Fostering curiosity and inclusivity through early years creative encounters in a museum setting

Description

This mini-presentation outlines the rationale and set up for series of arts-based creative workshops aimed at young children (aged 0-5) and their families in a museum setting in the North West. The workshops focused on process learning on the grounds of an art museum exhibiting final products and works of art which could be seen as a potential tension in the context of ‘process over product’ debates. Some of this was overcome by the involvement of an artist working with the children through planning their own creations.
The children engaged with museum exhibits in creative and unexpected ways incorporating them in their play and learning and thus offering ideas about how a museum setting can foster curiosity and engagement with art that may be considered by some as too complex for young children. Children’s engagement with the specifically selected loose-parts resources, art activities and museum exhibits were recorded through snapshot observations and photographs, accompanied by annotations. The museum proved to be an inclusive environment accommodating the learning and developmental needs of all children. Examples of engagement with the museum will be showcased, including the impact of the setting and workshops on children from a range of backgrounds and dis/abilities from across the local community. Attendance and engagement with the workshops raised questions about the types of families that tend to access such activities and how to make offerings more widely accessible.

Period	4 Nov 2022
Event title	BERA Arts for All: Exploring Inclusivity in Arts Education
Event type	Other
Location	OnlineShow on map
Degree of Recognition	International