Hands On! International European Museum Academy
Association of Children in Museums A European Museum Expertise Foundation
APPLICATION FOR
THE 2017 CHILDREN IN MUSEUMS AWARD
INFORMATION ON THE AWARD
The Children in Museums Award was established in 2011 by the European Museum Academy and Hands On! International Association of Children in Museums. It recognises excellence and innovation in exhibits designed for children within the museum sector.
THE JURY
The Award is judged by a panel of experts experienced in many disciplines within the museum field who all contribute their time as volunteers.
The judges are looking especially for museums, exhibitions and programmes and museum environments which:
- Display creativity and innovation
- Encourage children’s curiosity and stimulate their imagination
- Have well-researched and conceived content which is appropriately targeted and meaningful to the relevant age-group
ELIGIBILITY
Applications are welcomed from children’s museums; from education children and youth departments in museums; and from specialist subject museums with a particular emphasis on children’s programming. Museums may be long-established or recently opened. However, priority is given to programmes which display recent innovation. The project entered for the Award must be current and open for viewing in the judging year.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD (please tick)
□ Permanent space designed for children up to the age of 14 years
□ Age-appropriate exhibitions and/or programmes taking account of the cognitive, social and emotional development of children
□ Permanent staff/ management
□ Dedicated budget
□ Interactive learning experiences and exhibit strategies engaging as many senses as possible
□ Programmes or projects available for viewing by the judges between March and May 2017
SOME IMPORTANT CRITERIA
- The jury will expect to see evidence of innovation, practicality of design, and attention to fine aesthetic qualities.
- Good management and adequate staffing is important to ensure that children’s experiences are well facilitated.
- Preference is given to open-ended learning programmes.
- The jury will look for evidence that children have been involved in the conception of the museum and that their opinions have been sought in its evaluation.
PRESELECTION
There will be a pre-selection of shortlisted candidates published in advance of the Award meeting, which will take place in Pilzen, Czech Republic, during the Hands On! Conference in October 2017.
INFORMATION ON THE EUROPEAN MUSEUM ACADEMY (EMA)
EMA is a non-profit Foundation established to reflect museums at the international level, to promote research on museography and museology as a high cultural activity, to provide constructive criticism and promote discussion on new exhibitions and museums, and to disseminate museological knowledge and ideas among members of the profession. It aims to promote the conception and development of new as well as of traditional museums as tools of social change. EMA co-operates with Hands On! International Association of Children in Museums for this Award. EMA members of the Jury of the Award are also members of the EMA Pool of Experts.
INFORMATION ON HANDS ON! INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHILDREN IN MUSEUMS
Hands On! International Association of Children in Museums is an international professional organisation representing and advocating for its non-profit member institutions. It actively stimulates the creation and development of children’s museums (including science centres, large collections based institutions serving young visitors) and more space for cultural and educational activities for children and young people. Hands On! supports the important role of children’s museums as centres where play inspires creativity, informal and lifelong learning.
