Children’s panel – Villa Zebra
This project stood out because the way the museum includes the wishes of the targeted group. The panel has a voice in co-deciding which themes are interesting, what artworks help best to display that theme, and how to transform that into a workshop. So that what the museum offers really is of importance and connects with the visitors.
At Villa Zebra, the Villa Zebra Children’s Panel plays an important role in everything that is realized. The Children’s Panel consists of about ten boys and girls between the ages of 8 and 11. The panel meets once a month for a working session; here they think and work about themes, exhibition ideas, art and workshops. “If the Children’s Panel does not respond, it will not take place, it is that simple.”
The panel consists of children who are very fond of art, but also those who have nothing to do with it. Both are seen as equally valuable by Villa Zebra; because they also want to reach those who aren’t really that into art, and to make that happen they must find out what does stimulate them.
Villa Zebra is a Rotterdam-based art institute for children with the main goal of stimulating the imagination of children within the ages 2-12.
The members of the Children’s Panel really have a role within the museum. In addition to their monthly meetings, they are also allowed to help on the floor, give the first guided tours at openings and at other times roll up their sleeves when necessary. In this way you realize the role of the child in the museum, so that it is not only in theory connected to the world of the child, children also feel heard by the museum in the day-to-day practice.
The Villa Zebra Children’s Panel has been around for almost 15 years. It was created five years after the opening of the museum and has been able to develop in the meantime, where they are constantly looking at where they can be involved. Even after 15 years, research is still being carried out into how they can make an even greater contribution to the creative process within Villa Zebra.
The UN goals associated with this project:
- Quality education, 4
- Sustainable Cities and Communities, 11
