Majority of Visitors Do Not Feel Museum Staff Care

A recent study published by Museum Audience Insight looks at why almost 90% of visitors feel that staff does not really care about visitors.  One visitor went as far to comment:

“I would get rid of the majority of the staff and replace them with energetic, well-informed individuals with an open creative mind and the ability to focus on the needs of the customer (the general public) and its changing face.” In other words, this visitor’s main museum fantasy is a caring staff.

The Toronto Declaration

• Download a PDF of the Toronto Declaration:
  Single-page, decorative version or two-page, large print
• Add your voice in support of the Toronto Declaration

Leaders from science centres and museums around the world met in Toronto, Ontario, Canada from June 14-19, 2008 for the Fifth Science Centre World Congress. 400 delegates from 51 countries participated, continuing the dialogue from previous gatherings in Finland (1996), India (1999), Australia (2002) and Brazil (2005).

Each year, 290,000,000 citizens actively participate in the exhibitions, programs, events and outreach initiatives organized by 2,400 science centres worldwide(1).  Science centres stimulate curiosity and develop enquiring minds. They change people’s lives, influencing their attitudes and thinking. Research shows that science centres demystify science, conveying its beauty, showing its necessity and making it accessible to the general public.  They foster positive attitudes towards science, help people to appreciate the context of scientific advances and understand how science affects their lives.