Young V&A – developed after consultation / Photo: David Parry/V&A Museum, London
I recently visited the newly-opened Young V&A – a radical reimagining of the V&A’s Museum of Childhood in East London. It was a real joy to watch children experiencing this space – gliding into the light-filled atrium on their scooters, crawling around happily in the sensory spaces and dancing and performing on the bright red stage built for that purpose.
It feels like the perfect museum for its audience and that’s no accident. The V&A (page 54) didn’t try to guess what young people might want from the new museum, instead it initiated a serious, wide-ranging process of consultation – engaging with more than 22,000 children, parents, carers and educators over a period of several years.
Local schoolchildren worked closely with the architects in a series of structured co-design workshops that informed the building’s design. Kids are not patronised here and no-one is making assumptions about what they’re interested in. For the exhibits, the team drew not just from V&A’s National Childhood Collection, as was previously the case, but also from the V&A’s huge collection of 2.8 million pieces. Paintings by David Hockney and Hokusai are displayed alongside vintage fashion, interactive toys and games and thought-provoking displays about climate change and sustainability.
It’s clear from having experienced the museum that to deeply engage children and families, the V&A had to be prepared to be challenged and to let go of controlling all the outcomes.
Another project featured in this issue is the long-awaited International Museum of African American History – a further example of a project that was born out of serious collaboration (page 42).
Originally planned as a museum about slavery, it became clear though public consultation that this wouldn’t be enough – people wanted a place that told the whole story of the African American journey, not just part of it.
President, Dr Tonya Matthews, admits that the decades-long consultations with locals and community groups were, at times, extremely challenging. Difficult conversations were had; there were strong emotions, disagreements, and some serious tensions, but it was all absolutely necessary and ultimately positive.
The lesson from both these projects is that listening skilfully to the people you’re aspiring to serve won’t always be easy, but it will always be worth it.
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2023 issue 3
Editor's letter: Learning to listen
Young people were involved in every stage of planning for the new Young V&A. Is this the start of a real shift in the way children’s museums are planned?
People: Karin Hindsbo
The head of Scandinavia’s largest museum is set to take over as Tate Modern’s new director. She shares her plans
People: Sean Decatur
It’s a big year for the American Museum of Natural History, as its new president takes over and it launches a major new centre
People: Håkon Lund
As Norway’s largest theme park embraces solar energy, Lund Gruppen’s owner tells us why the industry needs to be at the forefront of change
Interview: Andreas Andersen
As Gothenburg’s Liseberg theme park celebrates its 100th anniversary, its CEO talks celebrations, challenges and COVID-19 with Magali Robathan
Museums: And still we rise
Charleston’s long-awaited International African American Museum opens, reclaiming one of the US’s most painful and sacred spaces. IAAM president Dr Tonya Matthews speaks to Attractions Management about the long road to opening
Aquaria: A fresh start
The team behind New Orleans’ Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium used the COVID-19 pandemic to rethink their offer.
We check out the result, which brings both institutions under the same roof for the first time
Museums: Power of youth
Investing in creative confidence in our young has never been as important as it is now, argues Young V&A director Helen Charman
Science centres: Axel Hüttinger
From the creation of a new science centre in Angola to an indoor/outdoor children’s gallery in Barcelona, Huttinger Interactive Exhibitions is keeping busy
Research: Mixed blessings
Attractions have been helping revitalise shopping centres for many years, but how is this market changing?
Awards: Good lookers
Some of the world’s most beautiful and innovative new museums have been celebrated by Architizer’s A+ Awards. We take a look at the winners
Sponsored: Red Raion
Red Raion has emerged as an industry leader in the realm of digital
attractions, captivating audiences worldwide with its CGI movie
experiences.
Young V&A – developed after consultation / Photo: David Parry/V&A Museum, London
I recently visited the newly-opened Young V&A – a radical reimagining of the V&A’s Museum of Childhood in East London. It was a real joy to watch children experiencing this space – gliding into the light-filled atrium on their scooters, crawling around happily in the sensory spaces and dancing and performing on the bright red stage built for that purpose.
It feels like the perfect museum for its audience and that’s no accident. The V&A (page 54) didn’t try to guess what young people might want from the new museum, instead it initiated a serious, wide-ranging process of consultation – engaging with more than 22,000 children, parents, carers and educators over a period of several years.
Local schoolchildren worked closely with the architects in a series of structured co-design workshops that informed the building’s design. Kids are not patronised here and no-one is making assumptions about what they’re interested in. For the exhibits, the team drew not just from V&A’s National Childhood Collection, as was previously the case, but also from the V&A’s huge collection of 2.8 million pieces. Paintings by David Hockney and Hokusai are displayed alongside vintage fashion, interactive toys and games and thought-provoking displays about climate change and sustainability.
It’s clear from having experienced the museum that to deeply engage children and families, the V&A had to be prepared to be challenged and to let go of controlling all the outcomes.
Another project featured in this issue is the long-awaited International Museum of African American History – a further example of a project that was born out of serious collaboration (page 42).
Originally planned as a museum about slavery, it became clear though public consultation that this wouldn’t be enough – people wanted a place that told the whole story of the African American journey, not just part of it.
President, Dr Tonya Matthews, admits that the decades-long consultations with locals and community groups were, at times, extremely challenging. Difficult conversations were had; there were strong emotions, disagreements, and some serious tensions, but it was all absolutely necessary and ultimately positive.
The lesson from both these projects is that listening skilfully to the people you’re aspiring to serve won’t always be easy, but it will always be worth it.
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2023 issue 3
Editor's letter: Learning to listen
Young people were involved in every stage of planning for the new Young V&A. Is this the start of a real shift in the way children’s museums are planned?
People: Karin Hindsbo
The head of Scandinavia’s largest museum is set to take over as Tate Modern’s new director. She shares her plans
People: Sean Decatur
It’s a big year for the American Museum of Natural History, as its new president takes over and it launches a major new centre
People: Håkon Lund
As Norway’s largest theme park embraces solar energy, Lund Gruppen’s owner tells us why the industry needs to be at the forefront of change
Interview: Andreas Andersen
As Gothenburg’s Liseberg theme park celebrates its 100th anniversary, its CEO talks celebrations, challenges and COVID-19 with Magali Robathan
Museums: And still we rise
Charleston’s long-awaited International African American Museum opens, reclaiming one of the US’s most painful and sacred spaces. IAAM president Dr Tonya Matthews speaks to Attractions Management about the long road to opening
Aquaria: A fresh start
The team behind New Orleans’ Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium used the COVID-19 pandemic to rethink their offer.
We check out the result, which brings both institutions under the same roof for the first time
Museums: Power of youth
Investing in creative confidence in our young has never been as important as it is now, argues Young V&A director Helen Charman
Science centres: Axel Hüttinger
From the creation of a new science centre in Angola to an indoor/outdoor children’s gallery in Barcelona, Huttinger Interactive Exhibitions is keeping busy
Research: Mixed blessings
Attractions have been helping revitalise shopping centres for many years, but how is this market changing?
Awards: Good lookers
Some of the world’s most beautiful and innovative new museums have been celebrated by Architizer’s A+ Awards. We take a look at the winners
Sponsored: Red Raion
Red Raion has emerged as an industry leader in the realm of digital
attractions, captivating audiences worldwide with its CGI movie
experiences.
London Museum will open four new food and drink destinations when it launches its new home
at Smithfield on 28 November, making hospitality a central part of the visitor experience at one
of the capital's biggest cultural openings of the year.
OMA has completed a major transformation of New York's New Museum, creating a larger
cultural campus that combines expanded exhibition spaces with learning, performance,
hospitality and public programming.
A US$50 million (£44.2 million, €51.2 million) transformation of Chicago's historic McCormick
Mansion has created a new destination that combines live magic, immersive theatre, dining and
private membership under one roof.
The Montana Historical Society has officially celebrated the opening of its new Montana
Heritage
Center, a US$107 million (£79 million, €92 million) destination that combines immersive
storytelling with cutting-edge audiovisual technology to bring the sta
San Antonio Zoo has reported a US$283 million economic impact for 2025, following a decade-
long transformation programme that has seen almost US$200 million invested into the Texas
attraction.
Plans for the AU$180 million redevelopment of Reef HQ Aquarium in Townsville, Australia, are
progressing, with the project set to transform the attraction into a global centre for reef
education and conservation.
Abu Dhabi-based investment firm Mubadala Capital has made a binding, fully financed
€1 billion
offer to acquire Pierre and Vacances SA, the European holiday resort operator behind the
continental European Center Parcs business.
Disney has reaffirmed its commitment to investing US$30 billion in its US parks and cruise
business by 2033, using new America250 celebrations to underline the role its attractions play
in supporting jobs, tourism and economic growth.
Expo 2030 Riyadh is being planned as a permanent visitor destination, with organisers
confirming the six-million-square-metre site will become a Global Village after the event closes.
The owner of one of Australia's best-known waterparks has acquired a major competitor,
creating a new attractions business spanning two of the country's largest visitor destinations.
