Centres for Curiosity & Imagination
’Centres for Curiosity & Imagination’ are community-based discovery centres which bring children, families and others together to learn about the world through playful, hands-on experiences. They are permanent facilities with hands-on environments, exhibitions and activities which follow the Curiosity & Imagination approach to children’s learning.
The idea of ’Centres for Curiosity & Imagination’ stems from a report of the same name which was commissioned by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (John Pearce, 1998). This explored the hugely successful phenomenon of ’children’s museums’ worldwide, and its relevance to the UK. The concept of ’Centres for Curiosity & Imagination’ is closely aligned with the ’children’s museum’ www.childrensmuseums.org/index.htm movement, and draws on best practice from around the world.
Groups of people are developing these exciting Centres in many communities around the UK. Here are some examples…
Discover, East London
Serving a highly multicultural area of London, this indoor and outdoor Centre in Stratford provides time and space for 0 to 8 year olds to use their imaginations and broaden their learning in exciting environments. Children and their carers build stories by taking part in hands-on activities, creative workshops, play, performances and storytelling which inspire them to express themselves and communicate in new, diverse and enjoyable ways. By taking part in Discover, children and adults can gain in confidence and develop life skills through shared learning experiences. www.discover.org.uk
Livesey Museum for Children, South London
This free children’s museum is situated in Peckham, an area of deprivation in Southwark, South London. It is totally transformed every year, enlisting the help of local children, artists and craftspeople to create annual exhibitions which stimulate children to learn by experimenting and investigating, using their imaginations and having fun. Exhibitions have included ‘The Magnificent 12: a great number adventure’, ‘No Place Like Home?’, ‘Transformations’, ‘Arty Facts’ and ‘The Great Rubbish Show’. The exhibitions are aimed at children up to 12, are designed to complement the National Curriculum and make use of objects from the Livesey’s sister institution, the Cuming Museum. www.liveseymuseum.org.uk
Hands On Base, South London
Hands On Base is situated in the Horniman Museum in Forest Hill and gives children and others a unique insight into world cultures and the natural environment. It is a rich environment packed with ethnographic, musical and natural history objects. Families, after-school clubs and school groups can explore engaging interactive exhibits such as puppet theatres and discovery boxes containing sets of objects which are linked in intriguing ways. The Centre also provides an intellectual and emotional gateway to the rest of the Museum, introducing a network of ’thought-threads’ permeating the Museum that can be explored by visitors. www.horniman.ac.uk/education/hands.php
Eureka! The Museum for Children, Halifax
Eureka! is a large and long-established Centre which provides hands-on exhibitions and activities for children from 0 to 11. There are more than 400 interactive exhibits and a full programme of events and activities. The four main areas deal with the human body, the world of sound, work and everyday life, and ’Our Global Garden’ which opens children’s eyes to the world they live in and how they can look after it. There are also special galleries for under 5s. www.eureka.org.uk
Roald Dahl Children’s Gallery, Aylesbury
The Roald Dahl Children’s Gallery at Buckinghamshire County Museum is a magical environment where children are inspired by Roald Dahl’s stories to explore and discover the unexpected. The experience is like walking into a giant pop-up book, and integrates museum objects with constructed exhibits. For example, children can study minibeasts with a video microscope inside the Giant Peach and discover buried treasures from the past as they crawl along Fantastic Mr Fox’s tunnel. In the spirit of Dahl’s writing, humour and imagination are all essential ingredients. www.buckscc.gov.uk/
W5 - whowhatwherewhenwhy, Belfast
W5 is a large hands-on centre in Belfast. Part of the regeneration of the harbour area, its role is to give learners of all ages access to the fun and excitement of finding out about the world around them through first-hand, practical experiences. It includes a gallery for under 8s called START, which takes inspiration from the best children’s museums in the USA. Children can play with water, build rollercoasters, communicate to each other from the turrets of castles, shop in a miniature supermarket and even build a house. www.w5online.co.uk
Pattern Pod and the Garden, The Science Museum, London
These galleries at the Science Museum inspire children to learn about the world through open-ended, playful activities. Pattern Pod is designed for 5–8 years old and introduces children to pattern in science. Children can enjoy practising skills like recognising, copying and creating patterns – a good foundation for scientific thinking. Mini-screen displays for parents and carers explain the science behind the exhibits and how children play and learn. In The Garden, 3–6 year olds can experiment with water, move materials around with hoists, or see for themselves the wonders of reflections, fibre optics and kaleidoscopes. www.sciencemuseum.org.uk
www.sciencemuseum.org.uk
