Appreciating the Broad Spectrum of Positive Visitor Experiences in Museums

In this chapter Dr. Packer will trace her evolving interest in the visitor experience across two decades, from her doctoral research on the experience of learning through to her current research across multiple dimensions of the visitor experience. She will reflect on the insights that led her to an interest in visitor experiences, reveal some of the findings that have taken her by surprise, and outline her current understanding of the experiences that visitors value in a range of different contexts. Finally, she will reflect on whether for visitors, the experience itself is the end, or a means to an end, and what this means for flourishing in museums.