BRATTLEBORO-When asked what inspired Junior Museum Guides, a new program for children at the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (BMAC), Kate Milliken, manager of education programs, shared an example of a young child who became empowered to share his knowledge and perspectives about art after visiting the museum on a school field trip.
Last spring, a group of elementary school students visited BMAC, Milliken recalled. "The kids were energetic - even a bit rowdy - but there were one or two shy, quiet students, and I wasn't certain I'd really had the chance to connect with them," she said.
A few weeks later, Milliken recognized a boy from the field trip leading his father around BMAC's galleries, pointing at the artwork and talking about the exhibits. Later, the father approached Milliken, eager to thank her for helping his child connect with the art.
"He was beaming as he told me how much it meant to him that his otherwise shy child spoke so openly and enthusiastically about what he saw at the museum," Milliken said. "The dad was blown away by his son's confidence as he moved through the galleries, the thoughtful ways his child spoke about the art, and how excited he was to point out his favorite pieces."
Milliken continued, "This was incredibly heartwarming, and it reaffirmed my commitment to empowering as many students as possible with a sense of ownership and belonging at BMAC."
And, thus, the Junior Museum Guides program was born. Launched this fall, the free program gives children up to age 12 the opportunity to learn how to lead tours of BMAC for their family, friends, or anyone they wish.
Students can become Junior Museum Guides by visiting the museum on a school field trip, for which BMAC receives funding from M&T Bank, or by participating in an individual or small-group session offered by Milliken upon request.
"One way to spark joy and excitement in kids in unfamiliar spaces is to enable them to step into a leadership role," Milliken said. "It's wonderful to see how proud they are to become the authority on something and to share that with others."
Children tour the museum and participate in an art-making activity, often related to a current exhibit. At the end of the field trip, children earn a personalized Junior Museum Guide card, which authorizes them to lead their own tours during regular museum hours.
The next time they visit BMAC, Junior Museum Guides "sign in for duty" and are given a special badge to wear. They also get their Junior Museum Guide card punched to keep track of tours they've given and earn special rewards over time.
Junior Museum Guildes is just one of many ways that BMAC serves children. The museum offers Head Start With Art for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers in the Brattleboro area, is the Vermont affiliate of the national Scholastic Art & Writing Awards for teenagers, hosts annual Lego and domino-toppling events, and more.
For more information about Junior Museum Guides or other BMAC programs for children, contact Kate Milliken at [email protected] or 802-257-0124, ext. 111.
This Arts item was submitted to The Commons.