Growing the social role of Botanic Gardens
- research and evaluation
Jocelyn Dodd
Research Centre for Museums and Galleries (RCMG)
School of Museum Studies
University of Leicester
How socially relevant are Botanic Gardens?
Research methods
• Desk research
• Questionnaires
• Case studies
• Interviews
• Think Tank
7 key areas
1. Broadening audiences (audience development)
7 key areas
1. Broadening audiences (audience development)
2. Enhancing relevance to communities (meeting the
needs of communities)
7 key areas
1. Broadening audiences (audience development)
2. Enhancing relevance to communities (meeting the
needs of communities)
3. Education
7 key areas
1. Broadening audiences (audience development)
2. Enhancing relevance to communities (meeting the
needs of communities)
3. Education
4. Conducting research which has socio-economic
impact locally and globally
7 key areas
1. Broadening audiences (audience development)
2. Enhancing relevance to communities (meeting the
needs of communities)
3. Education
4. Conducting research which has socio-economic
impact locally and globally
5. Contributing to public (and political) debates on
the environment
7 key areas
1. Broadening audiences (audience development)
2. Enhancing relevance to communities (meeting the
needs of communities)
3. Education
4. Conducting research which has socio-economic
impact locally and globally
5. Contributing to public (and political) debates on
the environment
6. Modelling sustainable behaviour
7 key areas
1. Broadening audiences (audience development)
2. Enhancing relevance to communities (meeting the
needs of communities)
3. Education
4. Conducting research which has socio-economic
impact locally and globally
5. Contributing to public (and political) debates on
the environment
6. Modelling sustainable behaviour
7. Actively changing attitudes and behaviour
Future developments
1. Redefining their purpose – values, mission,
vision
•
why we exist?
•
•
•
what we believe in?
who we do it for?
what we want to achieve?
1. Redefining their purpose – values, mission, vision
2. A lengthy process of change across the whole
organisation
1. Redefining their purpose – values, mission, vision
2. A lengthy process of change across the whole
organisation
3. Botanic gardens are uniquely placed to address
climate change but they aren’t taking a visible and
active role
1. Redefining their purpose – values, mission, vision
2. A lengthy process of change across the whole
organisation
3. Botanic gardens are uniquely placed to address
climate change but they aren’t taking a visible and
active role
4. Botanic gardens should combine their social and
environmental roles
1. Redefining their purpose – values, mission, vision
2. A lengthy process of change across the whole
organisation
3. Botanic gardens are uniquely placed to address
climate change but they aren’t taking a visible and
active role
4. Botanic gardens should combine their social and
environmental roles
5. Communicating, evidencing and advocating
1. Redefining their purpose – values, mission, vision
2. A lengthy process of change across the whole
organisation
3. Botanic gardens are uniquely placed to address
climate change but they aren’t taking a visible and
active role
4. Botanic gardens should combine their social and
environmental roles
5. Communicating, evidencing and advocating
6. Finding a third way between the model of the
traditional botanic garden and the Eden Project
Evidence from growing the social role 2011Winterbourne project
What drives organisations to be socially
purposeful?
Why is this work so important?
•
•
•
•
Social and environmental justice
Inclusion / exclusion
Making gardens meaningful in 21stc
Human Rights
“Everyone has the right to freely participate in the
cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts,
and share in scientific advancement and its
benefits”.
UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948
What social impact can botanic gardens
have?
Sense of
belonging
spiritual benefits
Green spaces
Good food &
healthy living
Learning in a real
world
environment
Connecting with
prior
experiences
Social spaces
Incorporating
climate change
The importance of green spaces
‘You feel different, ….like
different feelings……there are
not so many people around
and you feel calm’
Damion aged 12 Shorefields College,
Toxteth, grew up on a farm in Poland
Learning Impact
Learning is a process of active engagement with
experience. It is what people do when they want to make
sense of the world. It may involve the development or
deepening of skills, knowledge, understanding, awareness,
values, ideas and feelings, or an increase in the capacity to
reflect. Effective learning leads to change, development and
the desire to learn more.
MLA Museums, Archives and Libraries Council
Inspiring Learning for All framework
Generic Learning Outcomes
knowledge &
understanding
Horticultural methods
Environmental responsibility – compost etc
Access to expertise
skills
Collaborate, negotiate, take responsibility
Gardening organically
Community project skills – language, cult barriers
attitudes &
values
More accepting of difference
Change view of what gardens might be
Very high – catalyst to learning
enjoyment,
inspiration, creativity Impact on self esteem
action, behaviour,
progression
Maturing experience
Visit other gardens
Grow vegetables organically
Local radio / unifying community project
5. What social impact can botanic gardens
have?
Sense of
belonging
spiritual benefits
Green spaces
Good food &
healthy living
Learning in a real
world
environment
Connecting with
prior
experiences
Social spaces
Incorporating
climate change
Organisational issues- what inhibits botanic
gardens from becoming socially purposeful?
• Perception that Botanic Gardens are already doing this work
• Financial concerns conflict with developing a social role
• Motivation
• A ‘clear values-led leadership committed to engagement’
What inhibits botanic gardens becoming
socially purposeful?
• Perception that Botanic Gardens are already
doing this work
• Financial concerns conflict with developing a
social role
• Motivation
• A ‘clear values-led leadership committed to
engagement’
Skills and organisational working: what is
needed?
•
•
•
•
Project management
Team working
Skills or experience?
Focus on the achievable: keeping it simple
Action and development
1. Creating a vision for the sector - leadership
2. Embedded in contemporary issues
3. Rooted in wider national policy context
•
•
health and well- being of communities
youth
4. Climate change as a social issue
5. Underpin work with community development model
•
working in partnership
6. Social role must impact across the whole organisation
‘I liked every moment of it’
‘I can’t pick one thing
because they were all good’
Research Centre for Museums and Galleries (RCMG), University of Leicester
jad25@le.ac.uk
www.le.ac.uk/museumstudies/research/rcmg