The professional and methodological day, jointly organized by the Museum Education and Methodology Centre (MOKK), the Georgikon Farm History Exhibition Site of the Hungarian Agricultural Museum, and the Directorate of Zalaegerszeg Museums, brought together thirty museum and cultural professionals to share their experiences on the theme “Youth and the Museum”.
Representatives of museum institutions presented their best practices, highlighting the role of young people in museum life, as well as the programs, opportunities, and museum education solutions offered to them.
At the beginning of the event, Bálint Havasi, Director General of the Directorate of Zalaegerszeg Museums, reminded participants that this professional day thematically continues the methodological day titled “Let Them Play…” held in spring 2024 at the Festetics Palace in Keszthely, which focused on best practices in children’s museums and exhibitions. He emphasized that one of the greatest challenges for museums today is how to engage and attract young people—primarily high school students and young adults—to the museum space.
Márton Pacsika, Head of Content Development at MOKK, began his presentation by emphasizing the importance of attracting non-visitors to museums—primarily young people. He presented the development of domestic visitor statistics, which show that mainly the older age group visits museums, while young people and young adults are less active in this area. Through foreign examples, he demonstrated how museums in other countries use various tools—such as the power of community building—to engage and involve the younger generation in museum life.
Virág Éva Rajnai, Museum Director of the Georgikon Farm History Exhibition Site, presented how a community of young volunteers formed in their institution: several children who previously attended camps return year after year and actively assist in museum events and programs.
Due to an unexpected commitment, Dr. Csilla Száraz, Director of the Thúry György Museum, had her presentation delivered to the participants by Bálint Havasi. The presentation highlighted the support of young researchers, especially their preparation for competitions, as well as the museum’s community-building activities. Bálint Havasi also briefly introduced the “Our City Differently” project aimed at high school students, in which the Thúry György Museum collaborated with the Dr. Mező Ferenc High School and Economic Vocational School in Nagykanizsa.
Réka Oszkai, Director of the Kisfaludy Sándor Cultural Centre and Memorial House, presented Sümeg’s best practices in heritage preservation, community building, and youth engagement. She highlighted the “Values Club,” the “Photo Club,” and the “Value-Partner” initiative, within which young people can actively participate in local community and cultural life.
Csilla Holló, Exhibition Demonstrator at the Mindszentyneum, stated that many young people visit the institution through cultural quizzes, unconventional history lessons, and the semi-annually updated themed escape room, which is particularly popular among the youth.
Dr. Sándor Décsey, Director of the Wass Albert Library and Museum, emphasized the significance of the “Museum Friends Student Circle,” particularly its positive impact on career choices. He added that the attendance of traditional museum education sessions has declined since the COVID-19 pandemic. To counter this, they organize suitcase museum programs and summer hiking camps to re-engage the younger audience.
Gréta Németh-Gotthárd, Deputy Director of the Hungarian Oil and Gas Museum, emphasized that in addition to organized student groups and school trips, the institution also seeks to engage young people through theme days and drawing competitions related to environmental awareness days. Students completing school community service (IKSZ) actively participate in museum activities—among other things, they helped renovate a model railway.
Olga Kurucz, Cultural Organizer at the Balaton Museum, and Ágnes Bonnyai, Professional Instructor at the ZSZC Keszthely Economic Technical School, presented their joint initiative launched this spring. Within the program, students, with the museum’s professional support, gained insight into community cultural activities and the practical processes of event organization.
András Varju, Head of the Göcsej Open-Air Museum, sees opportunities for youth involvement in three main directions beyond the experience programs of museum education sessions and camps: in the topic of sustainability, in promoting cooperation between the aging society and youth, and in the application of artificial intelligence in museums. In his opinion, young people can form stable and permeable bridges between different generations.
Laura Kardos, Head of the Public Collection at the Festetics Palace, presented how their institution engages children and young people. She highlighted the Historical Playhouse, historical tours organized in the palace, art sessions, and the National Remembrance Education Program. She also introduced their program package assembled for school trips. At the end of her presentation, she provided insight into their talent development program running for years, the Contemporary Art Workshop, where participating young people engage in painting, graphics, and photography.
Bálint Havasi, Director General of the Directorate of Zalaegerszeg Museums, Krisztina Erős, historian, and Fanni Novák, museum educator, presented the Göcsej Museum’s programs and opportunities aimed at young people. They emphasized the role of digital tools—especially smartphones—in reaching young people, such as through QR code-based tasks and games. They also introduced their latest museum education development, which is no longer based on visual codes but on audio materials.
At the end of the professional day, Katalin Béres, historian and chief museologist, invited the participants to the temporary exhibition hall of the Göcsej Museum, where she presented the newly opened exhibition titled “Flowers of Decay – This Is How We Lived in the 80s.”
