ABSTRACT
Moving forward by looking back, we start with the Denver Art Museum (DAM) and a historical overview. A leader in the fi eld, DAM committed early on to a visitor-centered mission and pioneered the inclusion of audience research in exhibition design. In fact, as far back as the 1980s, Patterson Williams and Marlene Chambers, then directors of education and publications respectively, advocated for the inclusion of audience expertise as an essential part of the exhibition development process. Because of this foresight, DAM has a rich variety of interpretive resources integrated in its galleries. We see different types of didactics, poetic narratives, and hands-on creative activities. These resources are provided just in time, right in the gallery, and with comfortable seating available. The range of approaches matches a variety of learning styles and reasons for visiting.
