Fourteenth International Conference on the Inclusive Museum

Abstract

Young people, particularly if coming from disadvantaged or economically deprived communities, are an audience notoriously difficult to reach out to by museums. Drawing on Nina Simon’s concept of “relevance”, this paper explores how museums can change young people’s perceptions and build relationships by filling a genuine need in their lives. The focus in this paper is on young people who are grappling with difficulties in getting a start on creative careers, and how museums can play a supportive role to fill this gap. The paper presents findings from a research study on two editions of a five-day photography course offered as part of the Victoria and Albert Museum’s Young People’s Programme in 2018 and 2020. The courses addressed young people not in education, employment or training and have been run by the V&A in collaboration with two local charities. Workshop sessions were held alternatively at the V&A in South Kensington and in East London locations. Based on a rich qualitative dataset that gathered the views of 27 young people via focus groups, surveys, observation and analysis of creative outputs, the paper analyses young people’s needs and expectations when joining the workshop, modes of engagement and outcomes, and interprets them through the theoretical lens of ‘relevance’. Findings show how the V&A experience filled a genuine need in young people’s creative career orientation, and in turns how this contributed to changing young people’s perceptions about the V&A, museums and their relevance to their lives and professional pathways.