Kids in Museums

WHAT DIFFERENCE HAS BECOMING A SUPPORTER OF THE KIDS IN MUSEUMS MANIFESTO MADE TO YOUR MUSEUM?

‘The Manifesto provides us with standards to aim for with family visits which is brilliant. My whole learning team assessed their sites against it at our team meeting the other day … The exercise has got everyone thinking, that’s for sure.’ Museums and Galleries Leeds

‘Quite a lot ­ particularly in the area of signage. Also, we have been working with the cafe in getting a better, more appropriate menu. Temporary exhibitions are now uniformly interpreted for a family audience. Staff now tend to think about these issues as a matter of course.’ The Herbert, Coventry

‘The family learning team at Museum of London and Museum of London Docklands are currently re-developing the family learning strategy for the next three years. We have found the Manifesto useful for informing our aims and objectives. It has spurred us to raise the priority of aspects already in discussion, such as the creation of family guides and maps.’ Museum of London and Museum of London Docklands

‘We have converted the Manifesto into a A3 poster which we display at reception, asking visitors for their ideas to make the museum more child friendly. We also included a copy in the 2009 staff training manual, used during the ten-day induction training.’ Highland Folk Museum

‘We used the Manifesto as a guide to setting up family programmes. We set up a programme of drop-ins, workshop, activity backpacks, trails and other informal and early years provision. We introduced a children’s, affordable menu in the care and a browsing area in the shop. Most importantly, we included it when providing family friendly training which was offered to all staff and volunteers. In this we were guided by the principles of the Manifesto. The number of family visits has increased quite substantially.’ Foundling Museum

The Belfast Battalion of The Boys’ Brigade also wrote to tell us that they are currently constructing the first purpose-built Museum within the organisation and they are using the Manifesto as a guide to help them make their Museum an experience that young people will enjoy. So, young people at the heart of a Museum before it’s even built!

Kids in Museums logo and banner illustrations all © Quentin Blake.

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