Food for thought : to what extent can museum education address food and nutrition to complement formal education?

Abstract

This study investigates the potential for museum education to address food and nutrition to complement formal education. The aim is to bridge the gap between food and museum education to improve food literacy and foster an appreciation for cultural heritage among children and adults. The literature researched focuses on museum activities related to food and nutrition, both locally and internationally, to inform the development of an educational museum programme that primarily aligns with the Home Economics curriculum but is also cross curricular. Data was first collected through an online survey with a random sample to discover the general public's views on museums, particularly where food and nutrition are involved. Secondly, interviews were conducted with two museum professionals from different fields: one curator and the other in charge of an outreach and education department. The survey and the interviews helped to obtain enhanced knowledge for developing a four-workshop educational museum programme on food and nutrition, with two workshops for adults conducted first as a trial and two for fourteen to sixteen-year-old students. After the workshops, focus groups were conducted to gather feedback on the program's success. The results demonstrated that the workshops developed could be a valuable tool to increase visitor engagement in museums, both for school children and adults, who showed an appreciation for lost traditions and our culinary heritage. Such educational museum programmes can be incorporated into the school curriculum, especially with subjects such as Home Economics. Hence, this study highlights the growing importance of museums in modern society to food literacy and cultivates an appreciation for cultural heritage.