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Lifelong Learning

Our Learning programme has been able to develop by introducing direct access to the museum collections. Instead of working only with an educational handling collection, where a limited number of robust objects were available, we now ensure that all collections are available for learning. Obviously we make sure that they are safeguarded with appropriate handling and security but the power of the real object has invigorated the programme.

We have also appointed learning facilitators to deliver our schools workshop sessions thereby making time for core learning staff to create new and exciting access and learning provision. This has removed one of the most significant barriers to growth in the learning provision.

The three Studios at York Castle Museum have provided the curatorial and learning teams with the most exciting spaces for making more of the collection available for visitors. Objects can be shown and demonstrated to the visitors including those that are traditionally very difficult to display. The stories, ideas, and cultural values of the objects can be explored. These spaces create the opportunity to listen and learn from our visitors.

The Territories project based at York Art Gallery has secured funding for a further three years from Arts Council Yorkshire ensuring that this innovative and highly successful approach to our fine and decorative art collections continues. Territories provides a sustained quality service for many groups who are often non users of the service and having to cope with additional social and personal difficulties. Groups have included adults with learning difficulties, young mums and the homeless.