The Participatory Potential of Collection Objects on Social Media Platforms

Abstract:

The role of museums’ social media for the engagement with arts and culture will research the role of different social networks within museums’ communication activities and analyse the nature and type of interactions on social media  with stakeholders and users for understanding the motivation of users engaging with museum social media about cultural experiences and the impact and quality of this engagement in relation to the offline museum experience.

This PhD project will take a user centred approach, using multiple methods of data collection and analysis to holistically understand the motivations of online visitors and the resulting impact on their engagement with arts and culture. The project will mainly focus on two museums in Glasgow and their respective social media platforms, the Kelvingrove and the Riverside Museum. The project may also be informed by additional institutions such as the Burrell collection.