We’re excited to share our new open access article, now published in the International Public History Journal
You can read (or listen to!) the article for free here
In “The Sensational Museum’s Art of Multisensory Storytelling,” postdocs Sophie Vohra and Charlotte Slark reflect on their work exploring how museums can tell stories in ways that engage all the senses – beyond the default use of sight.
The article is based on a recorded conversation between the authors, available both as audio and a descriptive transcript, designed to be accessible and engaging for all kinds of readers and listeners.
Using the example of a drum from the Africa Museum, Sophie and Charlotte show how museum collections can hold rich sensory stories – about sound, texture, and feeling – that are often lost in traditional ways of recording and displaying objects. They talk about how museums can do better at sharing these stories in inclusive, creative ways.
The article also features brilliant insights from audio describer J.J. Hunt, who explains how language can help audiences connect with objects through sound, emotion and imagination. Designer, curator and academic, Dr Vince Dziekan, adds another layer, introducing his ‘body, mind, soul’ framework for thinking about how museum interpretation can be more meaningful and multidimensional.
At the heart of it all is a key idea: no one sense should be required to enjoy a museum. Multisensory storytelling isn’t just about accessibility, it makes the experience richer for everyone.
Additional links
Find out more about JJ Hunt’s work here
Listen to JJ Hunt and Christine Malec’s ‘Talk description to me’ podcast here