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17.01.2012 / Museums / 0 Comments
Teens' plea in new museums manifesto
Mariella Frostrup wants to hear it for the teenagers, a plea emphasised in the latest manifesto of the charity Kids in Museums, of which she’s patron. “Teenagers have been getting a very bad press” according Frostrup, Presenter of Radio 4’s Open Book and mother of teenagers. “We read that they’re badly behaved, idle and don’t speak quite like we would wish. Well – their involvement in museums proves the opposite – that if they’re given the chance they get stuck in and contribute great ideas and hard work. Museums can lead the way in promoting a better image of teenagers. That’s a far better idea than just condemning them” she says, adding to show not only that she knows whereof she speaks but howof: “Innit”.
So Kids in Museums, run by our own Dea Birkett who says over 300 museums use the manifesto, have added teens to their 20 points of 2012 guidance to museums as to how to make themselves more family friendly. Compiled from visitors’ comments, the new first point in the fourth annual manifesto list calls on museums to “tell tales together”, to make stories that relate objects and visitors, but new at number four addresses the sector that is often seen as the most resistant to the museum experience. “Invite teenagers into your gang,” it says. “Provide a place for them to hang out. Set up youth panels. Ask them how they want to be involved. Museums can lead the way in letting people know the contribution teenagers make”. Or, as Christoph Vogtherr, new director of the Walace Collection that hosted the manifesto’s launch this week, “Why should visitors have to beold enough to have a driving licence to enjoy museums?”
Mariella wants museum to stop wagging their fingers at us. “Too many times the first thing I see when I take my kids to a museum is a list pinned up at the door of things I mustn’t do. Don’t leave the pushchair in the entrance. Don’t leave the kids unattended. We don’t take large bags in the cloakroom. Do not use your mobile phone. Don’t take pictures....” said Frostrup who, ahem, looks hardly more than teenager herself to judge from this picture. “Why can’t we be greeted by a list of things we CAN do? How about – Please leave the pushchair in the cloakroom and we’ll give you a backpack for your baby. Or – Do use your mobile phone to text friends to tell them how great our exhibition is. Or - We welcome families enjoying the museum together. That way we’d all feel welcome”. And, presumably, here’s where to chill with yer mates…
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