Window to Nature: MuseobilBOX-Dioramas in the Museum Koenig

Abstract

The aim of the project “MuseobilBOX” is to inspire in children from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds a lifelong interest in museums. Through their experiences, children discover that museums are exciting places to learn – not only during this project but also in the future. The museum they get to know is the Museum Koenig in Bonn, Germany. During the project, primary school children visit the museum for 12 afternoons over the course of 3 months, and work on their cultural, presentation, creative and communication skills. They get to learn about the tasks of a museum (collecting, conservation, research and teaching) and have the chance to accompany scientists and see their daily routines. After learning about the museum and its role, the children consider the question “Which things from my life should be preserved and presented in a museum for people in the future?”. During the second part of the project, the children build their own diorama. Their artworks, the designed MuseobilBOXes, are then presented to the public in an exhibition. The concept of the project “Museobilbox: Museum zum Selbermachen” (Build your own museum) was developed by the Bundesverband für Museumspädagogik e. V. and financially supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research in the context of their funding guideline “Kultur macht stark” (Culture makes strong).