Kids in Museums

5 Responses to “08 Award Shortlist”

1. Jasmin Souesi Says:
   April 3rd, 2008 at 7:29 am

   I have now found the shortlist and must say I really am surprised to see the Dulwich Picture Gallery there at the top. I visited recently and although it wasn’t an outright hostile place, it also was not the most welcoming.

   I found it hard to locate the entrance (yes, impatient toddler saps the brain, etc) and got some curious looks as I went up and down the corridor looking for it. The security staff in the gallery itself were very friendly but on the whole I did not feel my son could run around even though the place was not that busy. And I certainly got a few stares from visitors who obviously thought it was not a place for kids. Though perhaps I misinterpret. But surely this prize should be awarded for general atmosphere and although the museum itself is not responsible for all its visitors’ reactions, I am not sure the DPG really deserves this award.

   The Hornimann on the other hand… what a great place. And what about the London Transport Museum? Or the Maritime Museum in Greenwich?

2. mike molland Says:
   April 4th, 2008 at 5:51 pm

   Glad to see manchester on the list.. i regularly go with my daughter and we always find lots to do and see. The free workshops are great and full of interesting ideas. Kids are always made to feel welcome.. brilliant for rainy days.

3. Kate Feltham Says:
   April 6th, 2008 at 5:29 pm

   Because Dulwich Picture Gallery was shortlisted for the Guardian’s prize we decided to visit today, we have not been so disappointed for a long time. We have two children, 5 and 8 and regularly (about once a month), visit galleries and museums. We went today as on their website they advertise an “Artplay” drop in workshop for children on the first and last Sunday of every month. Also on their website they advertise the “Gallery Explorer” palm top computer that families can take around which we thought would be really interesting and fun.

   On arriving we found that staff did not know anything about the workshop and were not at all eager to find out about it. Eventually we were told that it was separate to the gallery and they did not know for sure if it was on??!! We had a good look around the art exhibition which was very religious and, in my children’s words, “the paintings were very old fashioned and gloomy”. This took about half an hour. We then went and asked about the “Gallery Explorer”, again staff didn’t really know what we were talking about but eventually told us that they were not working and had not been in use for some time. We asked were there any children’s worksheets or anything, no nothing. We approached a man from the Friends of Dulwich Picture Gallery who had a very simple worksheet complete with spelling mistakes.

   We waited for the workshop, the lady arrived late and said it would take her 10 minutes to set up so we went to the cafe. The cafe only serves luncheon between 12 and 3 so if you just want a cup of tea this is not possible usually, however, as today was very quiet they let us sit by the door and have drinks only. The cafe does not serve any children’s snacks - only cakes which they did not know the ingredients of (my son has a severe nut allergy), no crisps - even organic healthy ones or fruit. The worshop when we attended it was ok and there were plenty of materials and lots of encouragement it’s just we have done the same activity before and seen it in lots of books.

   Compared to the many other places we regularly visit - Hornimans Museum and the Tate Modern especially, we would say from our experience today that Dulwich Picture Gallery has very little to offer families and we cannot understand how it has been nominated for the Guardian’s prize.

4. Petra Hoschtitzky Says:
   April 6th, 2008 at 10:30 pm

   I was thrilled to see the Manchester Art Gallery on your list. Having lived in London for 10 years it is just wonderful to see all the stops being pulled out in this museum to entertain the children. My children (age 3 & 5 ) love going there to pick up the backpacks, go to the Clore gallery and follow the trails. The craft activities in the holidays really are the best. I have never seen a place that provides so many materials for children of all ages to experiment with and at absolutely no charge! We will be returning again and again!

5. Dea Birkett Says:
   April 8th, 2008 at 7:30 pm

   Thanks for your comments. The Horniman has been shortlisted in a previous year. You can find this year’s shortlist - and links to previous years’ shortlists - in our Guardian Award section.

   I do hope you nominate the Horniman next year …. or the Martime Museum in Greenwich …. or London’s Transport Museum. As one of our judging panel said, the ‘bar is lifting’ as more and more museums respond to families’ needs.

   Families are currently roadtesting the shortlisted museums, unannounced, so we’ll see who they choose as the winner!

   warmest
   Dea Birkett
   Director
   Kids in Museums

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