Explore the role of play and its purpose in museums. If museums want a better future they must be welcoming, playful, social spaces.

Join interpretation specialist Anna Ravenscroft to explore play and its purpose in museums. Play is not childish, it is child-like – inviting wonder and leading to discovery. Play is active and it is how children learn. Discover how designing playfulness into our museum spaces allows adults to experience that same feeling, even those that are excluded by traditional styles of interpretation. Explore how playful experiences change the way all audiences interact with content and create a manifesto for less text and more play, as well as a tool kit for putting that into action at your museum.

Engage with Practical Exercises: Engage in practice-based exercises that will help solidify your understanding of the role of play and how it can be approached in your own museum.

Case Studies and Real-World Examples: Gain inspiration and understanding from a variety of case studies showcasing a range of playful approaches to museum interpretation and the lessons learned from them.

Reflect and Collaborate: Work in small, supportive groups to reflect on your ideas and activities. This conversational and relaxed setting encourages open discussion and peer learning.

Actionable Next Steps: Leave with a clear ideas to help you approach your own playful approaches to museum interpretation.

Places on this study day are limited to help create the most engaging and productive learning experience for participants.

Playful Approaches to Museum Interpretation
Study Day, 18 February 2025, London

Workshop leader: Anna Ravenscroft believes that her experience of delivering interpretation for and with young people has developed her practice, and that the principles that underlie this approach improve interpretation for all audiences. Work with her to create a manifesto for less text and more play, as well as a tool kit for putting that into action. All outputs will be shared with the group after the session as a draft you can use and adapt to your own settings. Anna has delivered world-class interpretation for Imperial War Museum and Science Museum masterplan galleries. In her freelance capacity she has worked with Natural History Museum, National Portrait Gallery, Science Museum, Barts Health Archive Trust and more. For this workshop Anna will draw from her experience of working on Technicians Gallery at Science Museum and the development work on a forthcoming Children’s Gallery at Natural History Museum. In developing an intergenerational learning strategy she has spent a lot of time observing playful experiences and how this changes the way all audiences interact with content.

Book tickets: Click ‘Select options’ below to book your place on the study day. Tickets are available on a sliding scale from £137 – £177. Book with colleagues for multiple delegate discounts. Book your ticket online below or email info@museum-id.com if you prefer to be invoiced.

20% of tickets are available at a reduced rate for museum workers who may often be excluded from training and professional development opportunities, including people of colour, LGBTQ+ and working class members of staff, people with a disability, front of house staff, students, freelancers, those working at small independent museums, and people new to the sector. Reduced rate tickets are £97 – email info@museum-id.com to check availability and to book a ticket at the reduced rate.

Tickets are non-refundable but may be swapped between colleagues at the same organisation and between different study days (if places are available). If the workshop is postponed due to Covid-19 your ticket remains valid for the rescheduled date.