Gallery & Museum Education: Purpose, Pedagogy and Practice

This special edition of the Journal of Artistic and Creative Education (JACE) brings together authors from across Australia to discuss issues central to the ongoing development and importance of education within museums. It addresses questions about the distinctive characteristics and significance of museum education, how learning occurs in museums, who is engaged in museum education and where it takes place, and the benefits of museum education.

This edition explores these questions through nine articles that individually address the role of museum learning as providing a transformative experience in a rich, ‘hands-on’ and diverse environment. The authors present a wide array of case studies and examples from their institutions and research, providing practical and invigorating discussions on the purpose, pedagogy, and practice of museum education. At a time when significant cuts are being made to education budgets in Australia, often limiting excursions to museums and cultural sites, it seems timely to publish a special edition that sheds light on the power of learning in museums and makes a case for museum learning. Museums already produce effective learning experiences highly appreciated by their users, and these experiences deserve to be celebrated. This celebration will hopefully lead to increased appreciation and understanding of the educational possibilities in museums and galleries, why professionals have chosen to work in particular ways, and the outcomes of their work.