Twelfth International Conference on The Inclusive Museum

Abstract

Children are influenced by what they see and hear from a young age. It is therefore important that they learn about their heritage, both natural and cultural, and how this contributed to who they are and how the society and nation in which they live, have evolved. This is even more important in a divided country like South Africa. If heritage is to survive, young people should appreciate its value. Learning about and becoming aware of their natural and cultural heritage lead to understanding and pride in their heritage and raise their consciousness on the value of heritage. This is the only way in which children may become committed to maintaining and preserving their heritage and ensure its sustainability. Museums have a long tradition of attracting children and together with interpretation centrums they obviously can contribute to children understanding their heritage. South Africa has ten World Heritage Sites – sites deemed to be so unique by Unesco that they deserved to be protected for humanity. Some of these sites have museums or interpretation centrums attached to them. This study reflects on research done on the following two research questions regarding children as an audience of these museums and interpretation centrums: How do the museums and interpretation centrums at South African World heritage sites reach out to and encourage individual children and young people to visit the site?; and what impressions do children and young people have about these museums and interpretation centrums?