Deutsches Historisches Museum - Verf�hrung Freiheit. Kunst in Europa seit 1945 - Blog

‘How can you make art accessible and understandable for kids?’ was a question we asked Jane Meresmaa-Roos, one of Kumu’s museum educators. Her approach was to ask questions which the kids could not simply answer with ‘yes’ or ‘no’ thereby stimulating their imagination. Another one was to make the materials used in art more familiar by letting the kids experience them: Is stone cold and how warm is wood? What sound does glass make and how much does a bronze statue weigh? How hard is it to throw a leaf made of paper and how easy is it to mold clay? 

The story of a museum is written not only by its objects and exhibitions but also and foremost by its visitors. Without its visitors, as Jane put it, a museum is ‘just a room with beautiful paintings, sculptures and installations’. To fill it with life, you need people who are willing to experience what a museum has to offer. To bring the museum’s objects to life, you need someone who can tell their story. One of these people is Jane Meresmaa-Roos, who works at Kumu’s Art Education Programme.  

How do the museum guides prepare themselves for ever new exhibitions? What are the challenges facing a museum guide? And which is his favourite picture? We placed these and many more questions to our museum guide Philippe Carasco, who, by the way, was also the guide for our #MuseUp.