Cultural Mediation as Engagement: Insights from Science Gallery Melbourne
Resource: Museums & Galleries of NSW
In this video, Lee Casey, Head of Communications and Engagement at Science Gallery Melbourne (University of Melbourne), explores how cultural mediation can be used as a powerful communication and participatory tool within a museum context. Drawing from institutional practice, he reflects on how mediation helps engage visitors with complex, thought-provoking ideas at the intersection of art, science, and society.
The video highlights cultural mediation as a dynamic process based on dialogue, exchange, and creative response. Rather than simply transmitting knowledge, this approach encourages visitors to actively participate, question, and form their own interpretations. It also demonstrates how mediation can expand the role of museums—from spaces of display to platforms for discussion and critical engagement.
This session is part of a workshop presented by Museums & Galleries of NSW in partnership with Artspace, focusing on both the conceptual and practical aspects of cultural mediation. It is particularly relevant for educators, curators, and cultural professionals interested in developing participatory strategies and new forms of audience engagement.
MeWell Talks Episode #1 | Working with Dementia in Cultural Mediation with Nina Mayer
In this short video, cultural mediator Nina Mayer shares her approach to working with people living with dementia through multisensory cultural mediation.
The session demonstrates how simple yet thoughtful methods—such as starting with everyday objects, engaging multiple senses, and creating a calm, respectful atmosphere—can open meaningful opportunities for participation, expression, and connection.
Cultural Mediation in Question: Cristina da Milano on Practice and Precarity
Resource: MuseumMediatorsEU
This video features an interview recorded during the Lisbon Meeting in November 2012 as part of the Museum Mediators Europe project. Conducted by external evaluator Joaquim Jorge, the conversation with Cristina da Milano offers a critical reflection on the professional realities of museum educators and cultural mediators.
