Rhythms of the Year
Public Authority
National Museums Northern Ireland (NMNI)
Who helped us
Participation Network, Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People (NICCY)
What we wanted
NMNI were interested to find out how museums across Northern Ireland can be more responsive to the needs and ideas of young people. In their Business Plan 2009 – 2010 they set an objective to establish a youth panel to address this issue. To begin this process young people were invited to take part in a Cultural Olympiad project called ‘Rhythms of the Year’. This project will explore how the seasons are marked and celebrated by the many different cultures and faiths that are represented in Northern Ireland. This will result in exhibitions at a variety of venues including museums, libraries and youth clubs and associated programmes of events. Through these exhibitions and events Northern Ireland will be ‘welcoming the world’ for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
NMNI wanted young people to be involved from an early stage so they could lead the direction of the Project.
How we did it
Through the Participation Network’s directory of organisations young people were invited to join a working group. A panel of 9 young people aged 16-25 years was established in April 2010. The panel of young people are supported by the Interpretation Manager and Curator of Social Life from NMNI. They meet up monthly and they have planned a 3 day summer school in July 2010.
Young people said they became involved in the panel because they were interested in the work of museums, the subject and the connections to the London Olympics in 2012.
The young people are involved in all decision making aspects of the project and are asked questions which reflect this. Questions have included:
- What themes should we cover in our exhibitions?
- What objects should we display?
- What stories should we tell about the objects?
- What kind of events can we run that will attract other young people to museums?
The young people involved in the panel have their expenses reimbursed and are provided with free passes to the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum and the Ulster American Folk Park. They also receive vocational training which contributes to their CVs and they will be provided with references by NMNI.
What they said
The young people are currently involved in planning how they are going to work up until the delivery of the main exhibitions and events in 2012.
NMNI have identified that it is important to provide sufficient time to plan how you will engage with children and young people providing opportunities to be guided with organisations such as Participation Network. The youth panel is the first step in an ongoing process of engaging with children and young people.
“It has challenged our work. If we stop listening to the public we will be in real danger of not responding to our customers’ needs, including those of children and young people.”
“Although I felt nervous at first, after meeting with the young people I left energised and inspired to continue with this work. It can be exhausting though exhilarating.”