Description
John H. FALK is an internationally recognised American researcher specialising in the visitor experience, free-choice learning and the social value of museums. Founder and former CEO of the Institute for Learning Innovation, he is also Emeritus Professor at Oregon State University and currently leads his own consultancy, John H. Falk, LLC.
For more than 50 years, his research has explored why people visit museums, how they experience them and the benefits they gain from these visits. He has authored over 250 academic articles and chapters and more than two dozen books, including The Value of Museums: Enhancing Societal Well-Being and Leaning into Value: Becoming a User-Focused Museum. His work encourages cultural institutions to rethink their mission and development models through a deeper understanding of their audiences' needs and expectations.
His most recent thinking focuses on the role museums can play in individual and societal wellbeing. Through the concept of “Societal Elders”, he proposes a vision of museums as places of collective wisdom, reflection and human connection, helping people better understand themselves, their communities and the world around them.
