1. Evaluation and Development: Mihtohseenionki (The People's Place) Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art

2. 1992 Target Audience Study Want Art, history and culture (interdisc.) Multi-sensory, interactives, technology Info on Native Americans from this region (Indiana) Family opportunities

3. New Museum Mission Statement To inspire an appreciation and understanding of the art, history and cultures of the American West and the indigenous peoples of North America The Eiteljorg Museum collects and preserves Western art and Native American art and cultural objects of the highest quality, and serves the public through engaging exhibitions, educational programs, cultural exchanges, and entertaining special events.

4. Mihtohseenionki Front-end & Formative Evaluation Native Americans We’re still here; We’re still practicing and recovering traditions, but we live in a modern world; Tell our story.

5. Front End & Formative cont. Students, grades 3-5: Perceptions of Native Americans frozen in the past What did they eat? How did they live/survive/travel? Do they eat pizza?

6. Front end & Formative cont. Eiteljorg Visitors, Childrens Museum Visitors, College Students: 1) Continuing traditions; 2) What Native Americans say about their art, history and culture; 3) Daily life past and present.

7. Major differences between audiences Eiteljorg Museum: Cultural info and changes in the past. The Childrens Museum & Col: Cultural info and changes in the present.

8. Main idea of Gallery Beginning: Mostly anthro info about how they lived, dressed, traveled, ate; Formative: MAIN IDEA: CULTURE IS ALIVE For eons, Native American cultures (that have survived) have been vibrant and growing despite difficult histories. They change with the times while still maintaining and restoring ties to traditions.

9. Final Main Idea Like other dynamic cultures, these age-old cultures have managed to maintain and restore much of their culture while continuously dealing with change and adopting new ways.

10. Preliminary Summative Evaluation for Mihtohseenionki (The People's Place)

11. Project Goals n To determine how visitors are using the gallery n To gather information for the reinstallation of the upstairs galleries

12. Description n Visitor tracking/observations were done on weekdays and weekends November 2002 - January 2003 n Surveys were given to visitors during the same time period

13. Results n Visitors are generally getting the main messages of Mihtohseenionki –22 people of 33 surveyed responded that the main ideas in the gallery are that Native cultures of Indiana are still here, that living cultures change and stay the same, and that Native Americans of Indiana were here in the past and are here today n What describes the visitors’ experience? –The two most-circled words are “sad” and “informed”

14. Results cont’d n most visitors wouldn’t change anything about the gallery n based on tracking and observations, weekend visitors spend nearly an hour in the gallery n visitors are using the galleries in different ways –families with children gravitate towards the computer and the interactive –some visitors focus primarily on the timeline –some visitors focus primarily on the objects

15. Results cont’d n Many complaints are about sound and lighting –sound has been addressed to the extent that resources have allowed –low lighting is for the protection of the artifacts n Some confusion about displaying historical and contemporary objects side-by-side

16. Results from university students n most students felt that they did not fully appreciate or comprehend the gallery on their first tour (prior conceptions?” n overall, students found the gallery very powerful and eye-opening n after the first tour, most students agreed that the mixing of past and present helped them to see that Native Americans are still here today n many described the Native quotes as being very powerful

17. Future Plans for Additional Evaluation  Additional feedback from Native Americans, esp. contemporary fine artists and contemporary trad. Artists;  Visits to tribal museums;  Determine ways to deal with fine art and contemporary objects and culture.