Culture Q&A: Scott Stulen of the IMA

What exactly does a “curator of audience experiences and performances” do?
It’s a new position, something very unique to both the IMA and also the country. It is responding to museums changing. I am curating anything that isn’t an object—so events, performances, film, dance, music, anything that is activating our audience. It’s really thinking about what the audience experience is like when they visit the museum.
So what’s your definition of art?
That’s a hard question. I really think that art can be anything that causes you to react, to contemplate something, or to create conversation. That can be a lot of different things. I think it can be art in the traditional sense, but it can also be more active.
Will the Internet Cat Video Festival be coming to Indianapolis?
I am loosely consulting on it now. It was actually a prior contract before I came here. We’re working on doing a special edition of it next year.
What do you have in the works for the IMA?
I just finished my tentative plan for the next two years. It’s going to include several things, like a drawing club, film screenings in the parking garage, and interesting tour experiences. I want to do a bike festival, like a drive-in theater but for bikes. Next summer we’re planning to do an adult summer camp. Some will be free, some will be ticketed, but all the events will be free for members. The events will vary in scale and a lot will be somewhat limited, but members will get first crack at them. I really want people to come not once a year, but once a month, if not more frequently.
This article appeared in The Ticket, a 2014 special publication.