Kids in Museums

I became an archaeologist for a day at Manchester Museum. As you enter this temporary exhibition there is a film introducing the rather pompous Dr. Digby, a world renowned archaeologist, teaching you the tricks of his trade with his clumsy and amusing assistant Ben.

Throughout the exhibition you are the archaeologist, discovering the Egyptians through exploration. Children of all ages have contributed to object labels with their ideas about the objects. To Ismaa in year 5, a gold painted mummy mask came alive, “This mask gives me the feeling it is going to talk. I wonder what the symbols mean.”

The exhibition plays to the inquisitive nature of children, encouraging their own exploration of ancient Egypt rather than just giving them facts. The display cases resemble the stores of a museum as if you have found a secret archive of lost treasures and there is an archaeologist’s tent with hands-on activities for children and of course the chance to dress up as an Egyptian or an archaeologist. The exhibition shows the ordinary life of an Egyptian rather than the prominent image we have of Egypt with Pharaohs and pyramids.

There is also an installation by American artist Mark Dion, ‘Bureau of the Centre for the Study of Surrealism and its Legacy.’ It is a simple old fashioned professor’s study. The artwork, ‘examines and questions how museums attempt to contain and explain the world.’ I found it poignant as this exhibition does this very well by being so interactive and engaging. It is a lovely exhibition for the whole family.

Unearthed: Ancient Egypt is free and on until 6th September 2012

Kids in Museums Launch 2012 Manifesto

Melanie — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 22:40:33 +0000

Invite teenagers into your gang, implores the new Kids in Museum Manifesto, unveiled last night at a party at the Wallace Collection. Government Ministers, celebrities, museum leaders, policy makers, young people who took part in Museum Take Over Day, and our own Kids in Museum volunteers, celebrated and debated in the famous courtyard, surrounded by 18^th Century French Art.

Penny Smith, television presenter, had everyone laughing with her own stories of being told off for trying to touch a Rodin, contrasting this with her joy at a different type of museum experience where she spent the day playing on reconstructed Leonardo Da Vinci machines in Rome.

“Kids in Museums is a wonderful charity”, said Ed Vaizey, Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries, remarking on the 600 museums who have all applied to be Family Friendly Museum of the year and the 400 museums who have pledged to follow the manifesto.

Kids in Museums Director, Dea Birkett, implored Museum’s to use common sense in attracting children, families and especially teenagers who are a particular 2012 Manifesto priority. “Don’t engage” said Dea, asking for a jargon free approach, “be genuinely welcoming.”

Director of the Wallace Collection, Dr Christoph Vogtherr, introduced the Wallace Collection Young Curators and told the audience how as a boy his local museum in Hamburg had welcomed his passion for their Rembrandts by giving him unlimited access. Dr Vogtherr praised the work of the young curators and the impact the Manifesto has had.

The Manifesto couldn’t have had a better launch in lovelier surroundings.

A day out in Oxford: Museum of Natural History and Pitt Rivers Museum.

Melanie — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 21:11:28 +0000

Kids in Museums volunteer, Mar Dixon had a fun filled day exploring the museums of Oxford with her family…

My family went to Oxford to visit the Pitt Rivers Museum and the Oxford University Museum of Natural History. These museums are unique in that although they are technically two museums, they are under the same roof.

As you walk into the front part of the gorgeous Museum of Natural History, the sight that hits you first is the Tyranosaurous rex. Off to the left there is also a scene of animal skeletons in a line as if they are walking towards the door. It’s fun and fanciful, and sets the tone of the museum straight away.

My daughter, Charlotte, enjoyed being able to touch lots of the items on display. The museum is extremely kid friendly with different trails and activities available. The information labels were easy to follow and encouraged kids to think further about the item they were looking at.

We then went to Pitt Rivers, which is located through a grand door in the back of the Museum of Natural History. When you walk in you are greeted with a magnificent, powerful sight. It is a traditional museum as you’d expect to see on TV when they are trying to create the quintessential scene.

The cabinets are crammed FULL of artefacts and make no apologies for this.

The collections aren’t about anything specific, more about human activities throughout the world. Examples of puppets, shrunken heads, housing, guns, swords, etc. are all included in the collection. It sounds overwhelming but you only need to look at the cases that interest you. Kids are provided with a torch to help identify items and focus their attention. As was Christmas week, it was quite crowded but still very enjoyable. There were plenty of kids working on the trails as we investigated each of the cabinets.

Both museums are free to enter with donation requests at the front. The gift shops had items that were reasonably priced.

The museums are worthy of a visit, or two or more! Kids of all ages will have a wonderful time. We spent a few hours but they are both museums that you can spend all day in.

LAUNCH OF NEW KIDS IN MUSEUMS MANIFESTO 2012

Melanie — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 19:55:15 +0000

**PRESS RELEASE**PRESS RELEASE**PRESS RELEASE**

LAUNCH OF NEW KIDS IN MUSEUMS MANIFESTO 2012 on MONDAY 16TH JANUARY

Don’t tell teenagers to – STAND UP! SHUT UP! SWITCH OFF YOUR PHONE!

The Kids in Museums Manifesto 2012 is launched on Monday 16th January. And this year, visitors have given a loud, clear message – welcome teenagers to your museum.

Too often museums say three things to a teenager – Stand up! Shut up! Switch off your phone! Three things that are the most difficult for a teenager to do.

Teenagers love to slouch. So why aren’t there more places for them to sit down and hang out in museums? Perhaps big soft sofas or bean bags to laze on and have a chat?

Teenagers love to chat. So why do so many museums still say ‘Sssshhhh’? Museums should be places throbbing with vibrant ideas and debate. Rather than saying shut up, museums must listen and join in the conversation.

Teenagers love to text. So why do so many museums still have a ‘No mobile phones!’ policy? Museums should invite teenagers to text, Facebook and tweet their experiences as they go around the galleries.

‘Teenagers have been getting a very bad press,’ says Mariella Frostrup, Patron, Kids in Museums . ‘We read that they’re badly behaved, idle and don’t speak quite like we would wish. Well – their involvement in museums proves the opposite – that if they’re given the chance they get stuck in and contribute great ideas and hard work. Museums can lead the way in promoting a better image of teenagers. That’s a far better idea than just condemning them. Innit.’

Visitors have also called for a ‘Can do’ culture for museum visits. ‘Too many times the first thing I see when I take my kids to a museum is a list pinned up at the door of things I mustn’t do – Don’t leave the pushchair in the entrance. Don’t leave the kids unattended. We don’t take large bags in the cloakroom. Do not use your mobile phone. Don’t take pictures…. Why can’t we be greeted by a list of things we CAN do? How about – Please leave the pushchair in the cloakroom and we’ll give you a backpack for your baby. Or – Do use your mobile phone to text friends to tell them how great our exhibition is. Or – We welcome families enjoying the museum together. That way we’d all feel welcome,’ says Mariella Frostrup.

The Kids in Museums Manifesto 2012 – 20 ways to make a museum family friendly– is compiled entirely from hundreds of visitors’ comments. It gives a powerful voice to children, families and teenagers throughout Britain. Over 300 museums use it as a guide to becoming more family friendly, pledging their support.

You can download a copy of the new Manifesto here from Monday 16th.

For further information, hard copies of the Kids in Museums Manifesto 2012, images (including Quentin Blake illustrations) and interview requests, just call 020 7250 8338 or 07545 697652. Further information on Kids in Museums can be found on our website.

EDITOR’S NOTES

Kids in Museums is a visitor-led charity working with museums to make them more family friendly, in particular for families who have never visited before. Kids in Museums believes in changing museums, we can change lives, giving new opportunities and experiences to children and families. Among our recent projects are the Telegraph Family Friendly Museum Award, the Flexible Family Ticket campaign, and Your Museum Cafe.

Kids in Museums was founded when writer Dea Birkett’s family were thrown out of the Royal Academy, London, for being too noisy. Find out more about us from our website.

Kids in Museums is grateful for Arts Council support.

We would also like to thank Quentin Blake for his fabulous illustrations.

Family Fortunes – a new workshop on improving family friendly services. Museum of London Docklands, 21 March 2011

Melanie — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 22:34:32 +0000

Claire Sanders, Family Ticket Watch Project Manager, reports back on the day –

We all know families are important. They’re looking for cultural experiences and entertainment at a reasonable price. They’re a huge untapped potential in this market place. But often they’re put off before they start by services and prices that don’t meet their needs.

Kids in Museums developed, with the Family and Parenting Institute (FPI) this new workshop to help museums, galleries and visitor attractions to better understand, and meet the needs of, families of all shapes and sizes.

Over 30 delegates from the culture sector came together to hear best practice in the industry, learn from each other and develop their family offers.

Kids in Museums’ Family Ticket Watch project and the annual Kids in Museums Manifesto – the voice of family visitors – provided the background and impetus. Grandparents Plus and FPI highlighted the changing nature of the modern family and CultureLabel provided the commercial argument – family friendly tickets and services can benefit the museum as well as visitors.

Case studies ranged from The British Museum to the River and Rowing Museum, ensuring there was something for everyone and good ideas for all to take back and try out.

THE DEBATE GOES ON. JOIN IN – Whether you attended the workshop or not, you can join the debate on our discussion thread.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO ATTEND OR HOST A FAMILY FORTUNES WORKSHOP? Kids in Museums is planning to take the Family Fortunes workshop to other regions. If you’d like to attend, or if you’d like your museum to be the venue for the next workshop, just email familyworkshop@kidsinmuseums.org.uk

Thanks to all the speakers at the 21 March Family Fortunes Workshop:

Sam Smethers, Chief Executive, Grandparents Plus

Simon Cronshaw, Co-founder, CultureLabel

Graham Stratfold, Head of Visitor Services, Museum of London Docklands

Susan Raikes, Head of Learning and Volunteers, The British Museum

Catherine Yoxall, Head of Marketing, River & Rowing Museum

Julie Sienesi, Director of Operations & Finance, ss Great Britain

Sue Neaves, Programme Manager Family Learning, Museum of London Docklands

Ruth Lawrence, Marketing Manager, Family and Parenting Institute

Claire Crook, Family Ticket Watch, Kids in Museums

Dea Birkett, Director, Kids in Museums

And a big THANKS to the Museum of London Docklands for hosting us. And a particular WELL DONE to them for introducing a flexible family ticket for their new exhibition.

Charles Dickens Museum, a Christmas visit.

Melanie — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 12:42:43 +0000

Kids in Museums volunteer, Leonie Saywell explored the magical world of the Victorian writer at the Charles Dickens Museum in London…

“Please Sir, can I have some more…..”

Family friendliness, that is, not gruel. Let’s begin with what’s great about the Charles Dickens Museum. A December visit is recommended as the house smells of delicious Christmas spices. There’s also a great big Kids in Museums Manifesto tick for the super welcoming staff.

But fake mince pies, a model jelly and a Christmas tree provided the only small-child-friendly exhibits. It’s a shame that there isn’t more for young children, as there are so many fabulous children in Dickens’ books, and Oliver Twist was actually written here. A dressing up box and child friendly captions would help. Another downside was that information in each room was printed on laminated sheets. These were all portable and our two rearranged a few. Oh well, we put them back and smiled when we saw the quote, “Accidents will occur in even the best regulated families.”

In the basement there’s a film of Dickens’ life and some books for children to read while their parents are watching. Not that this worked in our case and their running feet echoed so loudly that no one could hear the film, so we decided to leave.

It’s nice that such a small museum has a café. The menu is generic enough to appeal and drinks and cakes for four came in at £11. The tables wobbled horribly though which made drinking challenging for the under fives and a shame there were no drawing materials.

The Museum is still work in progress, with plans to add more exhibition space and educational activities. Rather amazingly the House is open on Christmas and Boxing Day and tickets can be purchased in advance. For families with children over the age of eight, this could be a unique Christmas treat.

Tickets and facilities: Adults £7, Concessions £5, Children £3, Under 10s free. No access for prams, storage for pushchairs or baby changing facilities.

A Fun-Filled Weekend in London

Melanie — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 21:46:03 +0000

Kids in Museums volunteer, Mar Dixon discovered London’s finest museums and days out with the help of her daughter Charlotte and her friend Laura Porter…

After a lovely train journey down from the Midlands, we headed out to meet Laura Porter from GoLondon.about.com and her daughter at the Science Museum to see the Hidden Heroes exhibition. The exhibition explores everyday items and invites you to think of where you’d be without them. Most of the items (if not all) have been mentioned in Justin Pollard’s brilliant book Boffinology.

The cost for this exhibition seemed a bit steep (£6 adult, £3.50 child). While the artefacts were cleverly displayed, it was mainly a text based, non-interactive exhibition. It took us a while to notice that we were setting the alarm off every time we went to point to items on display. It wasn’t a very ‘Kids in Museums’ friendly exhibition and our own kids (5 and 9 years old) got bored quickly. However, we did learn that Lego means ‘Play well’. The exhibition was thought-provoking enough to be worth a visit.

After the exhibition, we spent time in other parts of the Science Museum – mainly in the Energy area where the games and activities kept the kids (and adults) very happy. It was very funny to watch Laura show a group of teenage boys how un-scary the Shock Pole was. I loved how this area, which really you might expect to be quite boring, had all ages and genders laughing and getting interactive and, most importantly, learning.

We then headed over to the V&A Power of Making exhibition. This exhibition was free and was better received by our kids. The items were brilliantly displayed and all were quirkily interesting, such as the Ghanaian lion coffin, the ‘Spun’ chair and the ‘it’s not easy being green’ Lego dissected frog. After a quick bite in the glorious V&A café, we headed to our final destination for the day, the Tower of London ice skating. Although this is quite expensive, and the ice was a bit slushy, having the Tower of London for your background excused some of the issues. And what with the changing exhibitions, wonderful cafés and the winter season ice skating, we found the museums of London had plenty to keep us happy.