Fitzwilliam Museum Research Briefing: Family Welcome
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Authors
Wallis, Nicola
Issue Date
2024
Educational Level
ISCED Level 0 Early childhood education
Geographical Setting
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Abstract
Context: This document outlines the Family Welcome Project conducted at the Fitzwilliam Museum in 2024, emphasizing the importance of family visitors to museums. Families are key contributors to audience development due to their loyalty, secondary spending, and role in fostering lifelong cultural engagement. The project aims to understand and improve the museum's engagement with families, especially those with young children, and to address social inequalities through early cultural experiences.
Aims: The project sought to determine what constitutes an effective family welcome at the Fitzwilliam Museum, explore participatory and co-creative research methodologies with young children, and support museum staff in developing confidence and pride in their family-focused initiatives.
Methods: Using participatory action research and the Mosaic Approach, data was generated with 15 families with children aged 0-3 over six months. Activities included play, scrapbooking, and photography, with families receiving tools and bursaries for independent research visits. Community outreach engaged 133 participants, complemented by museum staff collaborations and scoping discussions with sector organizations. Reflective thematic analysis identified key findings.
Findings: Four themes—building, collection, atmosphere, and experience—emerged as essential to a welcoming museum. Families appreciated the physicality of the museum's architecture and the opportunity for sensory and physical engagement. The collection's objects fostered connections and relationship-building. The museum atmosphere supported family autonomy and exploration, offering a break from routine. Experiences allowed families to connect socially, with the museum offering a space for learning and relationship-building.
Implications: Insights highlight how museums can support young children and their families by enhancing accessibility, interactivity, and inclusivity. Other educators and cultural practitioners might learn from the project’s emphasis on family co-creation, sensory engagement, and the role of museum spaces in nurturing early childhood development and social connections.
Aims: The project sought to determine what constitutes an effective family welcome at the Fitzwilliam Museum, explore participatory and co-creative research methodologies with young children, and support museum staff in developing confidence and pride in their family-focused initiatives.
Methods: Using participatory action research and the Mosaic Approach, data was generated with 15 families with children aged 0-3 over six months. Activities included play, scrapbooking, and photography, with families receiving tools and bursaries for independent research visits. Community outreach engaged 133 participants, complemented by museum staff collaborations and scoping discussions with sector organizations. Reflective thematic analysis identified key findings.
Findings: Four themes—building, collection, atmosphere, and experience—emerged as essential to a welcoming museum. Families appreciated the physicality of the museum's architecture and the opportunity for sensory and physical engagement. The collection's objects fostered connections and relationship-building. The museum atmosphere supported family autonomy and exploration, offering a break from routine. Experiences allowed families to connect socially, with the museum offering a space for learning and relationship-building.
Implications: Insights highlight how museums can support young children and their families by enhancing accessibility, interactivity, and inclusivity. Other educators and cultural practitioners might learn from the project’s emphasis on family co-creation, sensory engagement, and the role of museum spaces in nurturing early childhood development and social connections.
Description
Keywords (free text)
early childhood education , family engagement , museum education , sensory learning , participatory action research , cultural accessibility