Just as there may be children's museums that seem to exclusively entertain,
there are innumerable collections based museums that succeed only in boring
us all to death. Children's museums have their place -- mainly to make the
museum concept a user friendly one to the next generation. In St. Louis,
MO., we have a museum called the City Museum which combines the best of both
worlds. Housed in an old, reclaimed, factory, the lower level is a
beautiful, artistically executed series of mosaic tunnels for smaller kids.
The second floor has a fun hands on ceramic studio with a glass blower. The
third floor has a small acrobatic "circus", a professional quality
architecture exhibition on Louis Sullivan, a funky pop culture cafe and an
exhibition of artifacts relating to a local 19th century children's book
author.
Like many of you, I rankle at the thought of collectionless museums, a
frightening and growing trend. However, I am equally bothered by the
proliferate number of museums which seem overwhelmed with objects they are
unable or unwilling to effectively interpret or care for.
I think it is helpful to remember that the museum concept was given new life
for the general populous by showman P.T. Barnum in the 19th century.
Something that P.T. Barnum clearly understood when designing his "museum" in
N.Y.C. -- it is easier to educate when your public is engaged. It has been
refreshing, in recent years, to tour a fine art museum and have signage
which interprets the work, gives it context (both in art history and human
history) as opposed to the old signage, which included the title, artist,
donor and accession number. This kind of change invites the general public
into the conversation, breaking down the barriers of intellectual, economic
and educational elitism which often prevent the common man from entering
museums.
We all have an interesting story to tell. We are all trying to do this to
the best of our abilities. Let us keep pursuing ways of enhancing our own
and each others institutions. A beginning would be an acceptance of need for
a broad palette of presentation.
-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
Behalf Of Montogomery County Historical Society
Sent: Thursday, May 27, 1999 8:42 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Children's learning/ museum's without collections/McMuseums
Dear Friends:
Perhapes I was too strong in my opinion on Children's museums, however it
has
been my experience that they hardly live up to their expectations. How many
"museums" have a play tower, water play or that plastic ball land? They
have
become generic. One of the assignments I give my students in the Graduate
program I teach in is to go to such a place and observe how the children
play, interact, and learn. We also interview the professional staff about
their jobs. We find some very remarkable things, generally very unpleasent.
The executive Director of one such museum told me a very interesting thing
one time. They said, " We were doing average until we discovered that you
market a children's museum to adults not to children." "It plays off their
guilt" "It does not really matter if the kids are learning anything only
that the parents think that this is quality time, after all the parents have
the money." When educational institutions start chasing dollars and not
quality education we all suffer.
Brian
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