SIG Professional Development of Museum Educators

Coordinator: Wencke Maderbacher, guest Lila Heinola (Museum Centre Vapriikki, Tampere, Finland)

To join session please registrate

 

During the session Lila Heinola will make a short presentation on the evaluation of the Museum Music Circle for Seniors programme. The programme was piloted in 2025, and surveys were conducted with all participants. In 2026, it was selected as one of the City of Tampere’s programmes to be evaluated from the perspective of culture, arts, and wellbeing.

Participant feedback is being collected through the MyRoidu survey and reporting system, and a comprehensive evaluation will be carried out based on the data gathered. This type of systematic impact evaluation is still relatively new in Finnish museums, and the process has provided valuable learning opportunities for us.

 

The abstract for the Museum Music Circle for Seniors programme

Konkarimuskari – Museum Music Circle for Seniors is a small-group music program developed by Museum Centre Vapriikki in response to demographic change and growing awareness of cultural well-being. Piloted in 2025 and continued in 2026, the program is designed for adults aged 65 and over and combines group singing, music listening, memory work, and museum-based content. Participants engage with their own musical histories and identities through shared discussion, creative exercises and the creation of a personal Music Will™, a written reflection on musical preferences and memories.

The program is embedded within Vapriikki’s long-term Konkarit – Museum Services for Elderly People initiative, through which the museum reaches approximately 3,500 seniors annually. Research evidence on the positive effects of music on well-being, social connectedness and cognitive health informed the program’s design, positioning the museum as an active contributor to public and cultural health objectives.

Konkarimuskari has been co-designed and delivered by a museum educator and a professional musician who is experienced in working with older adults. Museum-specific resources, including an exhibition on the history of radio broadcasting and archival sound collections, are integrated into the workshops to support interaction and memory-based engagement. Participant feedback indicates strong experiences of inclusion, enjoyment and renewed daily structure.

 

Bio

Lila Heinola (Museum Centre Vapriikki, Tampere, Finland) is  a Museum Educator specializing in arts‑based wellbeing for older adults, with over 20 years of experience in the museum field and 14+ years in developing programs that enhance social connection and meaningful engagement. Work is carried out collaboratively with artists and care professionals to design multisensory activities for older adults in museums and care homes. Holds MA degrees in History (1997) and Creative Wellbeing (2025).