Samantha Howell, Visitor Services Engagement Representative, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Proposal Type: Workshop

Abstract: The presenter will outline an innovative visitor engagement program initiated at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum where digital technologies and face-to-face visitor interaction are utilized in order to meet marketing and operational goals. This will include an overview of the program’s parameters, performance indicators, and lessons learned. Other participants or presenters will have the opportunity to share and explore other new marketing and engagement initiatives in comparison or in relation to one another.

Seeking: The presenter will demonstrate the iPad application and digital tools used in the engagement program which has since expanded to include support of membership drives, public programs and promotion of the Museum’s social media and on-site texting applications. This will also include an overview of the program’s parameters, goals and key performance indicators, and the general lessons learned since the initial launch of the program in February 2014. Additional focus will be given to the uniqueness of the program as it pertains to not only a Museum but a memorial space. Thus, the presenter will address the ways in which the program has accounted for sensitivity measures in the ways and locations where visitor engagement takes place. This workshop will also provide insight to the ways in which museum professionals can collaborate crossdepartmentally within an institution. Presenters or participants will have the opportunity to share and explore other new marketing and engagement initiatives in comparison or in relation to one another. Discussion and networking will be encouraged with specific emphasis on visitor engagement and the ways in which digital platforms and innovative approaches can enrich the visitor experience as well as foster connections beyond their visit.

Related Topics: Digital, Museums/Exhibits, Visitor Engagement

If you have a direct offer of assistance, sensitive criticism, or wish to share contact information for other people the proposer should reach out to, please get in contact directly: Samantha Howell, showell[at]ushmm.org

If you have general ideas or feedback to share please feel free to use the comments feature below.

Discussion

2 comments
  1. Thomas Cauvin says:

    I have been working in a program called MATRICE with Prof. Denis Peschanski. http://www.matricememory.fr/matrice/fr/
    The program is based on captors and eye-tracking system to better study – and respond to – visitor behaviours in museums. Perhaps you might be interested in having someone from MATRICE in your working group.

  2. Samantha Howell says:

    Thanks, Thomas. I appreciate your feedback. I took a look at the MATRICE website and I definitely see some connections. I also liked the attention to the study of memory in specific relation to Holocaust studies. In terms of the study of visitor behavior and their movements/interactions within a museum, could you elaborate more about how the program studies or uses that? Any suggestions about who I might reach out to regarding this workshop? My e-mail is [email protected]. Thank you again.

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