Visitor Research Survey Training at Millennium Gallery 📋

Today I attended visitor research survey training at the Millennium Gallery, where I met with Gemma to learn how to carry out public engagement surveys effectively. The session introduced me to best practice in approaching visitors, phrasing survey questions clearly, and recording data for later analysis.

During the session, I also raised an important accessibility concern about the disabled toilet facilities at the gallery. Currently, there is no dedicated female disabled bathroom—only a baby changing room without a toilet near the female stalls, and one accessible cubicle located alongside the male toilets. So you would have to enter the male bathroom to access it, and there are many reasons this is unsafe and uncomfortable for any non-male visitors needing to use an accessible stall. This discussion highlighted the importance of considering accessibility not only in exhibition design but also in visitor facilities and overall inclusivity.

After the training, I took the opportunity to spend time exploring the gallery’s current exhibitions. This allowed me to gain a deeper appreciation of how visitor research directly relates to exhibition development, audience engagement, and future programming decisions.

Key Skills Developed:

• 🖼️ Public Engagement – Confidence in visitor interaction and clear, inclusive communication

• 📝 Research – Accurate survey data collection and analysis for exhibition improvement

• 🏛️ Museum Practice – Awareness of front-of-house roles and exhibition context

• 🎨 Transferable Skills – Active listening, adaptability, and reflective learning

The Survey Training at Millennium Gallery was an eye-opening introduction to the research that underpins effective audience engagement and exhibition planning. This experience not only equipped me with practical skills in visitor surveying, but also solidified my determination to pursue a career where I can help galleries and museums better understand and serve their communities.

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