Something Different: A pilot study evaluating family outreach ...

Something Different - Page 23 of 47
Despite such observational evidence of direct enjoyment of the craft activity by
mothers, the contrast constructed between the child and the mother’s enjoyment of the
outreach visit was further developed in the following extract. Below, Rosie draws a
distinction between her own limited interest in art and her clear desire to attend the family
outreach visit for the benefit of her child.
Interviewer Do you have any kind of general views about art? Like, how
do you feel about art in general?
Rosie I don’t know, really. I don’t know, really. [...] I’m not that
bothered about it, but I don’t mind going.
Interviewer So do you think you’ll come along for the visit next week?
Rosie Yes, yes, yes. I’ll definitely come, because that will be good
for [my daughter], so she’ll enjoy it.
Interview at Community Centre Prior to Visit - 17/11/09
This extract (above) mentions the child’s enjoyment as a primary motivator for attending the
family outreach visit, but also the more general notion of the museum visit being “good for
her”. This ‘good for her/him’ concept recurs in the present sample. The following extract is
from an interview with a mother who had attended two prior family museum visits with the
community centre group.
Interviewer Do you have any general impressions of the Fitzwilliam
Museum?
Jenny Yes, it’s alright. I think the first couple of times we went, she
[the participant’s daughter] was quite young, so it probably
wasn’t as good for her then. But for her now, it would probably
be quite good, because she understands a lot more now. But
yes, it was good. It was good for her to have a walk around
and see stuff like that, see museum-type stuff. But yes, it’s good
for them. I think it’s good to take them there when they’re
quite young.
Interview at Community Centre Prior to Visit - 17/11/09 (Emphasis added)
The above extract is illustrative of the view that visiting the museum is an inherently positive
activity. This generalised notion is worthy of further exploration to identify more precisely
why and how such visits are perceived to be ‘good’ for children.
While children were the primary motivator for attending the museum visit, they also
represented a potential barrier to museum attendance at other times.