Supported by the Welsh Government, Kids in Museums launched Takeover Day Wales in 2012 to help historic institutions give children meaningful roles in their organisations.
At Big Pit National Coal Museum local school children will learn how to make clay poppies and then share their skills with residents from The Arthur Jenkins Residential Home. While down in Glamorgan Archives, students from Trinity Fields School in Ystrad Mynach will completely take over the archives, from welcoming visitors and posting on social media, to cataloguing and digitising items from the collection. And over in the capital, pupils will explore National Museum Cardiff using augmented reality and feedback on how the museum could use the technology in the future.
“This is a great way to spark young peoples’ interest in our heritage and culture,” said Lord Elis-Thomas, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport. “I hope that they make many memories from experiences they have on Takeover Day – which may well influence a future career path and make them champions for our culture and heritage. The enthusiasm and energy young people bring to a museum, gallery or archive benefits everyone – and they can often open our eyes to look at something differently.”
At Pontio Arts and Innovation Centre young people will run the technical rehearsal of the balletLORENT show, Rumpelstiltskin on the Theatr Bryn Terfel Stage at Pontio. Children will not only perform on stage, but learn about the lighting, sound and stage crews’ work to ensure the performance goes smoothly. And at the transformed and recently relaunched St Fagans National Museum of History – Year 5 and 6 pupils will give guided tours of the new galleries.
You can follow the conversation on social media by using the hashtag #TakeoverDay and following @KidsInMuseums.
If you’d like more information, or would like to visit a Takeover Day event, please contact Jocelyn Murdoch via [email protected] or call 020 3096 7707.
