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.
An opportunity to reimagine one of the UK’s most recognisable towers has been formally
opened by Rivington Hark, as St Johns Beacon invites operators and partners to shape its
next phase. [more...]
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.
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
A new immersive attraction designed to transport visitors into the final hours of ancient Pompeii
is preparing to open near the world-famous archaeological site in southern Italy.
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder
Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while
remaining actively involved with the company.
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th
anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s
longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions
that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once
complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK.
Efteling has opened Hooghmoed, a new family drop tower designed to broaden the appeal of its
recently launched Sirene Island themed area and introduce younger visitors to thrill attractions.
A proposed Puy du Fou development near Bicester and Universal Destinations and Experiences’
planned resort in Bedford are emerging as part of a wider transformation of the Oxford–
Cambridge Growth Corridor into a major centre for UK leisure and tourism inv
Shedd Aquarium has opened the Immersion Theater developed in partnership with SimEx-
Iwerks, as part of a wider strategy to enhance the guest experience and create additional
revenue opportunities.
The UK government has announced a temporary reduction in VAT on visitor attractions and
children’s meals as part of a summer cost-of-living support package designed to stimulate the
visitor economy and encourage family days out.
As designer Yinka Ilori prepares for his first solo gallery show in London, he speaks exclusively
to CLADmag about his mission to spread joy, the power of play, and his bold approach to using
colour (including the colours you won’t see in his work).
The government of Thailand is exploring plans for a THB300bn (£6.3bn, US$8.3bn)
entertainment complex in the country’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), with officials
proposing a large-scale theme park and sports destination as part of a broader tourism and
economic development strategy.
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