Children’s Boards in Museums outlines the innovative concept of a “Children’s Board”, in which children actively participate in a museum by sharing perspectives that expand the typical circle of voices and decision-makers.
Drawing on research conducted with children between the ages of 7 and 12 from diverse socio-economic contexts, and cultures over the last decade, the author presents some of the most inspiring examples of children-centred museums around the world. This book describes the many ways in which children can improve the museum, explaining how they can help to transform it into a friendlier place that is closer to the needs of the community, more respectful of nature, and capable of listening to and valuing every visitor. This book offers an innovative way of thinking about children in museums and explains how children's participation in areas of the museum that have otherwise been considered exclusive to its staff - such as strategy, human resources, funding, management, and evaluation - can enhance those areas, making the museum a significantly better place.
Children’s Boards in Museums is essential reading for academics and students who are engaged in the study of museums, heritage, culture, and children. It will also be of interest to professionals who are looking to facilitate a new kind of relationship between their institution and the children who visit it.
By:
José Antonio Gordillo Martorell
Imprint: Routledge
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions:
Height: 234mm,
Width: 156mm,
Weight: 390g
ISBN: 9781032937229
ISBN 10: 103293722X
Series: Global Perspectives on Children in Museums
Pages: 118
Publication Date: 24 July 2025
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Professional and scholarly
,
Primary
,
Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Introduction; SECTION I THE VOICES OF CHILDREN IN MUSEUMS: PLAYFULNESS, AUTEHNTICITY AND CURIOSITY; 1. The Theoretical Underpinnings of the Children’s Board; 2. The Children’s Board‘s Toolkit; 3. Research, History and Case Studies; SECTION II CHILDREN’S LEADERSHIP IN MOTION; 4. Content Co-creation: Listen, Be Curious and Connect; 5. Identity. Equity, Diversity and Inclusion: Listen and Being in the Present in different ways; 6. Management. Imagine; 7. Relation with the Visitants (Connect and Wave); 8. Nature: the museum is life and alive (Plant and Growth); SECTION III EXPANDING CHILDREN’S MINDSET: LESSONS LEARNED AND PROPOSALS FOR THE FUTURE; 9. Important Prompts from the Children’s Board; 10. New challenges, perspectives and skylines; CODA An Unfinished Giant Tapestry of Unique Children’s Stories Awaiting You
José Antonio Gordillo Martorell, PhD, is the Founder and CEO of Cultural Inquiry, a mycelium company located in Switzerland that operates internationally. He is a professional with 26 years of experience in education, collective creativity, content co-creation, change-driven strategy, participation, and community weaving, with a passion for the democratisation of minoritised and unrepresented cultural voices in the cultural arena. He founded Children’s Boards in different Museums of the world, like the City of Arts and Sciences, Norrbottens Museums, HOTA-Home of the Arts, and more recently, Historisches Museum Saar, Museo of Solutions in Mumbai, Museum of Communication Bern, and the Swiss National Museum-Château des Prangins.
