docent training.

The students are also continuing to foster community through a virtual social space, "The Virtual Block Spot,” where they are “meeting” each Friday.

Content Pillars Student Experience

FEINBERG DIALOGUE: ART AND HEALING The Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine has been caring for pregnant patients infected with the Covid-19 virus. She approached the Block to begin exploring possible programming focused on art and healing.

The Block will engage artist-at-large Dario Robleto, in the dialogues as he continues his three-times yearly campus visits as part of the McCormick School of Engineering Art and Engineering Initiative.

Content Pillars Faculty Research Interdisciplinary Connections Contemporary Issues