TRADITIONAL CRAFT DEMONSTRATION AS A CATALYST FOR EXTENDED MUSEUM ENGAGEMENT AND EXPERIENCE: A CASE OF THE MANHYIA PALACE MUSEUM

Abstract

The Manhyia Palace Museum faces the challenge of enhancing visitor engagement and providing a more immersive experience. This qualitative study aimed to examine the current strategies for enhancing visitor engagement and experience, explore viable extended activities, and introduce traditional craft demonstrations at the Manhyia Palace Museum as a catalyst for extended museum engagement and experience. A qualitative research approach and an action research design were employed. A total of 25 participants were purposively selected, comprising four museum staff, two Board of Directors members, two chiefs, two queen mothers, seven tourists, and eight participants in focus group discussions. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and observations. The data were manually transcribed, coded inductively, categorized, and analysed thematically. The findings revealed that the museum has adopted a combination of interpretive, digital, and experiential approaches to enrich visitor interaction. These include guided tours, video documentary presentations, social media platforms, and feedback mechanisms. The study discovered that integrating traditional craft demonstrations such as Adinkra stamping, pottery, bead-making, and wood carving into the regular activities of the museum would contribute to enhancing visitor engagement, deepening cultural learning, and enriching the museum experience, thereby transforming the visit from a passive, observational tour into an interactive, memorable, and meaningful cultural encounter. The study contributes to museum studies by demonstrating how traditional craft demonstrations connect the tangible heritage with intangible cultural knowledge through experiential visitor learning. The findings could guide initiatives and policies aimed at increasing cultural tourism, strengthening heritage preservation, and boosting tourism revenue.