Claire Dobbin’s research while affiliated with University of Westminster and other places

Families with young children typically struggle to engage with traditional art museum environments. This research examined the impact of multisensory tools on family engagement within Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, Qatar. Sixty families with at least one child aged 0–11 were observed during two tasks. One task required participants to look at a series of paintings to select their favorite. In another task, families were given a toolkit of multisensory items to facilitate interaction with a painting. A semi-structured observational method produced quantitative and qualitative data about participant engagement and intergenerational interaction. Self-rating scores of task enjoyment were also collected. Results indicate that multisensory tools enhance family engagement with museums, artworks, and each other. Results also suggest that word-based interpretation was not necessary. We consider the potential implications of these findings in relation to family programming within art museums and museums more generally.

What would it be like to step into a painting? Do you know what a painting feels like? Does it make a sound? How does it smell? These questions attracted over 60 families to Ektashif: Art through the Senses. The programme, which took place at Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art in Qatar, revolved around the concept of a ‘sensory toolkit’. Designed to provide an un-facilitated gallery experience, in which families can explore art in new ways together, the programme and toolkit were developed as part of a collaborative research project. This involved curators and educators from Qatar Museums (QM) joining forces with researchers from the University of Westminster in London and Hamad bin Khalifa University (HBKU) in Doha. Combining expertise in museum studies, curatorial practice, cognitive psychology, and audiovisual translation, the project was grounded in multisensory learning and inclusive design.