Creativity and culture: bringing child rights to life

The Living Museums project is working with creative and enthusiastic young people, aged 14-21 years, across Stirling, Perth and Dumfries to support museums in becoming more accessible spaces for young people.

This phase of the Living Museums project will involve a team of young people in each of these three areas working collaboratively with a local heritage organisation to produce their own creative output that engages with other young people.

Not only will Living Museums provide a platform for young people to make their voices heard, but they will also have opportunities to develop their skills and experience whilst creatively expressing themselves.

Let's meet the project team

"I’m Emily and I’m the Policy Officer for Living Museums in Perth and Stirling.

"I’m excited to be working on this project because I know from my own experience, as a young person, of visiting a museum and feeling like none of the exhibitions or collections speak to me. I believe museums are such a vital source of learning, inspiration and wellbeing and that young people have every right access them in a way which is relevant and relatable to them.

"From the Living Museums project, I hope to give young people opportunities to develop specific skills and experience that will be useful in making future choices.

"I realised I wanted a career in museums at the age of twenty, and it was voluntary experience that supported me in getting my first job in museums. I know that it’s a niche sector and quite tricky to get your foot in the door, so I feel passionate about the opportunities for young people that Living Museums will provide.

"I also feel proud that we are working on this project during COVID-19. I believe that throughout the pandemic, young people have been sidelined and ignored and it’s rewarding to present the Living Museums project when opportunities for young people are so limited just now."

– Emily Breedon

"Hello! I’m Millie, the Project Officer for Living Museums in Dumfries & Galloway.

"Much like Emily, I have spent time in museums and cultural heritage spaces which didn’t reflect me in any way. I think that we should be finding ways to bolster our cultural heritage and arts facilities to become more relevant to young people – so I’m pleased to be part of a project that puts this at the forefront!

"I’ve always wanted to work with young people, but my dream has always been to be a teacher. It wasn’t until I was 23 that I realised that I would be able to teach in museums, which became my new goal.

"Throughout my studies, I found out more about the politics behind museum access, so when this job opportunity came up, it seemed like the perfect way to co-create with young people to enact change across the sector and amplify voices that traditionally may have been ignored.

"My hope for this project is that we can trigger a sector-wide change together, creating safe spaces for young people to be in and feel represented by."

– Millie Smith

Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Living Museums project takes an in-depth look at how the museum sector can appeal to and engage young people aged between 14 and 21.

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