MGS Youth access and inclusion in museums & galleries project

1. MGS Youth access and inclusion in museums & galleries project Loretta Mordi, Collections & Engagement Manager VSG/GEM event 20th May 2013

2. Aims & Objectives • MGS Youth access and inclusion in museums and galleries project • Collaborative approach by MGS and museums • Participating museums - their projects, case studies and lessons learned • Progress so far • Next steps –way forward • Ensuring youth access and engagement is embedded as core programme in museums and galleries

3. Museums Galleries Scotland • National Development Body for Scotland’s museums and galleries • Works collaboratively to invest in and develop a sustainable museums and galleries sector for Scotland • Works with a sector of more than 400 museums and galleries • The museums and galleries sector is an important element of Scotland’s heritage and provides a valuable insight to Scotland’s history and culture. • Supports museums and galleries through strategic investment, advocacy and skills development opportunities

4. Youth access and inclusion in museums & galleries project – Context • 2009 – review of MGS “A national Learning and access Strategy” • Desk research from projects funded and questionnaire survey • Museums programmes focusing on youths • 40% for user group of people age 20-25 • Youth project funded as part of larger projects • Type of support required • funding • links with organisations working young people

5. Youth Access and Inclusion in Museums & Galleries project • Aims and objectives were • promote and encourage participation of young people in museums learning and opportunities on offer • Support museums to promote engagement and participation of young people through CfE and LLL • Identify key partners and build relationships • celebrate and share good practice • integrate youth access in L&A Framework and action plans

6. Learning Outcomes of the project • Better understanding of needs of young people and how to support museums to meet those needs • Better communications with museums • Improved evidence based reporting on impact and advocacy • Increase youth access and engagement programmes in museums

7. Collaborative approach • Call to museums to register interest • Opportunity for funding through MGS Grant Schemes • Criteria for funding - advantage for project that • fits the CfE and Lifelong Learning frameworks • promotes partnership/collaborative work • Positive response from museums • Contacted HLF Young Roots, Youthlink and Young Scot • wider reach and publicity

8. MGS Support • Applications received from museums • MGS Small Grant Schemes for projects that fit requirements • Interest balanced against time and workload of museums • Visit to museums to advice and support • Opportunity for further funding for pilot projects • Case studies on web sites

9. Participating Museums • Six museums • Aberdeenshire Council • The McManus, Dundee • East Lothian Museums Council • Kelvingrove Museum • Museum of University of St Andrews • Scottish Borders Council

10. What they did - Projects • Variety of projects for young people ages 12-25 • Diverse backgrounds • Varied knowledge and exposure to culture and heritage • Working with museum collections and exhibition displays • People-led projects – Hands-off approach with minimal support • Projects that promotes learning and employment and life skills • Work with various partners

11. Projects Partners • Youth groups • Schools • FE colleges and Universities • Community learning and development team • Industries • Local Press • Local groups

12. Borders Textile Towerhouse – Scottish Borders Council

13. Textile Resources for New Audiences Museum employed an education and outreach officer to work with educators and the Borders Textiles industry to develop a range of learning opportunities for new audiences Age13-25 years old Aim: to raise awareness of future career opportunities in Borders textile and design manufacturing Pupils investigated the traditional textile heritage of the region as well as contemporary practice and work opportunities in the textile trade today A pilot project and start of collaborative work with Borders College Schools Plus, Hawick High School, Borders Textile Towerhouse and local industry MGS support was for £1265 Project continued and a further grant awarded

14. The MUSA Youth Curators Project A project involving seven 14-16 year olds in the creation of a display using the Recognised Collections Aims of project were to: begin to engage teenagers with the museum collections of the University of St Andrews find out how museums can engage teenagers on a long-term basis through marketing, exhibitions and events give the participants skills and experience that will prove beneficial to them in the wider world act as a spring-board for long-term, sustainable engagement with teenagers MGS Recognition Collections Grant Scheme

15. MUSA

16. The MacManus, Dundee

17. The McManus, Dundee Youth Action Group– Vita Nuova The museums worked with already established group called Youth Action Group Set up in 2010, Vita Nuova is a group of young people who meet at The McManus in Dundee Love to perform and express themselves using the arts The group received a £2000 grant from Museums Galleries Scotland to host a celebration event for other youth groups in the city Previous projects included recreating Anthony Gormley’s Fourth Plinth Project and performances in the city centre One member of the group no longer thinks of Dundee as "dull" but appreciates the skills in areas like art, music, planning of projects.

18. Kelvin grove Art Galleryand Museum -Youth Summer Camp Kelvin grove Art Galleryand Museum ran a summer camp for young people aged 12-17. Using the Museum's encyclopaedic collections for inspiration the groups made short films, learned about engineering and the arts. Skilled film tutors provided guidance as the young people developed new skills in using technology. The groups also grew in confidence to visit the museum more often to enjoy the collections and investigate what lies behind them, in the knowledge the objects are not always what they seem.  Grant from Museums Galleries Scotland - £967

19. Aberdeenshire Council Museums – Cabinet of Curiosities The project is based on the collections of Adam Arbuthnot, the founder of the Arbuthnot Museum in Peterhead.  The aim was to create something spectacular that re-creates the excitement of science and museums in1830s and 40s.  group of about 20 young people of 12 and 25 years old, mixed ability and diverse background First time in in a museum for some, varied experience of formal education, and certainly not engaged with culture or heritage in any meaningful way.  Some are new to working in a new team, or doing anything physical

20. Aberdeenshire Council Museums – Cabinet of Curiosities Youth Achievement Awards – SQA accredited at Bronze level

21. Lessons learned –Young people • Positive experience and valuable learning for museums and young people • Young people gained • awareness of creating a museum exhibition • better understanding of work of museums • discussion skills • team working • Increase motivation • confidence and pride of their work • made new friends • worthwhile involvement • fun

22. Lessons learned – museums • better understanding of barriers to engaging teenagers and approaches to tackling these • increase involvement of colleagues across the organisation • experience of working in new partnerships • knowledge and skills sharing • increase profile of museums role

23. Youth inclusion project – Progress • Youth programmes integrated in 3 museums • Launch of National Strategy aims and objectives 2012 • Aim 1: Maximise the potential of our collections and culture • Aim 2: Strengthen Connections: between museums, people and places to inspire greater public participation, learning and well-being • Aim 5: Foster of culture of collaboration • Focus group discussion in 2012 • SWOT analysis conducted • Suggestions/ideas for embedding youth engagement in museums

24. SWOT analysis Strength Weaknesses Working operationally – not thinking big enough How to further – asking for more resources Bedding youth practice into services Demanding recognition from others – national accreditation Gaining and sustaining approval for Youth Inclusion Need to develop recognised procedures for supporting young people working in museums e.g. work experience Need to move away from traditional perceptions of museum careers • Energy, creativity, humour, alternative ways of looking at museums and collections • Development of young people – museums are part of the process • Seeing young people getting excited, enjoying learning, being engaged and contributing to museum service • Young people challenging prejudices, changing mind sets, building audiences for the future – our museum and other museums.

25. SWOT analysis Threats Opportunity Validation – recognition of the importance of youth inclusion Sustainability – Funding support (MGS and partners) Highlighting good practice Work placements Marketing opportunities Exchange of ideas, skills – how do we do this • Youth programmes are vulnerable as part of museum services and provision • Investment required to underpin and sustain provision of good practise • Lack/loss of funding • Isolation – youth groups and workers • No development of staff • Lack of training/skills exchange

26. Way forward- Ideas and suggestions • Set up Champions group for youth engagement in museums • Develop toolkit – • Publication of case studies and good practice to share best practice • Support for champions including Mentoring, training in the use social media • Young people as advocate • Online group discussion page on MGS website

27. The Vision 2014: Junior Working Group

28. The Vision 2014: Junior Working Group Opportunity for young people to explore industry within Hawick and to exhibit their findings in the Borders Textile Towerhouse (BTT) in Hawick A partnership between Scottish Borders Council (SBC) Museums and Galleries Service, SBC Creative Learning Network based within Arts Development, SBC Community Learning and Development and Youth Borders Grant from Museums Galleries Scotland and supplemented by the SBC Creative Learning Team. The project aimed to encourage young people to connect with their local museums and interact with their communities.

29. What next

30. Thank you