How can research make art experiences more meaningful?

I believe research and public programming go hand in hand. 

My research explores how people engage with art in real-world settings—not in artificial lab spaces, but inside the museums and cultural spaces where these experiences naturally happen. Through experimental psychology methods and interactive programming design, I help museums evaluate and refine their visitor engagement strategies, ensuring that their initiatives genuinely enrich art experiences and well-being.

But research isn’t just about data. It’s about deepening connections between people, artworks, and institutions. 

Whether designing studies, facilitating workshops, or leading public discussions, my goal is the same: to help people reconnect—with the sensory experience of art, with themselves, and with the communities around them.

Research that works for museums

Collaboration is at the heart of my approach. 

I research with museums, not on them. 

In my partnership with Manchester Art Gallery during my PhD, I worked closely with curators, well-being practitioners, and education teams to ensure that our research was not only scientifically rigorous but also meaningful for the institution. Rather than treating museums as passive research sites, I embedded my studies within their existing practices, aligning our research questions with their priorities.

This co-produced approach challenges traditional hierarchies of expertise, recognizing that museum professionals bring essential knowledge to stimulus design, intervention delivery, and visitor experience. For example, when investigating guided viewing strategies, I co-created content with curators and well-being practitioners to ensure the interventions reflected the gallery’s mission.

A seamless visitor experience

(Top left) Consenting a participant for a museum study on mindfulness. (Top right) Setting up a participant with a physiological wrist sensor for a study. (Bottom left) Workshopping study procedure with curator Fiona Corridan and study volunteers. (Bottom right) Working with a participant during the mindfulness study.

March 2022, Manchester Art Gallery, UK 

Research shouldn’t feel like research. 

I design interventions that seamlessly integrate into exhibitions, ensuring that participants have a natural, immersive experience rather than just completing a study. Visitors aren’t experimental subjects; they are active participants in a reflective and meaningful journey. My studies are carefully crafted to feel like enriching, enjoyable encounters with art—whether through guided viewing, mindful environments, or group discussions.

Manchester Art Gallery's Room to Breathe space embodies this philosophy. As an interactive research environment that blends mindful viewing with ongoing data collection, it dissolves rigid boundaries between research and public engagement. Evaluating its impact even became a key study in itself, helping the gallery assess its experimental programming while deepening visitor engagement.

From research to public programs

Leading a slow looking workshop for the opening of 'Alison Watt: From Light'.

March 2025, Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery, UK 

At its core, my work merges art and science to create meaningful gallery experiences. 

My approach doesn’t just stop at research. I actively bring these insights into public-facing events and workshops. Whether leading slow-looking sessions, discussing the science of art engagement on panels, or developing evidence-based programming for museums and galleries, I apply the same principles: designing experiences that feel immersive, engaging, and personally meaningful.

Nothing excites me more than making collections feel alive and relevant to an audience. By blending museum education strategies with cutting-edge scientific insights, I aim to create transformational experiences—ones that leave visitors inspired, engaged, and happy.

If you would like to discuss a research proposal, project idea, or speaking event, please get in touch:

contact@aleksandraigdalova.com