Education in museums is very different from my childhood, with children now playing a lead in the experience they have - encouraged to explore and enquire.
Gone are the days of sitting still with arms and legs folded, listening to a teacher at the front of the classroom. These days students try on costume, make videos, play educational games (e.g. surviving WWI) and more. Education programmes provide students with a strong sense of place – learning their culture and exploring their roots. These interactions with children can be the start of forming a deep and lasting bond with museums and their local cultural heritage.
Museums worldwide are trending towards exhibitions that encourage interaction and engagement.
We're well aware of the mixed messages museums send, with some displays encouraging touch and others not.
Today's digital age children seem to be able to read the visual clues and signs around this better than someone of my age. There's no denying that the Victorian era played a huge part in the development of museum culture and etiquette.
I would hope Queen Victoria, as a working mother, would find museums today far more focused on the needs of children than in her time.
At MTG we aim to provide education, entertainment and inspiration for children and their caregivers.
Over these school holidays we've noticed lots of families in the museum enjoying the activities, exploring galleries and leaving their artwork on the large display wall in the front foyer.
While there are lots of different whanau looking after the young ones many of these are mothers.
Being a working mother I know spaces like ours can provide a welcome place to visit, somewhere inexpensive, where children are welcome, with arts and culture to absorb and even a space specifically for children with our drop-in-zone. Somewhere where not only could I help my children explore and discover but where I could also learn and be inspired.
Both museums and libraries offer multi-levelled experiences – not just enriching for children but also for adults. With the library opening at MTG on February 7, this provides another layer of engagement for both children and parents. Our hope is that those who come to MTG can step through the doors and see the wide variety of experiences and interactions that libraries and museums can offer.
We're currently discussing ways in which, this year, we will celebrate the 125th anniversary of women in New Zealand exercising their right to vote. New Zealand has often been on the leading edge around women's issues - from examples of great leadership among Maori women, through women's Suffrage, to now having a Prime Minister about to become a mother while in office.
We hope to welcome Jacinda and her family at MTG one day, in her role as Minister of Culture and Heritage.
Laura Vodanovich is the director of the Museum Theatre Gallery (MTG) Hawke's Bay.
