The project involved volunteers specifically trained in self-growth and developmental psychology through art and culture. They set out for cultural institutions with families they surveyed from October to November after each walk through culture. Ca. 200 people took part in the study. They filled in the questionnaire after each visit to such institutions.
30 different cultural institutions were surveyed, both municipal and private from Wroclaw and the vicinity. "Our idea was much appreciated and we received a lot of proposals to aid our project. A number of institutions are looking forward to the outcomes of the survey to identify their development needs and do things differently for families with small children," says Katarzyna Nowacka from the Family and Enterprise Foundation. "The City of Wroclaw also took on the challenge to be our patron," she adds.
Children and culture
The survey touched upon the issues such as ticket prices or content for children, which is a very important category, since the assessment was based on the questions regarding its level: whether it is suitable for children, targeted at the right age group, whether there is any inappropriate content on the way to the exhibition or whether the exhibition is easily accessible to children (whether they are on children's eye level, suitably described and secured). Separate questions were designed to assess areas designed specifically for children, e.g. a children's corner where children can relax or have something to eat or drink. An important item in the survey concerned accessibility to prams: whether the place can be freely accessed, if the doors are wide enough, if there is a lift or an access ramp. The "Convenient and Clean" category was used to rate whether the unit is cosy, rooms are marked clearly, and there is a baby changing table. The questionnaire also assessed the personnel: whether they were friendly, helpful and knew how to share their knowledge.
Walking e-guide
It must be admitted that Wroclaw institutions did well in terms of ticket prices, content for children, accessibility to prams or friendly personnel. The following institutions were assessed in the survey: Centennial Hall with the Cognitive Centre, Kolejkowo at the Świebodzki Railway Station, Architecture Museum, Ethnographic Museum, Historical Museum, Automotive Museum in Topacz, National Museum, Post and Telecommunication Museum, Carriage Museum in Galowice, Nowe Horyzonty Cinema, National Forum of Music, Capitol Musical Theatre, Wroclaw Puppet Theatre, Multikino. A complete list of the institutions included in the survey can be found here.
The institutions were less successful in the children's corner category. The majority of the museums were not able to provide a suitable space where parents would be able to sit with a child, feed it and relax after sightseeing.
Each family, both residents of Wroclaw and visitors, will be offered an e-guide from the Family and Enterprise Foundation to be downloaded from http://www.frip.org.pl/. The guide is designed to aid parents who want to visit places offering attractions to their children. The guide also helps to prepare and take of the comfort of all family members on a tour around a museum.
"One of the outcomes of our work is to diagnose whether cultural institutions are open to families. Our goal is to formulate suggestions for the city's development strategy discussed during sessions devoted to other topics as well," say the foundation's staff. "Museums are looking forward to our reports. We are hoping to provide a valuable tool for promoting children's cause in museums," adds Katarzyna Nowacka.
The preliminary draft of the guide can be found on the Family and Enterprise Foundation's web page..
