You can and should return to museums: thanks to active exhibition programming you can get acquainted both with stored collections and with projects that bring together several museums. In this article I share my experience of visiting temporary exhibitions at the Kuskovo estate museum.
What are temporary exhibitions?
This is one of the most popular forms of work for contemporary museums. In exhibitions, which usually take place in a designated space for a limited period (from a few days to several months), museums show objects kept in their collections and create joint projects with other museums and institutions. An exhibition is always connected to a specific theme. It can be a display of a museum collection, a dedication to a historical period or figure, or a curatorial statement on a contemporary topic. Such exhibitions are called temporary, and according to their work plans museums hold them several times a year. The scale of exhibition projects varies widely: it can be an exhibition in a single display case, or a space made up of several halls united by a particular design.
How to find out about temporary exhibitions?
You can use the search on the "Let's Go to the Museum" portal, and then check the information on the museum's official website. You can also look at posts in the museums' official social media groups. There you can find photos from openings, links to TV reports, and reviews.
Are temporary exhibitions interesting for children?
Yes, if we, the parents, prepare for the visit. Here are some recommendations:
1) choose exhibitions whose themes are related to the child's current interests;
2) study the available information (museum websites may have not only textual descriptions but also links to recordings of curator tours) so you understand what is worth mentioning and what to draw attention to;
3) start talking about the museum visit in advance: remind them of the museum's features and rules of conduct, explain what the exhibition is about. If you can link this to what is happening in the child's life right now — even better;
4) clarify how to get to the exhibition. Some museums have several buildings, and sometimes the museum building itself is very large, so it's worth planning your route in advance;
5) think about what you can do at the exhibition. There are many options depending on the exhibition's theme and the museum itself. Some places offer quests, coloring pages, children's corners, and special children's programs. In any case you will be able to look at exhibits and possibly read labels or captions. A good way for little ones to get acquainted with exhibits is to look for the familiar (for example, colors or images of animals); for older children — to photograph what they like or what catches their attention.
Our experience visiting temporary exhibitions at the Kuskovo estate museum
Kuskovo is the nearest classical museum to us. We regularly go there to walk in the park and to see the temporary exhibitions held in one of the palace's small halls. This time we visited the exhibition "Insécta. Insects in Art." My children, active boys, are almost 6 years old and 2 years 4 months. Their needs at this age are quick movement, play, and the ability to focus in a new space for no more than 15–20 minutes. These age-related characteristics affect the process of preparing for and visiting the museum.
I am aware that we will spend no more than 30 minutes in the museum, and that's fine. I also try to go with a second adult so that we can share supervision of the children.
The theme of insects interests the boys; they regularly observe them on walks, so a few days before the trip to the museum I began to focus their attention on insects themselves and on how tableware can be decorated. We remembered and looked at how plates and cups look at home, and then imagined which insects craftsmen might use to decorate tableware. With these ideas we went to the museum.
This time we started our visit to the palace with a walk through the interiors. We looked at details; I was interested to observe what the children would notice this time.
What we saw at the exhibition and what we managed to discuss?
We already know which hall in the palace hosts the temporary exhibitions, so I was prepared to hold the younger child in my arms.
We examined the tableware, searched for insects, and compared them with the ideas we had discussed at home. The older boy liked some cups so much that he asked whether such items would be sold in the souvenir shop. It was the older son who noticed the design of the labels (they featured images of insects), as well as the sound accompaniment (also insect sounds).
After viewing the exhibition the boys went outside with the nanny (playing in the sand or gravel is a favorite activity), and I stayed a few minutes longer to read the texts.
The exhibition is on at the museum until July 27.
The main thing to keep in mind when returning to the museum
In my experience — it's the parents' attitude and emotional state. If there is genuine interest and a desire to make the experience pleasant, memorable, and shared, then at any exhibition there will be things to discuss and activities to do.
