Lin Zhang

3.31 Designing, Implementing, and Evaluating Thematic Programmes to Support Family Learning in Museums and Galleries (Paper)

Lin Zhang – University of Exeter, UK

Abstract:

For over 40 years, the role of museums in supporting family learning has been a subject of international research, beginning in the mid to late 1970s. In China, research on family learning in museums has gained attention over the past two decades, starting in the early 2000s. While numerous studies have highlighted the significant contributions of museums in enhancing family visitors’ museum educational experiences, there remains a gap in empirical research on how museum educators effectively integrate both museum physical and digital resources to foster family learning in art museums and galleries. Additionally, there is also limited understanding of how to design, deliver and evaluate museum family thematic programmes specifically for families.

In this participatory case study, I aim to address these gaps by creating, implementing, and evaluating ten thematic programmes tailored for families, based on the collections and exhibitions housed in ten renowned museums across China. The selected artifacts, ranging from the Stone Age to modern times, are organized chronologically to reflect key periods in Chinese art history. These objects, which include painted pottery, bronze, silk paintings, tomb murals, oil paintings, and handicrafts, offer diverse artistic perspectives and serve as windows into the political, economic, technological, and cultural developments of their respective eras.

By conducting these interdisciplinary programmes for family group visitors, this study seeks to uncover new approaches to value-based museum education, offering a fresh framework for enriching family learning experiences in museums and galleries. The findings of this research contribute to a deeper understanding of how thematic programming can enhance educational engagement in art museums and galleries.