It might not be a conventional pairing, but museums are rethinking what they can offer babies and, in the process, discovering rewarding compatibilities.
At the National Gallery of Ireland in Dublin, monthly baby workshops take a hands-on approach linked to the exhibition on show. A recent session involved babies donning red hats inspired by those worn in Canaletto’s Venetian art, and featured water-themed songs – think Row, Row, Row Your Boat – before a walk around the exhibition itself.
A variety of materials keeps babies engaged in workshops, from chiffon scarves to leaves, and facilitators give parents and carers tools for solo gallery trips with little ones. Adults are encouraged to show babies different paintings – in theory, for example, babies should prefer portrait works to landscapes – and to explore smells and sounds made to evoke the art.
“We want to pass on skills in a relaxed way – to give people ownership and help them feel confident visiting,” says Joanne Drum, the education officer at the National Gallery of Ireland.
The impact has extended beyond the workshops themselves; Drum recently curated an exhibition in which she hung the works 30cm lower than normal and used more accessible language in the text.
The museum now charges for these workshops, which were piloted in 2013, to fund similar sessions in the community. “We’re in an affluent part of town but also close to deprived areas,” Drum explains. “We wanted to show people we’re here and it’s their place as well. We all acknowledge that having a baby can actually be a very lonely time, and having support around can be really valuable.”
In March, the Tudor period Christchurch Mansion in Ipswich hosted a free Baby Takeover, the first of three such events planned for this year.
“We wanted to say families are welcome – and here is your introduction to everything the mansion has to offer,” says Melanie Hollis, the collections and learning curator at Colchester and Ipswich Museums. “It was probably the most diverse audience we’ve seen at the mansion in a long time.”
Among other things, the day featured an interactive storytelling of a book by Michael Rosen, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, props included, and a baby salsa session. “At the start, people weren’t convinced [about baby salsa] but by the end, you could see the joy on their faces,” says Hollis. “Activities that engage more than one sense and that involve close interaction with a trusted adult have so far proven the most meaningful.”
Fears that babies might vomit on Rodin’s The Kiss, which was on display at the mansion, didn’t materialise, and organisers successfully navigated other logistics – from the need for adequate changing facilities to the warnings required about the building’s Victorian balconies. At one point, the buggy park hosted 300 buggies. “It was amazing. We truly took over Christchurch Mansion that day,” says Hollis.
Meanwhile, the National Galleries of Scotland holds a monthly Bring Your Own Baby/Bump (BYOB) event. The free gallery tours for parents and carers switch between the Scottish National Portrait Gallery and the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art.
Hosting BYOB has led to a tweak of the facilities and gallery buildings – and encouraged
a family-friendly atmosphere. “We want everyone in Scotland to grow up knowing that they can always come to the National Galleries of Scotland,” says Anna Murray, the organisation’s learning coordinator.
“Starting them early and encouraging parents to feel comfortable and confident to visit in the first place – learning that they won’t be shushed or told off, and that they are always welcome – is a good start.”
Families joining baby workshops often move through the ranks, with events also offered for older children.
In starting young, it seems museums are succeeding in establishing lifelong connections.
Catherine Kennedy is a freelance writer