Museum Design with, by, and for Children

Innovative International Approaches

Clare Murray (Teachers College, Columbia University.)

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English

Routledge
13 June 2025

Industrial: Commercial Art & Design; Professional interior design; Museums & museology; Social issues & processes; Politics & government

Series: Global Perspectives on Children in Museums

Museum Design with, by, and for Children makes an important contribution to contemporary museum theory and practice by focusing on the role and rights of children in museums from a new angle: design.

At a time when museum practitioners are challenged to work within their particular buildings and contexts to help the children in their communities feel welcome, invited, and involved, this book presents alternative approaches that are being implemented across the world and pushing the museum field further in its commitment to children, starting with design. This book provides inspirational insights into large- and small-scale ways that children can participate in museum design and therefore exercise their human rights, gain agency, develop their sense of belonging, and form part of museum communities. Drawing on case studies from Argentina, Australia, England, Italy, Mexico, and Paraguay, and theoretical insights from the Reggio Emilia Approach, constructivism, designerly learning, laboratory-style design, and the work of Paulo Freire and Francesco Tonucci, this book explores the extent to which museums’ design processes are child-centered and how children’s material culture can be reflected in the museum design work that will ultimately shape their own early learning experiences. This book explores museum design as a process that involves key stakeholders in procedural planning and associated tasks and discussions, such as those regarding color, light, shape, form, space, and building materials.

Museum Design with, by, and for Children will be valuable for museum practitioners, students, and researchers with an interest in children’s experiences in museums, particularly how children can be empowered as active participants with rights to the museum.

By: Clare Murray (Teachers College Columbia University.)
Imprint: Routledge
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm,
Weight: 200g
ISBN: 9781032774404
ISBN 10: 1032774401
Series: Global Perspectives on Children in Museums
Pages: 90
Publication Date: 13 June 2025
Audience: College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , Primary , Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

List of Figures; Foreword by Sharon E. Shaffer; Endorsements; Acknowledgements; Preface; Chapter 1 – Introduction; Chapter 2 – The History of Museums and Museum Design; Chapter 3 – A Rationale for Including Children in Museum Design; Chapter 4 – In Italy: A unique case of the Reggio Emilia Approach informing museum design; Chapter 5 – In Mexico: One museum embraces constructivism and Reggio-inspired work in design; Chapter 6 – In Argentina: A look at how Tonucci and Freire inspire museum design with, by, and for children; Chapter 7 – In Australia: A culture that centers children, starting with research; Chapter 8 – In England: A new museum emerges through designerly learning with children; Chapter 9 – In Paraguay: Latin America’s newest museum explores different participatory approaches; Chapter 10 – Conclusion; Index.

Clare Murray studies children’s museum experiences. Clare is a doctoral candidate at Teachers College, Columbia University, and holds an MEd in art in education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, an MA in early childhood education policy from Teachers College, and a BA in economics and Latin American studies from Colby College. She co-founded and leads a nonprofit art museum bus designed with/by/for young children in her home state of Connecticut, called cARTie (www.cARTie.org). Additionally, Clare is a two-time Fulbright Scholar – to Spain and Paraguay.

Reviews for Museum Design with, by, and for Children: Innovative International Approaches

“Museum Design With, By, and For Children offers a compelling vision for child-centered museum design. Murray introduces readers to innovative case studies from museums worldwide, demonstrating the transformative power of designing museums with our youngest community members.” ~ Nicole Cromartie, Director of Learning and Engagement, Clyfford Still Museum, USA and co-author of Evaluating Early Learning in Museums: Planning for our Youngest Visitors (Routledge, 2021) “Museum Design With, By, and For Children by Clare Murray is a crucial and timely addition to the museum world. This book is a powerful reminder of children's rights within museum spaces in a landscape where children are often overlooked and not given the attention they deserve. They bring a unique perspective to the museum experience, often viewing exhibits with curiosity, creativity, and imagination. By involving children in the design and curation of museum spaces, museums can create more engaging and interactive exhibits that cater to the interests and needs of young visitors. As the book attests, collaborating with children can also help museums foster a sense of inclusivity and diversity within their spaces. By listening to the thoughts and ideas of children from different backgrounds and experiences, museums can ensure that their exhibits are accessible and relatable to a wide range of visitors. Additionally, involving children in the planning process can help museums create a more welcoming and child-friendly environment, making it easier for families to enjoy a meaningful and educational visit together. Overall, museums can enhance the visitor experience, promote creativity and innovation, and create a more inclusive and diverse cultural institution by welcoming the thoughts of children and collaborating with them to provide welcoming museum spaces. This book's overarching message is that museums must recognize the value of children's perspectives and actively involve them in shaping the future of museum spaces. Within Museum Design With, By, and For Children, we are introduced to a world where children's voices are heard and actively incorporated into the design of museum spaces. The success stories shared within these pages are truly inspiring. I believe this book will serve as a guiding light for museum administrators who are eager to involve children in their planning but may be unsure of where to start. A must-read for museum educators and arts administrators alike, this book marks an exciting beginning. I eagerly anticipate future publications from Clare Murray that showcase more museums embracing children's perspectives in their planning processes.” ~ Kathy Danko McGhee, owner of First Encounters, LLC, an art studio that provides educational experiences for babies and toddlers.