What is a turtle shell made of? How big is a crocodile’s brain? Is that real? What is it used for? A brilliant education space should be a learning space, and a space to ask questions. The Hands on Base at the Horniman Museum and Gardens aims to provide that.
The space houses more than 3,000 objects from the museum’s handling collection.
There is often a “wow” as visitors enter the space, encountering a taxidermy fox at the door, objects hanging from the ceiling and many cases of clothing, instruments, toys, masks and puppets from around the world.
The Hands on Base provides opportunities to handle and explore real museum objects, ask and answer questions, and share knowledge about these objects. Handling objects provides a multi-sensory experience and is useful for making links to visitors’ lives and experiences. Objects can spark conversation, debate and inspire understanding. The room itself can be a quiet space to think and reflect, or a noisy space to learn and experience.
Fundamentally, a useful learning space is a flexible space that can cater for a variety of needs. Hands on Base has fixed cases in the middle of the room and fixed tables at the back. We work around these for different sessions but it would be more useful if they were movable. Old buildings have limitations but if I was starting from scratch I would certainly factor that in. Nevertheless, the space can be transformed from seating for 30, to an open-for-all family session, to a photo booth at a late event.
Museums can make the most of learning spaces by using them for a wide range of audiences for many different activities and events. At the Horniman we use the Hands on Base for community groups, adult learning courses, school groups, storytelling, staff and volunteer training, our youth panel and music performances, among many other things. It is my favourite part of the museum – I look forward to questions from our visitors inspired by the space, and to learning from their ideas and experiences.
Christine Beckton is the schools learning manager at the Horniman Museum and Gardens
The Museums Association will be running a one-day conference next year as part of its Future of… series. The Future of Museums: Learning and Engagement will take place on 27 March 2019 at the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh. Speakers will include, 20 years after the publication of the influential A Common Wealth: Museums in the Learning Age, its author, David Anderson. Click here for more.
