Guo, Bin; (2024) “We’re Very Relieved to Be Coming Back”: Families Navigating Museum Visits under the Impact of Covid-19. Journal of Education in Museums (43) pp. 40-53.

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Abstract

This qualitative exploratory case study investigates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on young children and their families’ visits to a museum in England. The study explores the changing role of museums in society, particularly their educational function and informality, and emphasises the recognition of children’s agency in museum experiences. Under a posthumanist philosophical arc, the paper presents the findings from seven interviews with museum staff members and five video-recorded family visits, followed by post-visit interviews with each family. The findings focus on the museum’s adaptation to social distancing restrictions, staff members’ navigation of uncertainty and unexpected changes, and the creation of an enjoyable and safe space for visitors. The emotional connection between young children, their families with the gallery spaces is evident. The study also highlights the negotiation of agency between the museum and family participants, shedding light on non-human entities within the museum space as agentive beings, and further discussing the dynamic and contextual meaning-making during family visits. This paper critically appraises the theoretical development of museum education and provides empirical evidence of young children’s learning experiences in museum spaces. It makes a significant contribution to the field of museum education by specifically addressing the impact of the pandemic on visitors’ real-world experiences.

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