Enhancing the museum school visit experience : what do children want and how to deliver it in a museum of Fine Arts

Abstract

In 2007 the National Museum of Fine Arts had the lowest number of visits by school children out of all the Heritage Malta sites in Valletta. This study has sought to find out why, as well as to be able to provide the Museum administration with realistic suggestions on how to improve the museum visit for school children based on the findings of the study and on how other museums abroad had tackled this problem. The literature review mainly covered four areas concerning learning theories, how children interact with art, how museums abroad have approached this problem and an evaluation of the activities that these museums created. The research instrument used was a survey consisting of observations and a questionnaire for school children participating in the recently initiated Museum of Fine Arts activities for visiting school children. The results showed that the majority of children were enjoying the new format of the school visit, however a preference was noted to more varied, even more participatory activities organized during the visit. Responses to the questionnaire indicated an inclination for two types of activities with different levels of involvement by the children. The current buzz word in museums is 'interactives' these can either utilise some form electronic interface or actual objects and artifacts, or even a combination of both for the museum visitor to use. Having to bear in mind the several constraints that limit what can be done in the Museum of Fine Arts, an expansion on the themes of the current activities has been suggested. These consist of a variety of story-lines that can be the subjects of guided tours, as well as the creation of workshops where the children can experience hands-on the different aspects of Art.