muttart conservatory analysis

7/28/2019 Muttart Conservatory Analysis

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AGAD 226

Museum Visit Assignment

Natalie Shykoluk

November 15, 2012


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N Shykoluk | Museum Visit Assignment 2

The Muttart An Oasis in a Northern Metropolis

1. The Muttart Conservatory is nestled in Edmontons beautiful river valley and has been in operation since

1976. A generous donation from the Muttart Foundation covered half of the construction costs, with

provincial and municipal governments funding the remainder. This public, not-for-profit museum/botanic

garden was created as a resource for all Edmontonians to enjoy year-round, regardless of their age, culture,

socioeconomic status, or level of education. The admission cost is quite reasonable and people who qualify

for the Leisure Access pass (low income) can visit free of charge.

When you enter the Muttart, the first things you see are the gift shop to your right and the Culina Caf on

your left. Straight ahead is the information desk where you pay for your admission and hallway to the

courtyard, or Centre Court. Centre Court contains tables and chairs, plants for sale, and a rotating art

exhibit featuring a local artist. Additionally, there is a permanent exhibit in the form of a mural by

aboriginal artist Alex Janvier that surrounds you like an undulating ribbon on the walls of the courtyard. This

courtyard connects the four large glass pyramids positioned at the edges of the courtyard like four corners

on a square. There are three permanent exhibits (Tropical, Arid, and Temperate) and one which changesbased on the season or a specific theme (Feature). It is not a typical museum in the traditional sense.

Rather, everything is brimming with life and not locked away behind a glass case or rope. Its collection is

not static: plants grow and change over time and you might not see the same thing on two different visits.

All the plants appear healthy and well-taken care of. The botanic collection, mural, and rotating art exhibits

all create the opportunity for dialogue and contemplation.

2. Because Edmonton is considered a cold climate city, the Muttart Conservatory provides a place of escape

during the long, cold winter months. Its also a great destination on a rainy summer day, or in on Thursday

evenings for a relaxing and romantic date night. People who dont get to travel outside Edmonton can

experience natural plant diversity from locales around the globe. The Muttart is also an attractive

destination because of its wide range of programming for seniors, children, and families. There are also freeweekend tours from staff and it is a centrally located venue which can be accessed from all parts of the City

of Edmonton. Both my colleague (who visited the Muttart with me) and I agree that one of the main

attractions is the Culina Caf. I think by incorporating a good-quality restaurant into its building, the Muttart

seized a great opportunity to provide a place for weekend brunch in an area of town that is starved for

brunch locations. People may also visit the Muttart because the conservatory itself appeals to everyone. It

does not try to cater to one demographic and I think this is an excellent selling point.

3. I really enjoyed being able to have a relaxing brunch on a Sunday morning and then take a stroll around

the indoor botanic gardens afterwards. For a few hours I could pretend I was not living in Edmonton at the

beginning of six months of winter. There were lots of places to sit and rest or just contemplate your

surroundings. It seemed like a family-friendly place but could also appeal to adults without children andseniors.

I did like the fact that the Temperate Pyramid is attuned to the four seasons. The Muttart doesnt force a

year-round growing season on local plants. It makes it more natural and real for visitors, especially those

who are new to Canada and the Prairies. Another great feature is how the Muttart incorporated Alberta coal

into the Tropical Pyramid. It makes the connection between where coal comes from and ancient tropical

rainforests that stretched across North America. The scientific names for plants are given on the signage in

front of each plant in case you wanted to know what they were. However, the common names are also given

so that people dont feel like they need to understand Latin to learn about plants. They can also then make


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the connection between plants at the Muttart and their houseplants or plants in their own gardens. I did

appreciate the great magnets available that show the major events happening at the Muttart for the entire

year. It also has the planned exhibits for the Feature Pyramid. You cant possibly see everything in one visit.

This encourages you to come back, along with the fact that the plant growth changes over time.

4. The biggest disappointment was the Feature Pyramid which I have discussed throughout this paper. It

would be cool to have the Feature Pyramid used for hands-on activities, although it might be challenging

due to limited staffing resources and funding. The majority of the building was wheelchair-accessible

(including the very accessible washrooms), but ramps up to each pyramid are quite steep. It might also be

hard to navigate the cobblestones in Tropical Pyramid using crutches or a walker. The fact that there was no

free wireless Internet (for downloading the electronic self-guided tours through QR codes) was quite

annoying. This is something that the Muttart must change so that they dont alienate the younger generation

who are on their wireless devices constantly.

5. The Muttart differed from other museums I have visited because everything was so alive. I am used to

walking around and looking at static exhibits of inanimate objects or remains if deceased individuals. This

was a nice change and I will make sure to visit other non-traditional museums, such as the Devonian Gardens

and other botanical gardens in other cities in the future. I also really enjoyed the fact that I could get a

good meal on-site and not just a coffee and something out of a vending machine. People, especially families

and tourists, often want to make a day out visiting an attraction. Putting a restaurant in a museum or

conservatory is a great to attract more people.

6. I was able to identify three things about the Muttart that I would change if I could. First it bothered me

was that it was not always clear which sign belonged to which plant. My colleague and I had to double-check

the signs against the walking tour brochure and the actual plant. I think this should be clearer, maybe with a

small etching of the plant next to the name on the sign. Secondly, the adult programs offered may be cost-

prohibitive for many people. Some were $100.00 per session and there were no senior or student discounts. I

also dont know if they offered program fee discounts to low-income individuals. Thirdly, there was no

student discount available. This is similar to other City-run facilities and I think this needs to change.

Students are generally poor! Give us a break now and we will likely patronize your facilities when we start

earning a regular income.

Cultural Diversity at the Conservatory

7. A botanical garden or conservatory, just like a zoo or planetarium, are places that people can enjoy,

regardless of their cultural background. You can still have a great experience and come away with feeling

like you learned something even if you dont speak the language used in that institution/organization. In

essence, plants and nature transcend language and culture. Unlike traditional museums and galleries, you

dont have to bring background knowledge or understanding of another culture into your visit at a

conservatory. Often, in order to understand a particular genre of art, or really get a sense of a museum

exhibit, a visitor benefits from prior knowledge or experience. For example, a Civil War exhibit may not

mean the same thing to someone from Qatar as it does to someone from Missouri.

However, in reading the Museums and Cultural Diversity from the Standard Practices Handbook for Museums

(2nd ed.), I think that the Muttart Conservatory could be doing more to reflect the cultural diversity present

in Edmonton. This may make this venue more relevant to and attract a wider audience. The best area of the

Muttart to do this in could be the Feature Pyramid, where cultural diversity should be incorporated into this


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rotating exhibit. For example, the Feature Pyramid showcased the Cornucopia of Colour when I visited

and this display was supposed to reflect the harvest, fall, and Thanksgiving. It looked more like a Disney

rendition of what Thanksgiving would look like on a sitcom. I think that the Muttart could have really drawn

from First Nations and other cultures in Edmonton to make this exhibit more representative of the citys

cultural mix.

Also, I didnt see a lot of programming at the Muttart that took into consideration cultural diversity. I realize

a museum must be true to its mandate, but I believe that they could carry out their mission while perhaps

having programs that show how First Nations peoples used resources from the temperate climate, or how

cultures living in arid climates survived by taking advantage of certain botanicals. The gift shop is another

consideration when it comes to assessing how a museum values cultures in its community. I was disappointed

to see the usual cheap jewelry which was supposed to represent First Nations art and symbolism. This is the

same jewelry you see in the small stores along Banff Avenue and is made in China. I dont think that cultural

diversity should just be addressed in the exhibition areas; rather, it should permeate the entire building.

I was appreciative of the mural by Alex Janvier. I thought this was a great addition to the Centre Court areaand gave visitors a sense of the different cultures which make up the past and current landscape in

Edmonton, especially First Nations culture. The other interesting display was at the entrance to one of the

pyramids. It featured a series of terracotta tiles that had been hand painted by various community groups

and individuals, from children to adults. They all used similar imageryEgyptian symbolsbut had messages

in all different languages. I thought this was a neat way of engaging the community and showcasing its

diversity.

My Expectations Going In

8. I had not considered the Muttart Conservatory, or any botanical garden for that matter, to be a type ofmuseum. Prior to taking AGAD 226, I didnt make the connection between traditional museums and galleries

and zoos, conservatories, etcetera, even though I knew the latter three had collections. Also, I wasnt sure

what to expect after my last visit a number of years ago before they did renovations. Although they didnt

make a lot of changes, the overall space seemed more open and inviting. This could also be because I ate a

great meal and then slowly strolled through the pyramids. I didnt know how my experience would change

during this visit as I had a specific purpose: gather information for an assignment and think critically about

what I was experiencing.

Visitors Bill of Rights How Does the Muttart Measure Up?

9. When scoring the Muttart Conservatory, I considered all aspects of the space. This included the Culina

Caf, the botanic gardens themselves, parking, outdoor space/accessibility, and washrooms. Overall, the

Muttart scored 40 / 50 on the Visitor Bill of Rights. I was not able to score the Challenge / Confidence aspect

(see notes in table), which is why my score is out of 50 and not 55.


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Right Rationale Score (1 5)

Comfort

I scored this Right a 3 because on the morning we visited,

there had been freezing rain the night before. The paths

leading to the building had not been salted or sanded and

were very dangerous. A senior citizen almost fell steppingonto the sidewalk in front of me. Inside the conservatory,

the temperature was comfortable, the walkways easy to

navigate, and the lightning appropriate. There was a place

to leave our winter coats and the washrooms were clean.

Culina Caf was so loud (acoustics?) that we could barely

hear one another across the table while we ate breakfast.

It was nice to not hear cellphones squawking awaythis

may have been a coincidence that day.

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Orientation

We paid for our admission from the front desk but were

not given a brochure or any additional information on the

current exhibits, programming, or events. We had to ask

for informational material from the clerk. The clerk didnt

even give us the special handout about their famous agave

plant that was about to bloom. If we werent on a special

visit as part of an assignment, I doubt we would have asked

for all their informational material.

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Welcome

The front desk clerk was pleasant but did not seem to be

enjoying her job very much. She was somewhat disparaging

towards the City of Edmonton, her employer. The second

information desk opened an hour later and that clerk was

very friendly. The Culina Caf staff were not very friendly

and our waiter was rude and short with us. It set a bit of a

negative tone for the subsequent museum visit.

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Enjoyment

I enjoyed exploring the four pyramids and thought the

Tropical Pyramid was the most outstanding. The Arid

Pyramid was a close second and we were excited to see the

Agave americana Beila in bloom. However, the plants

blooming was delayed but we were impressed with the

plants incredible growth. The Feature Pyramid was a huge

disappointmentit was full of the same species of flower

and tacky scarecrows and gourds. Also, you could see

where the plants were stuck in the ground because no one

bothered to cover up the holes. Because my overall

impression was positive (mainly because of the tranquilityand beautifully tended botanicals), I gave it a 4.

4

Socializing

We didnt see any visitors or diners who came alone. Most

of the people were with their families, and there were

many young families with grandparents in tow. The Muttart

seems like a place were you could talk about everything

you are seeing and experiencing with your fellow visitors,

even if you didnt know them or come with them. There

are programs that promote socialization, such as the Fall

Canning workshop, but we didnt experience any of these.

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Respect

Everyone we dealt with, save our cranky waiter, was

pleasant and respectful. It was great to see a variety of

people from different backgrounds enjoying the same

thing. There was no way you could feel out of place or

disrespected by the actual environment.

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Communication

Each plant was labeled neatly and its origin clearly

communicated. The font could have been larger but that

may have detracted from the overall atmosphere. One neat

feature they had inside the entrance of each pyramid was a

QR code. You could scan the code and download a digital

tour of each pyramid. The frustrating part was that you had

to turn on your cellphones data to be able to scan the

code. There was no free WiFi (odd for a City-run facility)

and we didnt use the QR codes because we didnt want to

use up our data.

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Learning

There was a brochure (only 2 available though!) at the

entrance to each pyramid that provided a walking tour of

sorts and noted cool facts about different plants. It was

written for a grade six-level so it was easy to understand. It

would have been nice to have a staff member wandering

the pyramids and engaging visitors. I think you have to ask

specifically for a guided tour from staff. I learned a lot

from the informational material I asked for at the front

desk.

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Choice & Control

Because there are four distinct pyramids or galleries at

the Muttart all opening onto a common courtyard, you can

choose which one to go into, or to avoid. I think its a great

design and allows you to run to the bathroom if you need

to, or have a seat in the courtyard. The pyramids

themselves are all very different and offer a wide variety

of plants to look at once you are inside. We were lucky in

that all four pyramids were open that day even though they

are going through rotating maintenance shutdowns.

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Challenge - Confidence

I am not clear on what this means. I tried to look up the

original article from Judy Rand so that I could understand

this Right but I could not find it online.

N/A

Revitalization

After visiting the Muttart, I felt energized and content. The

smells of the plants and quiet atmosphere were relaxing,

yet invigorating at the same time. It was a different kind ofmuseum because its collection was alive rather than static.

This might be the reason I felt great for the rest of the day

after my visit. Also, the light was very beautiful on a sunny

Sunday morning and you couldnt tell from inside that the

ground outside was a winter wonderland. It was a good

form of escapism. I guess this is why the Muttart promotes

itself as an escape to potential visitors and their brochure

looks like a destination vacation pamphlet.

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40/50


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Visitor Experience

10. This was my second visit in eight years to the Muttart Conservatory. There have been some major

changes in that time and I think the institution has moved away from object accountability to being

accountable to the visitor in a variety of ways. The Muttart felt much more visitor-oriented during my most

recent visit and I was able to really enjoy myself this time. At no time did I feel like a stranger or

intimidated by what I was experiencing.

I think having the Culina Caf inside the building creates the opportunity for people to have a nice meal and

visit the Conservatory afterwards or beforehand. Because there are no restaurants or coffee shops nearby,

people (especially families) might feel at a loss when it comes to lunchtime and their kids are starving. It

encourages people to stay longer and creates a more relaxed atmosphere. You can also grab a coffee to go

and sit in the courtyard while taking in the mural that weaves around this inner sanctum.

With respect to programming, it appears from looking at their program brochure that staff have really tried

to think of engaging and interesting activities which are appealing to a wide range of audiences. They haveprogramming specific to children and families, but also offer workshops on horticulture and canning which

might appeal to an older crowd. I think the Muttart may have received visitor feedback and is trying to cater

to peoples interests and needs.

On the collection side, I noticed that the Muttart tries to make the pyramids both physically and

intellectually accessible. The majority of paths are easy to navigate if you have a disability and there are

brochures that are written for a level of understanding that most visitors possess. The Muttart has also

incorporated the use of QR codes to engage younger generations who can use their cellphones to obtain a

guided tour. They didnt, however, plan well for this activity because they do not offer free WiFi.

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