Free online talk, Thurs 2 Feb, 14:00 – Reconnect: Visitor Experience Post Pandemic

Join us for the latest online event from the ICOM UK Student and Emerging Professionals group, taking place 14:00 – 15:30 (UK time) on Thursday 2 February 2023.

The pandemic greatly affected the world and people’s lives with lockdowns and isolation periods, uncertainties of how to go back to “normal”. This also impacted the cultural sector and places like museums and galleries were being shut down or restricted in their opportunities to welcome audiences. In some cases online collections and virtual exhibitions were rapidly developed to help with the circumstance, but visiting the sites in person is still an irreplaceable experience. With the pandemic phasing into our new normal these institutions are challenged to navigate pre-pandemic settings and possibly expectations while incorporating learnings from the experiences made during the last two years.

This talk will focus on engaging with audiences in the post-pandemic era in museums and places beyond, not only re-engaging with old friends, but also developing new audiences. Caitlin Hoffmann, from the Chelsea Physic Garden (London), will present details from the exciting projects she is involved in at the moment and compare it with case studies from her own past experiences.

Speaker:Caitlin Hoffman

Caitlin Hoffman is currently the Visitor Experience Manager of Chelsea Physic Garden, a historical botanical garden in the Chelsea area of London. She has a Masters in Cultural Heritage Studies from UCL and a BA in History from Royal Holloway, University of London. She has worked in tourism and heritage across three countries including the Solomon R Guggenheim Museum in New York City, the V&A Museum in London, and as a tour guide in Paris, France. Her career has always focused on the intersection between visitors and collections, making historic collections and places as accessible and engaging as possible.

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