By and for children: the road to a new family trail
The Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp attaches great importance to the museum experience of its youngest visitors. Now, three years after its reopening in 2022, the cultural mediation team is looking forward with courage and enthusiasm to the next project dedicated to family visits. To this end they are being guided by Billie Gielen from weare Daniel. The first move to action? Enlisting the help of the target audience itself: our youngest museum visitors.
A breath of fresh air
Thanks to The 10, a collaboration with Christophe Coppens that makes art almost tangible, children have been learning to look at old and modern masters in a different, more accessible way since the reopening. However, it is now time for a new project to breathe fresh air into the galleries of the KMSKA. The co-creative process is still in its (literal) infancy, but it is in full development and will proceed in several stages. It is essential that the children's voices play a central role in this from the outset. They will have ample opportunity to show their creativity during the process.
First step
The first phase consisted of a free art camp called The Museum Heroes. Fifteen children aged 9 to 12 were immersed in the museum for five days. By discovering, creating and experimenting together in creative workshops and playful assignments, the team was able to explore their interests, preferences and experiences in depth. The children were not only allowed to share their ideas, but also to indicate what really suits them and what they find important in a museum tailored to their needs. Which places appeal to them and which do not appeal to them at all.
‘During this interactive week, it became clear that experience, play and imagination are indispensable. Children don't just want to look, they want to feel, do, move and even taste.’
Adventure, secret missions, hidden corners, colourful works of art and a touch of humour scored highly, while sombre or static displays were less likely to pique their curiosity. The need for safe cocoons, clear structure and space for their own stories and imagination also came to the fore.
And now?
These insights and experiences were distilled into eight clear basic principles that now serve as the foundation for the rest of the process. These rules guide the design and ensure that the family trail will ultimately truly connect with the lives of young visitors. Based on these results, it immediately became clear which elements are essential and where the emphasis should lie for a child-oriented museum trail.
The next phase involves organising brainstorming sessions with the aim of coming up with more concrete ideas. A concept will then be selected for further development. After that, we will look for a designer or artist who is willing to realise this in a co-creative way with children. To be continued!
