Visiting ‘The World’s Most Joyful Museum’ Reminded Me Creativity Isn’t Just for Kids

• The Young Victoria and Albert Museum recently won a “Museum of the Year” Award.
• The museum reopened after a three-year, $16.8 million redevelopment.
• The award includes a $155,000 prize and recognizes the museum’s dedication to creativity.

The Young Victoria and Albert Museum in London describes itself as “the world’s most joyful museum.” In July, it was crowned “Museum of the Year” by nonprofit, Art Fund.

The award is given annually to a museum or gallery in the UK and includes a £120,000 ($155,000) prize.

After closing for three years as part of a £13 million ($16.8 million) redevelopment initiative, the Young V&A now includes three permanent exhibitions: “Play,” “Imagine,” and “Design.”

Entry to the museum is free, except for its temporary ticketed exhibitions, which currently costs £9 ($11.70) for adults and children aged four and above.

I traveled to the Young V&A to determine if it really is the “world’s most joyful museum.”

Located on a busy road in East London, the Young V&A has a mighty presence from the sidewalk.

Upon entering, the museum offered multiple stations where parents can park their strollers, maximizing accessibility for those with young children.

The museum prioritized accessibility, with elevators and ramps throughout, as well as large print and audio transcription guides for visitors with impaired vision and hearing difficulties.

The “Japan: Myths to Manga” temporary exhibition immediately showcased a vibrant use of color, reflecting the designers’ priority.

The exhibition was interactive, featuring Japanese origami-making stations and several traditional musical instruments for kids to try.

It also catered to adults, displaying works by both traditional and contemporary Japanese artists.

The exhibition empowered young visitors by showcasing work created by children from around the world.

I was impressed by the content of the exhibition.

The curators carefully balanced information and artwork to be interesting for older kids and adults, while including exercises and activities for younger visitors.

A gift shop at the end of the exhibitions sold plenty of Japanese toys for kids to take home too.

The next stop was the “Design Gallery,” which explained the invention stories behind products like scooters.

Each item in this exhibition was created to solve a human problem, including sustainable light shades made from organic material.

The exhibit was informative and inspires young people to use the information creatively. There were also multiple spaces for kids to draw and design.

The different exhibitions were tailored to children of varying ages, making it easier for parents with more than one child. The mini-museum is a space exclusively for babies to learn through play.

The museum prioritizes ‘touch’ as a method of learning and engagement. The Young V&A’s “Play” exhibition helps improve motor skills, such as at the sand table.

After exploring the exhibitions, it was time to test the food. To ensure young visitors were being fed well, I ordered the Jungle Safari kids meal for £6 ($7.80) and an oat latte for £3.65 ($4.70).

Even though the kids meal is meant for young children with limited palates, I thought the cheese sandwich with one thin slice of cheddar was lackluster.

I also had a slice of carrot cake, which was priced at £4.50 ($5.80). It was moist and the frosting was delicious.

The museum felt joyful and deserving of its title. I appreciated that the curators had gone out of their way to ensure that different exhibitions were accessible for children of all ages.

The objects and explanations displayed seemed to inspire young people to use the information creatively. I particularly liked that children were always encouraged to touch the displays and make designs of their own based on what they had seen.

For me, the “most joyful museum in the world” sparked joy from watching children explore their curiosity and learn from the world around them.

I left feeling hopeful and inspired by the human capability for creativity.

Source: Business Insider