Why Temple Newsam Rocks: A Revolutionary Update of Classic Interpretation

By Fiona Owens

In the aftermath of our whirlwind British Design History trip, I find myself thinking ever more on the topic of museum interpretation, what stood out and why? What I can learn and apply in my own career as a museum professional? As I reflect, I find myself returning to the interpretation of a singular site. Temple Newsam.

During our visit to Temple Newsam, we met curator Adam Toole, who gave a presentation on their new interpretation of the site. Mr. Toole was clearly passionate about interpretation, and his intentionality in creating an engaging and inclusive display is evident.

Every room in Temple Newsam contains three layers of interpretation. Upon entering, guests are greeted by a colorful plaque in a central location. The main text against a black background is intended for an adult, and introduces key aspects and important objects in the room. To the right is a label aimed at children, which employs a bright orange color, simple language, and a larger font. Each children’s section is narrated from the perspective of Fanny, a fictional maid at Temple Newsam. As Fanny tells young guests all about the Ingram family, children feel as through they are being given a privileged window into an elusive world. Below the children’s interpretation is a picture-based label intended for those with learning disabilities, informing a visitor about the basic function of each room.

Temple Newsam also includes humorous labels (left) and a play area for children (right). This play area features a rack of period costumes so that children may play dress up. Here, Parker Thompson models an eighteenth-century child’s jacket. Photographs by author.

It doesn’t end there. Each guest has the option of pull three labels from a wooden stand, which provides more information on standout objects. Should these boards not satisfy a visitor’s curiosity, a navy blue binder rests on the bottom rung of the stand, containing a label for many of the other objects in the room. The room binder may be a familiar concept as a behind-the-scenes reference for guides, but putting that information directly into the hands of a visitor is a revolutionary concept. Temple Newsam not only allows a variety of visitors of varying ages and abilities to learn, it allows each visitor to decide their own educational adventure.

This setup also benefits museums. Many museums suffer from a lack of funding, volunteer scarcity, and low visitation rates. High-tech displays are popular, based on a seemingly common belief that a flashy “modern” presentation will attract young visitors. While full of interesting ideas and immersive elements, these technology-focused installations are expensive. Making matters worse, they seem prone to breaking, and due to the rapid acceleration of technology, require frequent costly updates.

Temple Newsam’s displays aren’t flashy, but they are attractive and durable. For this project, Temple Newsam contracted a local company named Dovetailors, who claimed they were proud to have built something that would last. This means that Temple Newsam’s displays aren’t just effective and accessible, they’re more environmentally friendly.

An expensive electronic display assumes that what makes interpretation “modern” and appealing is its technological progress. While that may be partially true, Temple Newsam’s interpretation shines as an implementation of modern ideas of education, accessibility, and environmentalism. As American museums face increased budget cuts, hiring freezes, slashing of environmental legislation, and attacks on public education, it may behoove us to follow Temple Newsam’s example.