Claire Bown - Speaker

Rijksmuseum's collection: a slow looking mission

Museum Educator, Author of The Art Engager and Founder of Thinking Museum®

Abstract:

How can we learn to look at art more deeply? In this guided session, Claire Bown leads a slow looking experience at the Rijksmuseum, inviting delegates to observe attentively, think critically, and connect personally with selected artworks from the Dutch collection. Drawing on her Thinking Museum® methodology, this participatory experience encourages active engagement and meaningful dialogue — offering a powerful shift in how we see and interpret art.

About Claire Bown:

Claire Bown is a museum educator, facilitator, and founder of Thinking Museum®, a consultancy dedicated to creating more reflective and participatory experiences in museums. With over 25 years of experience in the museum and heritage sector, she works internationally with institutions to develop inquiry-led and audience-focused programmes.

She is the host of The Art Engager podcast, a leading resource for museum professionals. In 2024, she published The Art Engager: Reimagining Guided Experiences in Museums, a practical guide for creating inclusive, slow, and conversation-based encounters with art. Claire advocates for thoughtful, people-centred engagement that places curiosity, observation, and connection at the core of museum practice.

🎟 Join us at CTA Amsterdam 2025
📅 17–19 June, 2025