a case study in museum audience building presentations/1970s-living-room...a case study in museum...

2015 Local History and Historic Preservation Conference, Middleton, WI

Jarrod Roll, Director

Monroe County Local History Room & Museum

Sparta, Wisconsin

A Case Study

in Museum

Audience

Building

Pick the Top TV Show Of the 1970s

Pick the Top TV Show Of the 1970s

“All In The

Family” was the

Number 1 Rated

TV Program for 5

Seasons

Top Grossing Film

Of the 1970s

Top Grossing Film

Of the 1970s

“Star Wars”

(1977)

Top Song Of the 1970s

Top Song Of the 1970s

"You Light Up

My Life“

by Debby Boone

Spent 10 Weeks

at No. 1

2015 Local History and Historic Preservation Conference, Middleton, WI

Jarrod Roll, Director

Monroe County Local History Room & Museum

Sparta, Wisconsin

A Case Study

in Museum

Audience

Building

• Examine how to target an audience using a

themed exhibit your Historical Society can do.

A Case Study

in Museum

Audience

Building

• Consider who our audience is and how to reach

them.

• Reflect on how visitors connect to history.

Why Build Your Audience?

Audiences are central

to a museum’s purpose

and sustainability.

How to Build Your Audience?

Pick a group of people to whom

you would like to be relevant,

and work with them to deliver

programs/exhibits that facilitate

a personal , meaningful

connection.

Monroe County Local History Room & Museum

200 West Main St., Sparta, Wisconsin

Sparta

Monroe County

Museum

Research

Library

Monroe County Local History Room & Museum

200 West Main St., Sparta

• Established in 1976 as a Co. Dept.

• 1 Full-time employee; 1 part-time

• 20 volunteers; half regulars

• 7800+ audience (museum, library, & off-site)

• ~2200 students annually

• Pop. Of Monroe County ~45,000

Monroe County Local History Room & Museum

200 West Main St., Sparta

• Two main audiences: Under 12 years old and over 50.

• How to reach the 30s-40s?

Why 30s-40s Don’t Come To Our Museum

• Don’t know about us.

• Don’t think there is something

for them.

• Not open when they can go.

• Family life is too busy

The Outcome…

• Increased visitation for season

• New partnerships formed

• Majority first-time visitors (target

group)

• LHR’s value to county reinforced

The Lowdown…

What the 1970s Christmas

display taught us about

audience building and

creating history exhibits…

The Lowdown…

Know who your

audience is…and who

you want it to be.

The Lowdown…

Be open at times that

your audience is likely

to come.

The Lowdown…

Go to conferences for

inspiration.

The Lowdown…

Step out of your

comfort zone.

The Lowdown…

Nostalgia is a powerful

tool. Use it to facilitate

a connection to

history…and your

museum.

The Lowdown…

Make it multisensory.

The Lowdown…

Invite visitors to

memorialize their

experience.

The Lowdown…

Shamelessly

self- promote.

The Lowdown…

Out of the ordinary things

get more media attention.

The Lowdown…

Publicize your successes.

The Lowdown…

Museum activities—exhibits,

programs—connect you to

your community and create

new partnerships.

The Lowdown…

Your museum can do this.

Questions?

Comments?

Examples?

2015 Local History and Historic Preservation Conference, Middleton, WI

Jarrod Roll, Director

Monroe County Local History Room & Museum

Sparta, Wisconsin

A Case Study

in Museum

Audience

Building