Connecting museums and communities to foster innovation

From 2023 to April 2024, the Hanoi Museum has welcomed approximately 17,000 visitors to participate in experiential heritage education activities. With the advantage of preserving a precious collection of over 73,000 documents and artifacts about the natural and social history of Hanoi, and a spacious and modern campus, the Hanoi Museum has developed various educational experiences such as: folk games, Tet markets, and Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival processions. In addition, the Hanoi Museum also researches and organizes educational activities related to intangible cultural heritage. The museum also regularly invites artisans, the bearers of heritage, to directly participate in introducing and demonstrating traditional crafts. Notably, many educational programs have the direct participation of people with disabilities, acting as experiential education guides or beneficiaries of the museum’s educational activities.

Deputy Director of the Hanoi Museum, Dang Minh Ve, shared: “Visitors come to experience the museum with diverse purposes, so we always focus on building educational program content suitable for different audiences.”

At the National Museum of History, heritage education is also a strength, but to enhance public understanding, the museum employs various approaches.

One approach involves direct experiential activities for families, with tailored program scripts. They also develop programs for schools, partnering with travel companies to bring students in, and offer specialized educational programs through workshops. These experiential activities are designed to attract visitors, leave impressions, and encourage return visits.

Le Thi Lien, a staff member of the Public Education Department at the National Museum of History, shared that the museum offers smaller program packages that encourage young people to return for 10-20 sessions. This allows them to gradually build a knowledge base, a manual, and a mindset about Vietnamese history. The museum provides young visitors with foundational knowledge, fostering a fundamental understanding of their national history.

Additionally, the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, Vietnam Women’s Museum, Vietnamese Literature Museum, and Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, among others, have also been organizing community-connecting activities in creative and effective ways. Recognizing that students make up the majority of museum-goers, they have become the primary target audience when designing experiential activities.

To enhance the effectiveness of heritage education, museums have expanded their creative activities, offering a diverse range of experiences. By collaborating with other organizations and units, museums offer rich educational programs that effectively connect with the community.

Nowadays, many people, especially young individuals, crave interactive experiences when visiting museums. Consequently, enhancing the quality of experiential activities and strengthening the bond between museums and the community are priorities for many institutions. In reality, museums and communities share a reciprocal relationship; museums exist to serve the community, allowing them to enjoy the values and products they offer. This value extends beyond mere exhibits to encompass knowledge and positive impressions of the artifacts. Educators in museums play a vital role not only as guides but also as connectors. They actively participate in activities, listening to aspirations and understanding the public’s needs.

Experiencing the making of stuffed animal keychains at the Hanoi Museum. Photo: Minh Ngoc-VNA

Experts and creative activists have proposed solutions to enhance the effectiveness of educational activities and connect communities through museums. These include diversifying programs and educational activities to cater to the needs of different groups. Additionally, they emphasize incorporating experiential and interactive elements, utilizing digital technology to attract active public engagement, especially among the younger generation. Museums are also encouraged to conduct thorough research and surveys to understand the public’s needs and interests, consequently developing more practical and effective educational programs and activities. Moreover, museums should collaborate with travel agencies, organizations, and individuals to expand their outreach and attract more visitors.

Nguyen Thi Le Quyen, Director of the Center for Research, Conservation, and Promotion of Intangible Cultural Heritage (VICH), an organization that regularly organizes experiential activities at museums, shared: “To bring heritage closer to the public and the community, guidance is needed through educational concepts and approaches. Instead of large-scale programs, the Center opts for moderately sized performances with appropriate durations, reserving ample time for interaction with the audience through conversations or engaging games.”

Director Ninh Quang Truong believes that to captivate audiences, museums need to leverage their existing platforms and products to reach and resonate with the public. Museums should explore these opportunities to develop fresh offerings and create trends that draw visitors to their spaces. He likens a museum to a textbook, where the delivery method from the textbook to the audience is crucial. This relies on those who breathe life into it, bringing new storytelling techniques and innovative approaches. Director Truong also emphasizes that attracting visitors to museums isn’t inherently difficult. The key lies in finding the right keyword, identifying the “pulse,” recognizing the opportune moment and the compelling narrative to draw people in.

Educational activities have contributed to raising awareness, increasing public interaction and engagement with museums, while opening up numerous opportunities to implement new, creative ideas. Through these endeavors, museums will continue to affirm their role as cultural and educational institutions, better meeting the learning, visiting, and experiential needs of the wider public, and fostering stronger connections with communities.