In Focus: Child's Play - Design and Discovery at the George Eastman Museum

Over the years at the George Eastman Museum the Collection Gallery has been a space to highlight the permanent collection. This year the newest rotation of objects has an emphasis on family-friendly content, while still highlighting the breadth and depth of the museum’s photograph holdings. This curatorial choice is in thanks to Stephanie Hofner, Collection Manager, who worked with her now four-year-old daughter Sawyer to select objects. By involving Sawyer, Stephanie uncovered a fresh perspective that reframed the importance and relevance of the objects within the collection. This shift in perspective prompted a broader reconsideration of how the collection could be understood and appreciated by audiences of all ages.
Not only were the items on the walls more child-friendly but rather the whole institution shifted their perspective on everything from hanging the artwork, programming, marketing, and more. This exhibit featured an I-Spy activity card for guests to engage playing in the space while also learning. Additionally, outside of a regular curatorial audio tour this gallery tour was led by various children who shared their observations and stories surrounding the art. Further, the museum featured on their app a storytime video of the book Making a Great Exhibition which closely connected to the more “adult” processing video outside of the gallery. Hear from Jamie Allen the Stephen B. and Janie G. Ashley Curator and Interim Head, Suzanne Kolodziej Museum Educator/ K-12 and Families, and Margaret Sheble Manager of Digital Learning and Engagement how by integrating the personal and playful insights of a child, the exhibition invites visitors to reconsider the meaning and significance of the objects in the collection.