Description
Book SynopsisChildren are one of the major audiences for museums, but their visits are often seen solely from the point of view of museum learning. In Snapshots of Museum Experience, Will Buckingham draws upon Elee Kirkâs research amongst child visitors to the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, to take a different approach. Using a method of photo-elicitation with four-and five-year-old child visitors to the museum, the book investigates childrenâs experience of the museum, and in the process undermines many of our assumptions about the interests, needs and demands of child museum visitors.
Drawing together the fields of museum studies and childhood studies, the book considers children as active creators of the museum visit. It investigates the way that children navigate and take control of the physical and social spaces of the museum, finding their own idiosyncratic pathways through these spaces. It also explores how elements of the museum âlight upâ, becoming salient to the child visitor. Finally, it investigates how children make sense through intellectually and imaginatively engaging with these elements of the museum visit.
Snapshots of Museum Experience gives a unique insight into the sheer diversity of childrenâs museum experiences and discusses how museums might cater more successfully to the needs of their child visitors. As such, it should be of great interest to academics, researchers and students in the fields of museum studies, visitor studies and childhood studies. It should also be essential reading for museum educators and exhibition designers.
Table of ContentsList of figures
List of tables
Preface: remembering Elee Kirk, Will Buckingham
1. Introduction
2. Beyond learning
3. Researching children’s experience
4. Taking snapshots of museum experiences
5. Navigating and negotiating
6. Lighting up
7. Making sense
8. Conclusion
Appendix
Index
