Museums as Learning Spaces

This programme supported small museums in developing learning opportunities for visitors. Over 60 museums in the East of England took part. Participants attended a 2-day practical course and then developed activities to promote learning at their museum. The course was facilitated by Judith Carruthers, Museum Learning Consultant. Previous and new participants were supported locally to develop and embed ideas.

Read a booklet sharing the approaches developed and the impact of the scheme across the region.

Smaller museums without dedicated learning staff may also be interested in a 'How to' guide for providing good quality learning services produced by the Museums Learning Development Officer in Hertfordshire.

Have a look at our Family Learning - Ideas Bank with lots of tried and tested ideas for your museum.

Family Learning

This programme explores how museums can develop a holistic approach to family learning across their service. So far 15 museums have taken part in this targeted programme aimed at medium-sized museums with at least one paid member of staff with responsibility for learning/audience development. The programme includes workshops, audits on site, buddying within the group and grants to take forward family learning plans. It is facilitated by Jo Graham of Learning Unlimited.

Look at a presentation put together by the pilot group to share their learning.

Find out about the Kids in Museums Manifesto.

Arts Award for young people in museums

This pilot project explored the potential for young people to gain a bronze level Arts Award in different museum settings. Participants from six museums were trained as Arts Award Advisers. Five pilot projects took place working with small groups of young people using existing and newly developed programmes. 73 young people successfully gained an Arts Award.

Museums across the region already engage young people in a variety of ways and Arts Award offers the opportunity to accredit their learning and to raise the profile of this work. The programme was supported by Olivia Dean, trainer for Arts Award advisers.

Look at a presentation sharing learning from this programme.

Read case studies from participating museums.

Engaging Young Minds

This programme built on a pilot project which explored how museums can promote their offer for children and young people to schools, local authorities and other service providers.

The aim was to share learning and tools developed as part of this pilot and in the light of changes to education services, through updates for the Regional Learning Network and county museum education groups, and through regional workshops. 67 people took part in the programme which was faciltated by Val Dalsou and Bev Jones of 3-Create.

Look at the education services update presentation.

Read the Engaging Young Minds report.

Reminiscence: capturing the impact

This project aimed to capture the impact of museum reminiscence work in a way that would be useful for both museum and health and social care professionals. The project focussed on the Key Memories programme in Cambridgeshire but learning from the project would be useful for museums across the region. Findings from the project will be used to inform future museum practice and funding bids.
Read a summary of the findings, the full report and the project brief.