What inspires me

New discoveries; questioning the unknown; noticing the small threads that connect people, places, animals, ideas, and theories; natural wonders; people who stand up for others; wit and satire; a good fantasy novel.

Background

Jeanine Ancelet is the principal and co-founder of Audience Focus and has over 15 years of experience directing a research and evaluation projects for leading museums and cultural organizations across the country. In her role as Principal at Audience Focus, she provides a range of services for museums and cultural organizations, including strategic and interpretive planning, concept development, audience research, exhibition and program evaluation, and basic and applied research. She also facilitates hands-on workshops related to evaluation skill-building and evaluative thinking with learners of all levels for individual museums and through professional organizations, like the Visitor Studies Association, American Alliance of Museums, and National Art Education Association, and the Museum Computer Network. She is a regular speaker at national conferences and guest lecturer at the George Washington University, Bank Street School of Education, Towson University, and Georgetown University. She holds degrees in Anthropology and English from the University of Indiana and a master’s degree in museum studies from the University College London’s Institute for Archaeology. In her spare time, you can find her in nature serving as a Maryland Master Naturalist and Audubon Habitat Advisor.

Specializations

Audience research, exhibition and program evaluation, basic and applied research, strategic and interpretive planning

Publications

Adams, M., Forbes, J., & Ancelet, J., (2022) Curiosity, Wonder, and Play: Creating Family Spaces in Art Museums. American Alliance of Museums & Rowman & Littlefield

Luke, J. & Ancelet, J. (2014) The Role of Evaluation in Reimagining the Art Museum. Journal of Museum Education, 39(2).