Cardiff Story Museum To Be Run By Children For The Day

Cardiff Story Museum will be run by young people tomorrow to mark Kids in Museums’ Takeover Day. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Pupils from Ton-Yr-Ywen Primary School in the Heath area of the city are taking over the different jobs at the museum for the day. Passers-by are invited to drop in to see the pupils working on front of house, welcoming visitors, giving talks in the galleries and conducting workshops on how to look after objects in the museum collection. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The annual event is a celebration of children and young people’s contributions to museums, galleries, arts organisations, archives and heritage sites. It’s a day on which they are given meaningful roles, working alongside staff and volunteers to participate in the life of the museum and is funded by the Welsh Government. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cabinet Member for Community Development, Co-operatives and Social Enterprise, Cllr Peter Bradbury said: “Takeover Day is a great opportunity for young people to get involved in running a museum and offer views on how they should operate in the future. Museums are not dusty spaces for the sole use of historians – they are interactive buildings that offer a rewarding experience for the entire community. The fresh ideas and new perspectives offered by those taking part in Takeover Day help to ensure that this relevance continues in the future.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Kids in Museums Patron, actor Michael Sheen said: “Takeover Day gives hundreds of young people the chance not only to do something new and experience museums for the first time, but for their voices to be heard. It provides an opportunity for young people throughout Wales to talk about their heritage – to share concerns and imagine new futures. In challenging times, museums can act as the cement in our communities, bringing young people together to tell their stories. Put museums at the centre of our communities and young people at their heart, and we will all experience a richer, more vibrant culture which excites and enthrals everyone.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Cardiff Story Museum is based in the Old Library building on the Hayes in the city centre. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​