Natalya Ievleva is one of the developers of the method of free (facilitated) discussion in Russia. She will discuss her experience of using it in the education programs of the State Russian Museum and those principles of free discussion that can be applied in museum programs today.
The meeting is part of the training program for Garage mediators.
Free (facilitated) discussion is an adult version of the Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) approach developed for school students by art historian Philip Yenawine and psychologist at Museum of Modern Art in New York Abigail Hausen, which focuses on aesthetic development and getting people interested in art.
Today, facilitated discussion is used in many art museums and galleries around the world. It came to Russia in the 1990s, with facilitated discussion classes by staff of the State Hermitage and the State Russian Museum taking place in various schools in St. Petersburg.
Years of working with the creators of VTS have enabled educators at the State Russian Museum to successfully adapt the method for adults. This became known as free (facilitated) discussion and has been used regularly at the State Russian Museum since 2012, primarily in working with young visitors.
